Review of The Other Computer History
Posted: 20 Jun 2022, 08:30
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Other Computer History" by Hans Bodmer.]
Hans Bodmer's The Other Computer History is a personal nonfiction history depicting the state of IT (Information Technology) from 1959 to 2004. During this time, computer science was in its infancy. It also showcases twenty-first-century information technologies. Bodmer, quoting from his book, stated, "A computer is a machine that can be instructed to carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations automatically via computer programming."
Having properly understood the meaning of the word "computer," I proceeded to read this highly fascinating book. The narrative is based on actual occurrences. Additionally, it is instructive and, most importantly, quite informative. I learned a great deal from it. Despite being disregarded when they initially debuted, I've learned that computers are now the lords of nearly everything in the world. Today, everything is computer-dependent. Nothing is accomplished without it. In every industry today, the computer reigns supreme. Security, business, education, and agriculture, to name a few, should be discussed. All of these rely on it. Imagine a world devoid of computers. Everything might come to a halt. I hope you are correct! This book addresses questions such as "What was the world before computers and the net?" and "What is their impact on humanity and the world today?"
I enjoyed reading the book since the events were presented in chronological order. Additionally, the material was composed in plain English. This made it simple for me to understand. The provided quotations enhanced the author's narrative. They are engaging and instructive. The biblical passages reflected the same inclusiveness. One that caught my attention was "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Mathew, 26, and 41. This quotation is from the book of Matthew. However, the chapter number is not given. This proverb taught me that we all have dreams we wish to realise, but the majority of us fail because our flesh is weak. It is due to a lack of control. The coloured images added to the text provided a visual reaction to the author's thoughts. Bodmer is my favourite protagonist. He is also the protagonist in this book. He compares the IT experiences of his father to his own. Consequently, his material is not only entertaining but also quite informative.
Although the story contains many great components, I have a few objections. First, the book jacket is dull. The book's cover appears to be a typical 1990s computer reference, yet the content it presents is outstanding. Second, the informal tone of the text is created by the author's use of the pronoun "he" throughout the story. This is the author's writing style, and it is made very obvious at the beginning of the book that English is not his native tongue. Therefore, it is a personal writing style.
I did not spot any grammatical or spelling issues in this book's reading, which was captivating. This makes the work flawlessly edited. Therefore, I give the book 4 out of 4 stars. The aforementioned issues with the book cannot be used to lower the book's rating.
This book will be beneficial to readers who appreciate historical fiction. Those interested in learning what the terminology was at the beginning of IT and its impact on people and society may also enjoy this book.
******
The Other Computer History
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Hans Bodmer's The Other Computer History is a personal nonfiction history depicting the state of IT (Information Technology) from 1959 to 2004. During this time, computer science was in its infancy. It also showcases twenty-first-century information technologies. Bodmer, quoting from his book, stated, "A computer is a machine that can be instructed to carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations automatically via computer programming."
Having properly understood the meaning of the word "computer," I proceeded to read this highly fascinating book. The narrative is based on actual occurrences. Additionally, it is instructive and, most importantly, quite informative. I learned a great deal from it. Despite being disregarded when they initially debuted, I've learned that computers are now the lords of nearly everything in the world. Today, everything is computer-dependent. Nothing is accomplished without it. In every industry today, the computer reigns supreme. Security, business, education, and agriculture, to name a few, should be discussed. All of these rely on it. Imagine a world devoid of computers. Everything might come to a halt. I hope you are correct! This book addresses questions such as "What was the world before computers and the net?" and "What is their impact on humanity and the world today?"
I enjoyed reading the book since the events were presented in chronological order. Additionally, the material was composed in plain English. This made it simple for me to understand. The provided quotations enhanced the author's narrative. They are engaging and instructive. The biblical passages reflected the same inclusiveness. One that caught my attention was "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Mathew, 26, and 41. This quotation is from the book of Matthew. However, the chapter number is not given. This proverb taught me that we all have dreams we wish to realise, but the majority of us fail because our flesh is weak. It is due to a lack of control. The coloured images added to the text provided a visual reaction to the author's thoughts. Bodmer is my favourite protagonist. He is also the protagonist in this book. He compares the IT experiences of his father to his own. Consequently, his material is not only entertaining but also quite informative.
Although the story contains many great components, I have a few objections. First, the book jacket is dull. The book's cover appears to be a typical 1990s computer reference, yet the content it presents is outstanding. Second, the informal tone of the text is created by the author's use of the pronoun "he" throughout the story. This is the author's writing style, and it is made very obvious at the beginning of the book that English is not his native tongue. Therefore, it is a personal writing style.
I did not spot any grammatical or spelling issues in this book's reading, which was captivating. This makes the work flawlessly edited. Therefore, I give the book 4 out of 4 stars. The aforementioned issues with the book cannot be used to lower the book's rating.
This book will be beneficial to readers who appreciate historical fiction. Those interested in learning what the terminology was at the beginning of IT and its impact on people and society may also enjoy this book.
******
The Other Computer History
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon