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Shift Happens: A Book About Keyboards
Shift Happens tells the story of keyboards like no book ever before, covering 150 years from the early typewriters to the pixellated keyboards in our pockets. This is the only book that connects the world of typewriters to the universe of computers. Whether you’re into vintage typewriters, classic clicky IBM keyboards, or modern mechanical wonders, it will have something for you. None of the above? Get ready to become a keyboard nerd anyway, and look at an everyday boring QWERTY slab with newfound respect.
Shift Happens is full of stories – some never before told – interleaved with 1,000+ beautiful full-color photos across two volumes. It’s a great gift for keyboard or typewriter aficionados, but also suits everyone who cares about design, the stories of everyday objects, or tech history.
This special edition of Shift Happens features two hardcover volumes (each 608 pages), plus a bonus 160-page softcover collection of extras, all delivered inside a custom, beautiful slipcase.
Shift Happens is full of stories – some never before told – interleaved with 1,000+ beautiful full-color photos across two volumes. It’s a great gift for keyboard or typewriter aficionados, but also suits everyone who cares about design, the stories of everyday objects, or tech history.
This special edition of Shift Happens features two hardcover volumes (each 608 pages), plus a bonus 160-page softcover collection of extras, all delivered inside a custom, beautiful slipcase.
1216 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2023
28 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 16, 2024
This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever handled. The slip case is beautiful, the covers are beautiful, the pages are beautiful, and the information contained therein is beautiful.
I expected it to be beautiful from the pre-sales pitch. What I didn't really understand until I got into it was just how much information it would contain. I have been reading about computers, keyboards, mechanical devices, and many other topics for years and years, but I have learned so much about keyboards from this book that it eclipses all of my previous knowledge of the area. Anyone who's spent any time thinking about typewriters knows the names Sholes and Glidden, but Marcin gives illuminating backstory and places them in context of many lesser-known players and contemporary thinkers, and then moves forward in time through the modern mechanical keyboard explosion with just as much detail and interest.
I expected it to be beautiful from the pre-sales pitch. What I didn't really understand until I got into it was just how much information it would contain. I have been reading about computers, keyboards, mechanical devices, and many other topics for years and years, but I have learned so much about keyboards from this book that it eclipses all of my previous knowledge of the area. Anyone who's spent any time thinking about typewriters knows the names Sholes and Glidden, but Marcin gives illuminating backstory and places them in context of many lesser-known players and contemporary thinkers, and then moves forward in time through the modern mechanical keyboard explosion with just as much detail and interest.
April 23, 2024
A great book, covering the history of typewriters and keyboards in generous (but not overpowering) detail, with loads of beautiful pictures.
For example, he talks (a lot) about the qwerty layout, and it's abundantly clear that it was not chosen to 'slow down touch typists' - as touch typing was only invented decades later. It does appear true that the layout coupled with the circular layout used internally in Sholes first machines did limit the clashing of neighbouring "type bars", but not by slowing down typers. There have been hundreds of alternative layouts, from Blickenderfer's Dhiatensor via Dvorak (who faked some of the infamous Navy Test") to Colemak, Workman and BEPO. But the top speed of people who really, really try to get fast is more-or-less the same. And for most of us, the limiting factor in writing is not the brain-to-keyboard phase, but rather the composition.
For example, he talks (a lot) about the qwerty layout, and it's abundantly clear that it was not chosen to 'slow down touch typists' - as touch typing was only invented decades later. It does appear true that the layout coupled with the circular layout used internally in Sholes first machines did limit the clashing of neighbouring "type bars", but not by slowing down typers. There have been hundreds of alternative layouts, from Blickenderfer's Dhiatensor via Dvorak (who faked some of the infamous Navy Test") to Colemak, Workman and BEPO. But the top speed of people who really, really try to get fast is more-or-less the same. And for most of us, the limiting factor in writing is not the brain-to-keyboard phase, but rather the composition.
March 2, 2024
Like nothing else. 1,200 pages of essays about keyboards, teletypes, and computers in all typing contexts, from gaming to typing, from QWERTY to Dvorak, from TTYs to the IBM Selectric — this and many other angles to keyboard input are covered in excruciating detail and perfectly illustrated with beautiful photographs.
February 14, 2025
The nerd in me was nerding out the whole 1200 pages. But the book lover was excited too. A beautiful book that was produced to the highest standards. I was a Kickstarter contributor, and I sure got my money’s worth. Thanks Marcin!
September 13, 2024
I consider it pure luck to have seen a tweet from LGR about a book on kickstarter that caught my interest. Being a "vintage" keyboard enthusiast under daily use (bolt-modded Model M and a glorious Alps cream dampened Apple Extended II) the topic of this book was right up my ally. Receiving the frequent/not frequent enough email updates from Marcin kept the anticipation building for over a year stretch. It was a memorable day seeing the large (too big for a book, right?) box sitting at my door it was excitement that it finally arrived. Though I do admit I postponed my shipment since there was early delays and didn't "need" it so soon.
The double volume takes you through the history of typewriters and keyboards and touching technology all the way. Learned so much from all the thorough passages and detailed pictures. I enjoyed how the chapters were organized in sub topics at just the right length. One could easily pick it up at any place or read from front to back with same enjoyment.
The only thing that bothered me was footnotes often not on same page and so there was a lot of back/forth page flipping.
I hope others find ways to get ahold of this great work.
The double volume takes you through the history of typewriters and keyboards and touching technology all the way. Learned so much from all the thorough passages and detailed pictures. I enjoyed how the chapters were organized in sub topics at just the right length. One could easily pick it up at any place or read from front to back with same enjoyment.
The only thing that bothered me was footnotes often not on same page and so there was a lot of back/forth page flipping.
I hope others find ways to get ahold of this great work.
February 23, 2025
I actually didn't read this, but rather read the accompanying booklet "The day return became enter" (but I can't seem to find it in Goodreads, even though it has an ISBN).
The booklet was great! A fascinating short story about the evolution of keyboards from the early days of typewriters to modern-day MacBooks. A lot of fun to read and the pictures were gorgeous.
The booklet was great! A fascinating short story about the evolution of keyboards from the early days of typewriters to modern-day MacBooks. A lot of fun to read and the pictures were gorgeous.
February 18, 2025
Perfect.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews