The Master Switch
Tim Wu
10 people recommended it in 5 threads, 2010–2020.
What people on Hacker News said
This really puts a lot of things into context, especially if you're in tech industry. It's basically a history of the entire Information Technology, and it's fascinating how same things happen over and over again, pendulums swing back and forth over and over again, and people keep making same mistakes over and over again.
This really puts a lot of things into context, especially if you're in tech industry. It's basically a history of the entire Information Technology, and it's fascinating how same things happen over and over again, pendulums swing back and forth over and over again, and people keep making same mistakes over and over again
A great book on history of the information economy over the periods of Radio, Telephone, and cable TV that has a lot to say about how the longer cycles of technology play out.
A history of communications industries in the United States with an emphasis on consolidation / industrial organization and its effects on free speech.
It's one of the few books that manages to brilliantly cover a large territory within a small number of pages (<300).
'The Master Switch' by Tim Wu, because it gave me an added perspective on how History shapes present Information Empires
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier? 2017 · 5 recommendations
- Ask HN: Computer Science/History Books? 2020 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Best books you read in 2017? 2017 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which book have you re-read recently? 2017 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why 2010 · 1 recommendation