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The Network: The Battle for the Airwaves and the Birth of the Communications Age
The astonishing story of America’s airwaves, the two friends—one a media mogul, the other a famous inventor—who made them available to us, and the government which figured out how to put a price on air
This is the origin story of the airwaves—the foundational technology of the communications age—as told through the forty-year friendship of an entrepreneurial industrialist and a brilliant inventor.
David Sarnoff, the head of RCA and equal parts Steve Jobs, Jack Welch, and William Randolph Hearst, was the greatest supporter of his friend Edwin Armstrong, developer of the first amplifier, the modern radio transmitter, and FM radio. Sarnoff was convinced that Armstrong’s inventions had the power to change the way societies communicated with each other forever. He would become a visionary captain of the media industry, even predicting the advent of the Internet.
In the mid-1930s, however, when Armstrong suspected Sarnoff of orchestrating a cadre of government officials to seize control of the FM airwaves, he committed suicide. Sarnoff had a very different view of who his friend’s enemies were.
Many corrupt politicians and corporations saw in Armstrong’s inventions the opportunity to commodify our most ubiquitous natural resource—the air. This early alliance between high tech and business set the precedent for countless legal and industrial battles over broadband and licensing bandwidth, many of which continue to influence policy and debate today.
This is the origin story of the airwaves—the foundational technology of the communications age—as told through the forty-year friendship of an entrepreneurial industrialist and a brilliant inventor.
David Sarnoff, the head of RCA and equal parts Steve Jobs, Jack Welch, and William Randolph Hearst, was the greatest supporter of his friend Edwin Armstrong, developer of the first amplifier, the modern radio transmitter, and FM radio. Sarnoff was convinced that Armstrong’s inventions had the power to change the way societies communicated with each other forever. He would become a visionary captain of the media industry, even predicting the advent of the Internet.
In the mid-1930s, however, when Armstrong suspected Sarnoff of orchestrating a cadre of government officials to seize control of the FM airwaves, he committed suicide. Sarnoff had a very different view of who his friend’s enemies were.
Many corrupt politicians and corporations saw in Armstrong’s inventions the opportunity to commodify our most ubiquitous natural resource—the air. This early alliance between high tech and business set the precedent for countless legal and industrial battles over broadband and licensing bandwidth, many of which continue to influence policy and debate today.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published June 9, 2015
179 people are currently reading
965 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
June 8, 2017
This book left me pretty upset because of the way that people dealt with the growing industry, not just the companies but the government too. The FCC is just frustrating and dumb, and every time people talk about the things the government does I feel like I need to take a nap to calm down because why. That said I learned a lot from this book and it really gave me a deeper perspective of how technology developed in the twenty century and got us to where we are. It was well written It might be a little boring for someone who just wants the gist of what happened because it does go into technical stuff but I like when authors combine the two. It also gave me a better understanding of how the technical stuff works because he wrote it in a pretty accessible way. I found it enjoyable for a nonfiction book so i would totally recommend it to anyone who likes that sort of thing.
August 31, 2016
**I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.**
I am a random fact girl who loves nothing more than a chance to fall down an information rabbit hole. As I perused the book giveaway list my eyes happened upon this read and I instantly felt that mental itch that can only be satisfied with a literary feeding. The book was very interesting and it was chock-full of a lot of info and facts, more than enough to satisfy that particular itch.
With Science being the weakest link in my education, I will admit that I did find a portion of the subject matter a bit difficult to understand and/or absorb. I did like the history aspect of it and would have enjoyed it even more if the personal side of the characters had been amped-up so that the history would have felt more alive in my mind. I felt like the read was a bit too heavy on the science and light on making a connection between the reader and the actual people involved and that’s why I chose to mark it as a three star read.
I am a random fact girl who loves nothing more than a chance to fall down an information rabbit hole. As I perused the book giveaway list my eyes happened upon this read and I instantly felt that mental itch that can only be satisfied with a literary feeding. The book was very interesting and it was chock-full of a lot of info and facts, more than enough to satisfy that particular itch.
With Science being the weakest link in my education, I will admit that I did find a portion of the subject matter a bit difficult to understand and/or absorb. I did like the history aspect of it and would have enjoyed it even more if the personal side of the characters had been amped-up so that the history would have felt more alive in my mind. I felt like the read was a bit too heavy on the science and light on making a connection between the reader and the actual people involved and that’s why I chose to mark it as a three star read.
May 4, 2018
This was an excellent book. I knew nothing about Sarnoff and Armstrong or even the radio industry prior to reading this. The discovery of the technologies is quite a story, not to mention just how old words such as modem and pixel really are.
I was aware of the monopoly that AT&T had on the phone lines, but I was unaware just how vast that monopoly was. I had no idea that we could have had satellite TV in the early 60's if it wasn't for the lawyers and lobbyists of the fat cats, and the corruption in congress and the FCC.
Sad, but I don't think things have changed much.
I am planning on reading more about this. It certainly peaked my interest.
I was aware of the monopoly that AT&T had on the phone lines, but I was unaware just how vast that monopoly was. I had no idea that we could have had satellite TV in the early 60's if it wasn't for the lawyers and lobbyists of the fat cats, and the corruption in congress and the FCC.
Sad, but I don't think things have changed much.
I am planning on reading more about this. It certainly peaked my interest.
January 24, 2018
Here is Why Net Neutrality Eludes Us
This fabulous book explains the underlying reasons that net neutrality still is denied us in Washington, D.C. While not the subject of the book, this journey from the foundations of radio through the subversive birth of the Internet exposes the fundamental flaws of the FCC and the system that controls it. A fascinating and enthralling read.
This fabulous book explains the underlying reasons that net neutrality still is denied us in Washington, D.C. While not the subject of the book, this journey from the foundations of radio through the subversive birth of the Internet exposes the fundamental flaws of the FCC and the system that controls it. A fascinating and enthralling read.
September 5, 2024
This was an odd book; it was a series of essays in roughly chronological order starting with Marconi and the wireless and ending with MCI helping to break up the long-distance monopoly of AT & T. Within are accounts of the lives of David Sarnoff, the head of RCA and Edwin Armstrong the developer of F.M. radio.
I did not see how the title of the book was relevant to these series of articles which could have come from a magazine. In the early chapters Armstrong was the hero and Sarnoff was the villain. And then later other chapters had Sarnoff as a hero and visionary. Sarnoff according to the author blocked technology that could have made the world better and then envisioned technology that made the future.
2.5 stars
I did not see how the title of the book was relevant to these series of articles which could have come from a magazine. In the early chapters Armstrong was the hero and Sarnoff was the villain. And then later other chapters had Sarnoff as a hero and visionary. Sarnoff according to the author blocked technology that could have made the world better and then envisioned technology that made the future.
2.5 stars
December 19, 2016
This was a good historical accounting of America’s communication network, from the telegraph, to radio, to television. Invention, development, and building of all these networks are covered along with the key players. I particularly liked the epilogue which covered how cleverly MCI broke up the Bell monopoly to give us the affordable telecommunications network we all use today. I enjoy learning about new things and this was a worthy read on this topic, but it didn’t “wow” me. Even so, it is a quick read/listen that will ensure you don’t take our communications networks for granted.
June 1, 2016
This book is about the development of communication technology. Woolley follows the development from the telegraph, telephone, radio, radar, television to the internet. The author used the history of two men and a company to tell the story. One man is David Sarnoff (1891-1971), the media mogul responsible for “Radio Corporation of American” (RCA). The other man is Edwin Armstrong (1890-1954) a prolific inventor. Among his many inventions was the amplifier to enable telegraph signal reception from greater distances and FM radio. This book opens with the dramatic scene of Armstrong’s suicide. Armstrong claimed that Sarnoff betrayed him.
Both these men were visionaries. Sarnoff led the charge on radio broadcasting, color television and articulating a vision of the internet. Both men were obstructed by corporate interest and government agencies that stifled innovation. Sarnoff was excellent at encouraging scientist and determining what technology will change mankind but terrible at business management particularly of NBC which RCA owned. He foresaw the popularity of color TV but had no interest in the programs on the TV.
The book is well written and by focusing on these two men Woolley avoided getting bogged down in excessive detail on technology. The plot driven narrative illuminates the genesis of innovation and is highly readable. Woolley reveals the classic struggle of the visionaries against the established interest. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Stephen Hoye does a good job narrating the book.
Both these men were visionaries. Sarnoff led the charge on radio broadcasting, color television and articulating a vision of the internet. Both men were obstructed by corporate interest and government agencies that stifled innovation. Sarnoff was excellent at encouraging scientist and determining what technology will change mankind but terrible at business management particularly of NBC which RCA owned. He foresaw the popularity of color TV but had no interest in the programs on the TV.
The book is well written and by focusing on these two men Woolley avoided getting bogged down in excessive detail on technology. The plot driven narrative illuminates the genesis of innovation and is highly readable. Woolley reveals the classic struggle of the visionaries against the established interest. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Stephen Hoye does a good job narrating the book.
April 20, 2018
The book was informative, but there were numerous grammatical errors. I think we've begun to rely on computers too much, failing to proofread publications.
May 15, 2023
Edwin H. Armstrong, the inventor, and David Sarnoff, the capitalist, both visionaries within their realms, are owed our deep gratitude for their life's work in discovering, developing, and marketing radio at its infancy, which laid the sturdy foundation of the planetary communications network that touches every aspect of our 21st century lives.
