A Brief History of the Future

John Naughton

This is an excellent study of the origins of the internet, by academic and journalist John Naughton, whose Observer column (go to www.observer.co.uk and search on his name, or try his entertaining blog at http://www.skillbytes.co.uk/memex/) is essential reading for anyone remotely interested in the 'net and its possible applications. He traces the web all the way back, before ARPAnet at the Pentagon and discusses the ideas and theories expressed by those dreamers who imagined a vast communications network before any of the technology existed. He writes well, and manages to pass on his enthusiasm to the reader, especially when discussing issues such as open-source technology and the collaborative nature of the internet. Highly recommended.