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How the Internet Happened: From Netscape to the iPhone Hardcover – October 23, 2018

by Brian McCullough (Author)

372 ratings

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A Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Tech-guru Brian McCullough delivers a rollicking history of the internet, why it exploded, and how it changed everything.

The internet was never intended for you, opines Brian McCullough in this lively narrative of an era that utterly transformed everything we thought we knew about technology. In How the Internet Happened, he chronicles the whole fascinating story for the first time, beginning in a dusty Illinois basement in 1993, when a group of college kids set off a once-in-an-epoch revolution with what would become the first “dotcom.”

Depicting the lives of now-famous innovators like Netscape’s Marc Andreessen and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, McCullough also reveals surprising quirks and unknown tales as he tracks both the technology and the culture around the internet’s rise. Cinematic in detail and unprecedented in scope, the result both enlightens and informs as it draws back the curtain on the new rhythm of disruption and innovation the internet fostered, and helps to redefine an era that changed every part of our lives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Brian McCullough vividly recounts the brilliant hunches, happy accidents, and fortuitous timing that converged to create the first 25 years of the internet era. Even for those of us who lived through it, it's astonishing to step back and realize the scale of the changes in human habits, communication, and society as a whole that have occurred in just one generation."
― Chris Anderson, head of TED

"Mr. McCullough takes a broader view, showing how a handful of powerful companies―all of them American, in his telling―came to dominate web technology. In his story, the internet didn’t happen only because of wizardly coding and cheaper computers. It also happened because of serendipity, failure, friendships and blood feuds.... Such historical tidbits help us see that today’s tech titans didn’t arrive on the scene as superhuman."
― Jon Gertner, Wall Street Journal

"For those of us who’ve grown up with computers and the Internet, McCullough offers an insider’s look at the unplanned and undirected romp that enabled the web to infiltrate our lives. He provides fresh perspectives on the famous names – including Gates, Page, Jobs and Zuckerberg – but, more entertainingly, introduces the lesser-known geniuses, like Sean Parker with Napster and Plaxo, as well as the academic godfathers, such as J.C.R. Licklider of ARPA. McCullough sprinkles his well-told tale with trivia nuggets, such as the first web advertisement being for a Silicon Valley law firm, and he shows how success resulted from some combination of timing, brilliance, and an uncanny awareness that consumers want unlimited selection and instant gratification. How the Internet Happened is a fast-paced and enjoyable perspective on our lives, as well as a compelling exploration for how humanity and computers came together in profound ways."
― Richard Munson, author of Tesla: Inventor of the Modern

"How the Internet Happened is destined to become the definitive text on how the web became big business―and came to dominate every facet of our lives, from communication to commerce. Painstakingly researched and deftly written, McCullough gives us a comprehensive guide to the startups and CEOs who ushered in the internet age."
― Brian Merchant, author of The One Device: The Secret History of the iPhone

"Along with profiling the internet’s key players, from Bill Gates to Mark Zuckerberg, McCullough provides an entertaining and informative technological history which computer geeks and readers interested in everything from sociology to business and media will relish."
― Carl Hays, Booklist

"The internet was not meant for the likes of us―and yet we have it, through means that tech historian McCullough capably recounts in this wide-ranging history of the internet era. . . . Most of the individual components of McCullough’s story, which closes with the arrival of the “completely, conceptually perfect” iPhone in 2007, are well-documented, but few other histories of modern technology connect them so fluently. In this, the narrative resembles Steven Levy’s by now ancient Hackers (1984) and John Markoff’s more recent What the Dormouse Said (2005); it compares favorably to both. A tasty, educational treat for tech heads and other web denizens."
― Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A detailed and highly insightful overview of the influencers and ideas that have shaped the everyday technologies we take for granted, showing how the Internet has infiltrated our homes and lives to the degree it is today. . . . Tech enthusiasts and students of business, marketing, and ecommerce will benefit from the detailed chronicling of the early Internet days. Readers will delight in being reminded of long-forgotten platforms and in understanding how Internet evangelists, Wall Street, and the moneyed elite have shaped our online lives."
― Library Journal, starred review

About the Author

Brian McCullough is a two-decade veteran of the internet industry and the founder of various web-based startups. Host of the Internet History Podcast, he was named a 2016 TED Resident. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Liveright
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 23, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1631493078
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1631493072
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.3 x 9.6 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #501,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #26 in Computing Industry History
- #91 in Internet & Telecommunications
- #495 in Software Development (Books)

Customer Reviews:
372 ratings

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Brian McCullough

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Well-known for hosting the daily Techmeme Ride Home podcast and the bi-weekly Internet History Podcast, Mr. McCullough is a twenty year veteran of the technology industry.

