Exploding the Phone
#886 of 2,654 all-time
Exploding the Phone
Phil Lapsley
8 people recommended it in 4 threads, 2015–2023.
What people on Hacker News said
Exploding The Phone (Lapsley): Super engrossing description of the phone phreak scene almost from its start to its end
Exploding the Phone, a fascinating dive into the world of phone phreaking that really needs more attention. It not only discusses the people and culture of the phreaking scene, but also the technology that drew them to the phone. It really manages to capture a bit of the magic that entranced people of the time: If you're not a little bit in awe of the A4 crossbar switch by the end of it... You should be.
Exploding the Phone takes an ousider's perspective, having been written by a relative outsider, and the information having been gathered from interviews with those involved. However, I would say it's better than Ghost in the Wires, being a better told story overall. It's also pretty much the definitive history of the phone phreaking scene, AFAICT.
One thing I did that I'm pretty proud of is that I put almost all the research documents that I dug up (FOIA, newspaper articles, etc.) up on my website, where you can dig through them.
Exploding the Phone is also phreaking awesome. I devoured that book over the space of a few hours.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2023 and recommend for 2024? 2023 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift? 2016 · 3 recommendations
- My Favorite Books of 2016 2016 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which book are you reading these days? 2015 · 1 recommendation