Communications: An international history of the formative years

by Russell Burns

An international history of the formative years traces the evolution of communications from 500 BC, when fire beacons were used for signalling, to the 1940s, when high definition television systems were developed for the entertainment, education and enlightenment of society. The book does not simply provide a chronicle of dates and events, nor is it a descriptive catalogue of devices and systems. Rather, it discusses the essential factors - technical, political, social, economic and general - that enabled the evolution of modern communications. The author has taken a contextual approach to show the influence of one discipline upon another, and the unfolding story has been widely illustrated with contemporary quotations, allowing the progress of communications to be seen from the perspective of the times and not from the standpoint of a later generation.

652 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2003

Reviews

[Mick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every so often, it's nice to read something different. It could be a genre you don't usually seek out, or a period of history that you don't know much about.
After a brief description of ancient and medieval communications techniques, Burns get stuck into the development of telegraphy. I found this to be the most interesting part of the book, which also detailed the development of telephony, radio and television. By and large I enjoyed the earlier chapters the best. In fact, I'd like to learn much more about the history of telegraphs now.
At over 600 pages, the book is detailed and comprehensive. It took me a while to get through, but I read it cover to cover and greatly enjoyed it.