Theirs are names that should be household words, and theirs are historical achievements that should be common knowledge to all. Their compelling story contains so many larger-than-life emotional twists and turns, such as the betrayal of friendship, the societal influence of corporate greed and corrupt politics, the individual’s pursuit of justice, and even a lonely death by suicide, that if this were a work of fiction, the novelist may have had a hard time selling the story based on scope alone.
But this story is true and anyone who has an interest in twentieth century tech and American pop culture who isn’t aware of it, owes it to themself to discover it. And while there are many excellent places to learn it, probably none finer than the Ken Burns PBS Documentary, Empire of the Air, this short book by Scott Woolley is a great place to start.
Scott Woolleey does an exceptional job of telling the Armstrong/Sarnoff story along with the side-stories of other key players in the development of the radio network.. Chapters flow chronologically and each are told from the perspective of one of the key players. Opening with the lonely suicide of Armstrong, drawing the reader in, Woolley then takes us back to the start of the epic in the following chapters and then beyond Armstrong’s funeral to the cusp of the age of the internet.
It’s not much of a leap to compare and contrast the relationship between Armstrong the inventor and Sarnoff the capitalist who saw how the new technology could be packaged and sold to the consumer to those of Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. The parallels between the two stories, not to mention the scope of their effects on world culture, are uncanny.
Although short in length, Woolley has captured and presented some further points that I, a lifelong electronics hobbyist fascinated in radio, had not been previously aware of.
These included why and how competing corporate and political interests caused the shift of the original commercial FM band from 42-50 MHz to the now familiar 88-107 MHz, and how these same factors would affect the establishment of the VHF & UHF television channels. In both cases, the corporate interests win at the cost of short-changing the consumer.
Also told is he story of Lyndon Johnson, then a US Congressman, was able to game the system, first by using his wife Lady Bird as his proxy to purchase a small Austin UHF television station, and then exploit his influence as a legislator to shape national television broadcast laws and work deals with network executives to the benefit of his own net worth is a taleI not previously aware.
A short but compelling read, I highly recommend Woolley’s network for anyone interested in radio, corporate history or 20th century American culture. If you’re a self-confessed radio cuckoo like me, my recommendation is that much more so.
Theirs are names that should be household words, and theirs are historical achievements that should be common knowledge to all. Their compelling story contains so many larger-than-life emotional twists and turns, such as the betrayal of friendship, the societal influence of corporate greed and corrupt politics, the individual’s pursuit of justice, and even a lonely death by suicide, that if this were a work of fiction, the novelist may have had a hard time selling the story based on scope alone.
But this story is true and anyone who has an interest in twentieth century tech and American pop culture who isn’t aware of it, owes it to themself to discover it. And while there are many excellent places to learn it, probably none finer than the Ken Burns PBS Documentary, Empire of the Air, this short book by Scott Woolley is a great place to start.
Scott Woolleey does an exceptional job of telling the Armstrong/Sarnoff story along with the side-stories of other key players in the development of the radio network.. Chapters flow chronologically and each are told from the perspective of one of the key players. Opening with the lonely suicide of Armstrong, drawing the reader in, Woolley then takes us back to the start of the epic in the following chapters and then beyond Armstrong’s funeral to the cusp of the age of the internet.
It’s not much of a leap to compare and contrast the relationship between Armstrong the inventor and Sarnoff the capitalist who saw how the new technology could be packaged and sold to the consumer to those of Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. The parallels between the two stories, not to mention the scope of their effects on world culture, are uncanny.
Although short in length, Woolley has captured and presented some further points that I, a lifelong electronics hobbyist fascinated in radio, had not been previously aware of.
These included why and how competing corporate and political interests caused the shift of the original commercial FM band from 42-50 MHz to the now familiar 88-107 MHz, and how these same factors would affect the establishment of the VHF & UHF television channels. In both cases, the corporate interests win at the cost of short-changing the consumer.
Also told is he story of Lyndon Johnson, then a US Congressman, was able to game the system, first by using his wife Lady Bird as his proxy to purchase a small Austin UHF television station, and then exploit his influence as a legislator to shape national television broadcast laws and work deals with network executives to the benefit of his own net worth is a taleI not previously aware.
A short but compelling read, I highly recommend Woolley’s network for anyone interested in radio, corporate history or 20th century American culture. If you’re a self-confessed radio cuckoo like me, my recommendation is that much more so.
November 11, 2017
Well written and interesting story.