He founded ResumeWriters.com in 1999 (when still in college) survived the dotcom bust and grew the company into the premiere player in its space. He also co-founded WhoToTalkTo.com, an early social networking player in the job search space, and WhereAreTheJobs.com.

He was named as a member of the inaugural class of TED Residents in 2016.

He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two children.

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372 global ratings

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Customers find this book to be a comprehensive history of the internet, describing it as a fascinating trip down memory lane with great research. The book is easy to follow for the layman, with one customer noting it's beautifully narrated by Timothy Andres Pabon. They appreciate the style and character development, with one review highlighting the engaging stories about internet characters.

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History Readability Pacing Style Character development

47 customers mention "History"47 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's comprehensive history of the internet, describing it as a fascinating trip down memory lane with great research.

"...In the end he ties it all up in a very neat bundle. Highly recommended for other geeks, or people who are just interested in the history of..." Read more

"The author’s podcast is a goldmine of information for anyone seeking to understand technology and business, and given that software, network effects..." Read more

"...I started, I couldn't stop and finished it in 2 seatings, fascinated with the events that I actually lived through and realized how the developments..." Read more

"...This is a history everyone should read since it covers many of the sites and technologies often taken for granted...." Read more

33 customers mention "Readability"33 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a great read with fascinating content that is enjoyable for general interest readers.

"...This is book provides great background, the good, the bad, and the ugly, on all the players we know or knew..." Read more

"...And this book is the essence of that podcast, distilled into pure nuggets of value, that can be consumed quickly and efficiently..." Read more

"...job with his "Internet History Podcast" and has done a fantastic job with this book...." Read more

"...McCullough has done a really great job with the book. Like Cringely he has the great advantage of being part of what he writes about...." Read more

18 customers mention "Pacing"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and clearly written, with one customer noting it's very concise and another mentioning it's beautifully narrated by Timothy Andres Pabon.

"...background of the internet, and all that has gone into it, in a very readable format...." Read more

"...But the book has been well edited and the most important parts kept...." Read more

"...Expertly told and if you love audio, beautifully narrated by Timothy Andres Pabon...." Read more

"...Well written and an easy read without being overly technical" Read more

4 customers mention "Style"4 positive0 negative

Customers like the style of the book.

"...This is book provides great background, the good, the bad, and the ugly, on all the players we know or knew..." Read more

"How the Internet Happened (2018) by Brian McCullough is a really excellent look at how the commercial internet grew from the early 1990s until the..." Read more

"...A valuable and entertaining look at the revolution that has forever changed and shaped life in the 21st century." Read more

"...The author has a relaxed, sometimes humorous, style which made this an enjoyable read." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one mentioning engaging stories about internet characters.

"...to social so I found the whole history so relatable and the personalities admirable with their eye towards the future" Read more

"...Very readable and easy to follow for the layman. Lots of engaging stories about internet characters, their remarkable successes and (sometimes)..." Read more

"...The history of the internet comes alive and the main characters are as interesting as the evolution of the WEB." Read more

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K. R. Goldman
Great History of the Internet and how we got to where we are today
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2019
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

I first learned about Brian McCullough by listening to his informative technology podcast, Techmeme Ride Home. I was intrigued when he started to promote his book, so I decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did. Brian gives us the history and background of the internet, and all that has gone into it, in a very readable format. This is book provides great background, the good, the bad, and the ugly, on all the players we know or knew (eg Netscape, Napster, Amazon, Google, Facebook, etc) as well as others we either didn’t know or have forgotten about. In the end he ties it all up in a very neat bundle. Highly recommended for other geeks, or people who are just interested in the history of technology.

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Chris Hannesson
Fantastic unique resource, especially for those in technology oriented pursuits
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2018
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
The author’s podcast is a goldmine of information for anyone seeking to understand technology and business, and given that software, network effects and connectivity will remain fixtures of technology and business for at least the next few decades, anyone seeking to make a meaningful impact in the world using technology.

And this book is the essence of that podcast, distilled into pure nuggets of value, that can be consumed quickly and efficiently (there are so many interesting things to read and do in this world), and you can dive back to the podcast (which is free!) for more depth and context from the people who actually did this stuff.

For those not in the Bay Area with networks of people who were there since Fairchild, but who need to compete with them, I know of no other resource remotely in the ballpark comparable to this book and the podcast.

Unequivocal recommendation to buy the book, *especially* for the benefit of kids coming through school who take the internet and WWW as a part of the firmament and need to know more about these technologies and their evolution.

