Review of The Other Computer History

Wamala Elijah Mul · Post by **Wamala Elijah Mul** » 20 Jun 2022, 08:30

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Other Computer History" by Hans Bodmer.]

4 out of 4 stars

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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.

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The Other Computer History
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Oluwapelumi Rachael · Post by **Oluwapelumi Rachael** » 06 Jul 2022, 18:35

Before reading this book, I was ignorant to the amount of influence computers and machines held over our lives. Interesting summary.

Wamala Elijah Mul · Post by **Wamala Elijah Mul** » 09 Jul 2022, 04:00

Oluwapelumi Rachael wrote: ↑06 Jul 2022, 18:35 Before reading this book, I was ignorant to the amount of influence computers and machines held over our lives. Interesting summary.

Yes, I agree with you. Almost everything is depending on the computer.

Ifesi · Post by **Ifesi** » 12 Jul 2022, 19:19

With the way the book looks like, I might not choose it. But so much information is embedded in this book. Amazing review.

Post by **Onyinyechi Orji** » 13 Jul 2022, 06:40

I don't know how far the world would have gone if computers had not been introduced. This book seems to have a lot of information to any potential reader. Nice work on the review.

Francis Omotayo Aderogbin · Post by **Francis Omotayo Aderogbin** » 15 Jul 2022, 12:37

This book seems to document the history of computers and how important it has been in the history of humankind. It has made so many tasks easy and keeps evolving. You have a honestly written review.

Timothee22 · Post by **Timothee22** » 19 Jul 2022, 02:30

Computer histories are really interesting and fascinating. Great review though.

Amarachi Nwankwo03 · Post by **Amarachi Nwankwo03** » 19 Jul 2022, 03:03

Indeed, computers are the lords of this earth. I like that this book is information packed and would be very beneficial to anyone looking to gain knowledge on computers and their history.

Lulu Efobi · Post by **Lulu Efobi** » 19 Jul 2022, 10:13

Truly in every industry today, the computer reigns supreme. The book covers themes like computer in security, business, education, and agriculture. Very informative review. Well done!

Lulu Efobi · Post by **Lulu Efobi** » 19 Jul 2022, 10:14

Truly in every industry today, the computer reigns supreme. The book covers themes like computer in security, business, education, and agriculture. Very informative review. Well done!

IconReviews · Post by **IconReviews** » 19 Jul 2022, 11:11

It's nice to know the history of computers. It helps us appreciate what we have today and how far we've come. This is a fascinating book. Thanks for the review

Jelly_J · Post by **Jelly_J** » 06 Aug 2022, 07:20

Computers have shaped our world to the extent that I have not thought of a world without them. I look forward to reading this book to get an incline into our world in the past without computers. Great review.

Oluwasogo Familusi · Post by **Oluwasogo Familusi** » 06 Aug 2022, 11:29

I think this book will help in looking into the history of computers. Although almost everyone makes use of computers today, very few people know about the origin of computers. Thanks for the review.

Rita Nuncia · Post by **Rita Nuncia** » 03 Sep 2022, 13:39

It seems reading this book makes one appreciate computers and machines. It is both educating and eye opening. This review is quite detailed and helped mentioning important points in the book. Good one from the author.

Post by **Vivian Writes** » 15 Nov 2022, 08:52

A book about the IT and computer history will be fascinating to readers who are interested in technology. It is also a perfect fit that the author did great with the editing and every other aspect of the book.