Far-ranging examination of the pivotal role that memory plays in human life. Malone explores the history, biology, and sociological aspects of human culture. Speech begat writing. Scrolls and books begat libraries. The printing press arrived on the scene, and literacy began to climb. Photography enabled us to capture visual images, and Ediison and others invented machines capable of recording sounds, and then moving images, and then moving images with sound. The explosion of data demanded mechanisms to manage and sort it, so primitive punchcard systems were devised. Electric computers came along (Babbage's mechanical one turned out to be a bust), with their evolution greatly accelerated by advances in technology--transistors, semiconductors, integrated circuits,.
Where is all this leading? Malone ventures into futurology. The marriage of man and machine is already upon us. Cochlear implants permit the deaf to hear, and brain pacemakers are providing relief to som patients with advanced Parkinsonism.
He covers a lot of ground, and in a very readablemanner. ( )

This book is a fascinating survey of the history of mankind's attempts to immortalize human knowledge. From the birth of communication to the advent of the Internet, Malone touches on all methods of documentation and recording. Despite the huge scope of the topic, this book did not seem neglectful or too ponderous when discussing details. I file this book alongside Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything in terms of edutainment value. Highly recommended! ( )