Reckoners: the Prehistory of the Digital Computer, from Relays to the Stored Program Concept, 1935-1945

by Paul E. Ceruzzi

A history of the development of computer technology discusses the operation and capabilities of the early computers

181 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Paul E. Ceruzzi is Curator at the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution. He is the author of Computing: A Concise History, A History of Modern Computing, and Internet Alley: High Technology in Tysons Corner, 1945–2005, all published by the MIT Press, and other books.

Reviews

[norb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was researching history of computer and computation, and this book is exactly what I was looking for. It covers the formative years of the modern digital computer by describing four early computer projects between 1935-1945. It had enough technical details (especially on the Zuse project) to bring these early computers to life, and more importantly, to make the reader see how these computers worked.

The author also covered quite a number of insights, some of which he quoted from original documents (which by the way are great places to start one’s research. I got more from Shannon's 1938 Master's thesis than books talking about the very thesis). Some examples:
- the computer is to replace not the punch card machines, but the entire installation around them, including the people operating the machines;
- we are still not quite sure what the Stored-program Concept has in store for us

It's not everyone's cup of tea, but if you are into history of computer, the early designs, the motivations behind technology development, the individuals, then this is a good book to check out. Another good one is Goldstine's "The Computer from Pascal to von Neumann".

It's an old book and I imagine out of print and hard to find. Luckily it's being made available online for free (with the author's permission). Just search for it.

[Jason Kowalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem. It offers a historical overview of the quest to create a computing machine. I learned a lot!