The Telephone Book: Bell, Watson, Vail and American Life, 1876-1976

by H. M. Boettinger, Richard A. Steinberg (Photographer)

A scholarly collection of historical essays accompanied by a profusion of rare photographs on everything relating to telephone history--rare phones, laboratories, equipment, etc. Not just a coffee table book; an excellent resource for the historian.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd, eclectic sort of book--similar to when you go to a good book or video store. You feel the hand of an unseen person guiding you toward stuff that might interest you--in this case, tidbits about telephones.

[Nolan · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is a super-short somewhat quaint and rather outdated history of the invention of the telephone. It looks as if it were written for middle grade audiences, but regardless of the audience, it is super-simple to read. You will get through it in an hour or so. Will you learn anything new? It's doubtful. Unless, of course, you have never use the telephone and have never heard of such an instrument. In which case you will be awash in a wealth of information.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this book.

It is a "coffee-table" book and thus lavishly illustrated. More than a mere pictorial history, it also covers the impact of the telephone upon the lives of average Americans. It was published in 1976, on the Centennial of Bell's patent of his invention of the telephone in 1876. A revised edition was published in 1983.

My review covers the 1976 edition.