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4 people found this helpful

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Craig E. Dupler
Very Thorough for Part of the Story
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2019
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Brian is doing an excellent job with his "Internet History Podcast" and has done a fantastic job with this book. Katie Haffner's Book "Where Wizards Stay Up Late" tells much of the early part of the story, although it misses the classified aspects that were tied into the Minuteman Missile System. But, between these two books is a huge hole with respect to how the networking of personal computers in the 1980's using systems like Novell Netware and AppleTalk were transformed to use TCP/IP all the way to the desktop. The internet had to change and PC networking had to change. In short, the two had to embrace each other, and do so in the face of concerted resistance by all of the most powerful technical companies of the day, who had the support of the US government for an alternate path toward an "information super highway." So, the sum of these two books simply doesn't get you there. Thus, the title is extremely misleading. It should be more like: "How the Internet Happened - Part III." Katie's book would be Part I. Part II has yet to be written.

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Leo
I live through most of this
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2023
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
I had delayed reading this worried it might be too heady but once I started, I couldn't stop and finished it in 2 seatings, fascinated with the events that I actually lived through and realized how the developments also impacted how our company envisioned its role [I work for a media company] in the decades I worked there [from the 80s to the present]. I was an early adopter from computers to pagers to the web to social so I found the whole history so relatable and the personalities admirable with their eye towards the future

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sien
A superb book about the birth of the commercial internet
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2018
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
How the Internet Happened (2018) by Brian McCullough is a really excellent look at how the commercial internet grew from the early 1990s until the launch of the iPhone. While writing the book McCullough recorded the interviews he did with people and released them as ‘The Internet History Podcast’. Critically McCullough also founded and co-founded a number of companies so he really knows about his subject.

The books starts with the history of Mosaic and other early web browsers. Then Microsoft’s realisation of the importance of the internet. Netscape’s rise and fall is carefully covered. AOL, Ebay, Amazon and Yahoo and the early tech boom companies are then described in detail. Google’s birth, the bursting of the bubble and the how Google monetized internet advertising are the next subject. The book dives into mp3s and the iPod. The revitalisation of the internet companies after the ‘Nuclear Winter’ of the early 2000s and the rise of web 2.0 and social media are then covered. Finally the rise of the mobile internet with the launch of the iPhone is where the book ends.

It would be very hard to read this book and not learn a lot. The details of the browser wars and how Google actually worked out how to make money are really interesting. Due to his inside knowledge and careful research McCullough manages to capture the zeitgeist of the times he writes about.

The podcast has quite a bit that the book doesn’t including interviews with other computer historians and more detail on some subjects than the book. But the book has been well edited and the most important parts kept.

The book is probably going to become the default reference for the birth of the mass commercial internet. Just as Triumph of the Nerds by Robert X Cringely is the book to describe the rise of the PCs in the 1980s. McCullough has done a really great job with the book. Like Cringely he has the great advantage of being part of what he writes about. He’s also done a fantastic job interviewing the subjects for the book. Listening to the podcast is a delight for anyone interested in the history of technology. The book and podcast really are fantastic.

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A Brilliant Description of the Internet we know and use - MUST READ for tech enthusiasts.
Reviewed in India on January 12, 2022
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Book Quality :

Hardcover, Pages, Print & Font: 10/10.

Contents:
As a tech enthusiast, This has been a fantastic read, The author sets up the pace with crisp data points and exciting details of the tech industry from the 1990s to the almost current scenario.

I can highly relate to this book in the current years i.e. 2022 in the Indian tech startup space.
The Hype, The IPOs, The potential bust if there is.

Beautifully written and a must-read to understand the Web 2.0 landscape, which can help you prep for the Web 3.0 scene.

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Placeholder

A Brilliant Description of the Internet we know and use - MUST READ for tech enthusiasts.

Reviewed in India on January 12, 2022
Book Quality :

Hardcover, Pages, Print & Font: 10/10.

Contents:
As a tech enthusiast, This has been a fantastic read, The author sets up the pace with crisp data points and exciting details of the tech industry from the 1990s to the almost current scenario.

I can highly relate to this book in the current years i.e. 2022 in the Indian tech startup space.
The Hype, The IPOs, The potential bust if there is.

Beautifully written and a must-read to understand the Web 2.0 landscape, which can help you prep for the Web 3.0 scene.

