The Information
A History, a Theory, a Flood
by James Gleick · first published 2011
75% recommend22% neutral2% critical
Why HN recommends it
Wide-ranging history of information, from talking drums and telegraphs to Babbage, Ada Byron and Shannon, with lots of aha moments. Engaging narrative that suits readers with a computer science bent.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood begins with the tale of colonial European explorers and their fascination with African talking drums and their observed use to send complex and widely understood messages back and forth between villages far apart, and over even longer distances by relay. The book then covers informational implications of technologies from drum signaling to the long distance telephone. Starting with symbolic written language, The Information examines the history of intellectual insights central to the development of information theory, detailing key figures respo
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Those interested in reading a more narrative-style recounting of Mr. Shannon's efforts ought pick up a copy of "The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood" by James Gleick. It is one of the most fantastic books I have ever read. Informative, entertaining, engrossing. From Babbage's learning machines through the present, I can…
on “Claude Shannon: Tinkerer, Prankster, and Father of Information Theory” ↗The Information: a History, a Theory, a Flood by James Gleick is great. Starts with Ada Lovelace/Charles Babbage and goes on from there, I found it fascinating.
on “Ask HN: Computer Science/History Books?” ↗Hands down, the most fascinating book I read in 2021 (and I will have read for a long time!) is "The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood" by James Gleick: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400096235 Those who have a computer science background will almost definitely love the book. It connects many dots that are…
on “Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?” ↗James Gleick's new book "The Information" devotes an entire chapter to the fascinating story of Ada Byron. I've read thoroughly about her life (we did, after all, name our youngest daughter after her) but nothing makes her genius come to life…
on “Lovelace's Leap” ↗If you haven't already I would really recommend you to read the book: The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood http://www.amazon.com/Information-History-Theory-Flood/dp/03... Great detailed historical perspective and lots of aha moments.
on “A Brief, Incomplete, and Mostly Wrong History of Programming Languages” ↗He's a legend. For further reading on Claude Shannon check out the following books. Fortune's Formula by William Poundstone (http://goo.gl/VrBMUW) The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick (http://goo.gl/Q5tzCW)
on “Claude Shannon demonstrates Theseus, a magnetic maze-solving mouse [video]” ↗…Steven Levy books are both compelling reads and content rich. Crypto and In the plex both have their place as well. http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&field... I would also say "The Information" by James Gleick. It is a page turner with some neat concepts. Which is not so easy to do. http://www.amazon.ca/Information-History-Theory-Flood/dp/140...
on “Ask HN: How to learn about the history of computing?” ↗If you liked this article, you'd probably also enjoy the book "The Information", by James Gleick.
on “Information Theory and the Foundation of Life” ↗Another decent in-depth book on this topic that I can recommend is The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick[0]. A bit dry at times but somewhat interesting if anyone is looking for a high-level look at quantifying and managing information. [0] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8701960-the-information
on “How Information Got Re-Invented” ↗If you've not read it, I think you'd enjoy The Information by James Gleick [0] - lots of it touches on these points, and Shannon obviously figures heavily. It's one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Information%3A_A_History%2...
James Gleick's The Information has a good description of those people, and is a great read otherwise as well. http://www.amazon.com/Information-History-Theory-Flood/dp/03...
on “"My current theory is that programming is quite literally writing."” ↗Word. Recently read Gleick's excellent The Information (http://www.amazon.com/Information-History-Theory-Flood/dp/03...) which made a similar point. Moving from oral to writing as the primary units of information of communication allowed us to make huge…
on “Make habits, not resolutions” ↗The book that I wanted to write until I found out not only that it was written, but that it does a better job on the subject that I could have http://www.amazon.com/The-Information-History-Theory-Flood/d...
on “Ask HN: What books are you reading currently?” ↗An interesting read on the subject, very detailed and it goes as far as the first letters and the beginning of writing: The Information by James Gleick. [1] In a chapter, he explains how the transmission of messages worked with towers, the limitation they had, the different things they tried. For instance, he explains how they used a…
on “Why didn't the Romans invent the Internet?” ↗The Information A History, A Theory, A Flood. is the book that I wanted to write and then I found out it existed and the author did a better job than I probably could have. http://www.amazon.com/The-Information-History-Theory-Flood/d...…
on “Ask HN: Best books/tutorials you read in 2013?” ↗