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Maria pena
A must read! Excellent! READ it and thank me later!
Reviewed in Mexico on June 28, 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
If you want to understand how is it possible that at this moment, you are reading a recommendation from a stranger from somewhere in the world, at any time, from a mobile device . And that you can get this book in 5 seconds and read it in a tablet, instead of going to the library.. read this to understand what Could have been impossible 50 years ago READ this to understand how technology has changed your life . Im surprised because I bought this book accidentally and now it changed the way I see things. READ THIS BOOK!! thank me later.

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Thomas Ganter
Ein Geschichts- und Geschichtenbuch zum „Netz“
Reviewed in Germany on November 3, 2018
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Wahrscheinlich bin ich voreingenommen – denn ich war dabei.
Ich war im Internet, vor Mosaic und Netscape, vor Yahoo und Google, als man die unendlichen Weiten noch mit „gopher“ und „ftp“ von der Kommandozeile aus erforschte.

Mir macht das Buch unendlich viel Spaß, denn ich weiß noch als da plötzlich das neue Ding, ein „Browser“, war und Farbe in die Welt des Internets kam. Ich erinnere mich an meine erste Bestellung bei amazon.com, die ersten deutschen Nachrichtenseiten im Web, und wie nach und nach „das Intrenet“ passierte.

Es ist herrlich die Hintergrundgeschichten zu lesen die Brian McCullough über Jahre in Interviews zusammengetragen hat. Vieles davon kann man auch in seinem Podcast „Internet History Podcast“ nachhören, aber eben nicht alles. Denn während dort die Länge der Folgen beschränkt war und sich auch aus dem Gesprächsfluss der Interviews nicht immer die exakte Chronologie verfolgen läßt, so sind hier auf 300+ Seiten viele Hintergründe, auf 30+ Seiten unzählige Quellenangaben und auf 15 Seiten ein ausführliches Stichvortverzeichnis sodass es vieles Neues zu entdecken gibt.

EIn sehr schönes Buch. Vielleicht auch ein sehr wichtiges Buch. In jedem Fall eine lohnende Investition.

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Thomas Ganter

Ein Geschichts- und Geschichtenbuch zum „Netz“

Reviewed in Germany on November 3, 2018
Wahrscheinlich bin ich voreingenommen – denn ich war dabei.
Ich war im Internet, vor Mosaic und Netscape, vor Yahoo und Google, als man die unendlichen Weiten noch mit „gopher“ und „ftp“ von der Kommandozeile aus erforschte.

Mir macht das Buch unendlich viel Spaß, denn ich weiß noch als da plötzlich das neue Ding, ein „Browser“, war und Farbe in die Welt des Internets kam. Ich erinnere mich an meine erste Bestellung bei amazon.com, die ersten deutschen Nachrichtenseiten im Web, und wie nach und nach „das Intrenet“ passierte.

Es ist herrlich die Hintergrundgeschichten zu lesen die Brian McCullough über Jahre in Interviews zusammengetragen hat. Vieles davon kann man auch in seinem Podcast „Internet History Podcast“ nachhören, aber eben nicht alles. Denn während dort die Länge der Folgen beschränkt war und sich auch aus dem Gesprächsfluss der Interviews nicht immer die exakte Chronologie verfolgen läßt, so sind hier auf 300+ Seiten viele Hintergründe, auf 30+ Seiten unzählige Quellenangaben und auf 15 Seiten ein ausführliches Stichvortverzeichnis sodass es vieles Neues zu entdecken gibt.

EIn sehr schönes Buch. Vielleicht auch ein sehr wichtiges Buch. In jedem Fall eine lohnende Investition.

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Reviewed in India on August 12, 2019
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Nice Book

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How the Internet Happened: From Netscape to the iPhone Hardcover – October 23, 2018

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great History of the Internet and how we got to where we are today

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic unique resource, especially for those in technology oriented pursuits

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Thorough for Part of the Story

5.0 out of 5 stars I live through most of this

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb book about the birth of the commercial internet

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliant Description of the Internet we know and use - MUST READ for tech enthusiasts.

A Brilliant Description of the Internet we know and use - MUST READ for tech enthusiasts.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A must read! Excellent! READ it and thank me later!

5.0 out of 5 stars Ein Geschichts- und Geschichtenbuch zum „Netz“

Ein Geschichts- und Geschichtenbuch zum „Netz“

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5.0 out of 5 stars Book

Great History of the Internet and how we got to where we are today

Fantastic unique resource, especially for those in technology oriented pursuits

Very Thorough for Part of the Story

I live through most of this

A superb book about the birth of the commercial internet

A Brilliant Description of the Internet we know and use - MUST READ for tech enthusiasts.

A must read! Excellent! READ it and thank me later!

Ein Geschichts- und Geschichtenbuch zum „Netz“

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