The issue I have with this book is how doesn't cover the whole story of early day wireless communication, nor does it delve deep enough into a sub-story. The author has chosen to explain the history of early day wireless communication through the lives of David Sarnoff and Edwin Armstrong. This means that the story of David Sarnoff and Edwin Armstrong is not covered in enough detail while the larger story lacks essential pieces, such as a better view of AT&T and its role.
I think this book would be better if it was more comprehensive and covered the whole story or more targeted towards the intrigue between David Sarnoff and Edwin Armstrong while cutting out some of the surrounding aspects.
No matter what, if the topic is interesting to you, I would recommend this book. Although, if you're looking for a book on early wireless communication, look elsewhere.
Also, the last part about the MCI Communications Corp. and AT&T could be made into its own book - it was by far the most interesting part of the book and it worked well as an individual story.
The issue I have with this book is how doesn't cover the whole story of early day wireless communication, nor does it delve deep enough into a sub-story. The author has chosen to explain the history of early day wireless communication through the lives of David Sarnoff and Edwin Armstrong. This means that the story of David Sarnoff and Edwin Armstrong is not covered in enough detail while the larger story lacks essential pieces, such as a better view of AT&T and its role.
I think this book would be better if it was more comprehensive and covered the whole story or more targeted towards the intrigue between David Sarnoff and Edwin Armstrong while cutting out some of the surrounding aspects.
No matter what, if the topic is interesting to you, I would recommend this book. Although, if you're looking for a book on early wireless communication, look elsewhere.
Also, the last part about the MCI Communications Corp. and AT&T could be made into its own book - it was by far the most interesting part of the book and it worked well as an individual story.
April 25, 2022
Fascinating tale of the journey of wireless communication from proven theory to some of the things we're familiar with today. Examples include: wireless telegraphs, AM/FM radio, radio stations, b&w/colored television, TV stations and networks (CBS, NBC and co), satellite comms and the wireless telephone.
It also covered the pivotal role of the US govt, through WWI efforts, in the development of the tech.
After the first few chapters, the tech barely got any more mention. The book became about politics, monopoly, regulation, business strategy, lobbying, corruption and so on.
Another interesting point for me are the similarities between stuff like crypto and wireless tech:
In the early days, people knew they were both useful — theoretically — but couldn't find real practical applications that worked well and rivaled the status quo. In fact, many people considered the shares of wireless tech (radio, TV, telcos) companies to be scams.
Another point of similarity is how funds were raised. Entrepreneurs shortly after conceiving the idea raised money from investors or the public just like it is/was with a lot of crypto projects.
Without the very crude and limited wireless telegraph of back then, there’d probably have been no survivors on the titanic. Titanic's crash's pivotal role in making wireless tech more believable was covered.
I found it shocking how powerful politicians and lawmakers were even with stuff as technical as wireless comms. I couldn't help but notice the stark mismatch between the skillset of lawmakers and the work they did. For instance: FM radio transmission was banned shortly after launch because it supposedly posed a health risk to humans despite scientific evidence that that wasn’t the case. Behind all of this was a power play between AM radio station owners, radio set manufacturers, FM radio proponents and politicians
A lot of the decisions around regulation were primarily driven by self interest instead of common good — often to the detriment of technological progress. There was so much side dealing, insider trading and lobbying both overt and covert across board from the Senate to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Definitely recommend this to anyone who is curious about how we went from electrical telegraph machines to communications via the internet.
It also covered the pivotal role of the US govt, through WWI efforts, in the development of the tech.
After the first few chapters, the tech barely got any more mention. The book became about politics, monopoly, regulation, business strategy, lobbying, corruption and so on.
Another interesting point for me are the similarities between stuff like crypto and wireless tech:
In the early days, people knew they were both useful — theoretically — but couldn't find real practical applications that worked well and rivaled the status quo. In fact, many people considered the shares of wireless tech (radio, TV, telcos) companies to be scams.
Another point of similarity is how funds were raised. Entrepreneurs shortly after conceiving the idea raised money from investors or the public just like it is/was with a lot of crypto projects.
Without the very crude and limited wireless telegraph of back then, there’d probably have been no survivors on the titanic. Titanic's crash's pivotal role in making wireless tech more believable was covered.
I found it shocking how powerful politicians and lawmakers were even with stuff as technical as wireless comms. I couldn't help but notice the stark mismatch between the skillset of lawmakers and the work they did. For instance: FM radio transmission was banned shortly after launch because it supposedly posed a health risk to humans despite scientific evidence that that wasn’t the case. Behind all of this was a power play between AM radio station owners, radio set manufacturers, FM radio proponents and politicians
A lot of the decisions around regulation were primarily driven by self interest instead of common good — often to the detriment of technological progress. There was so much side dealing, insider trading and lobbying both overt and covert across board from the Senate to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Definitely recommend this to anyone who is curious about how we went from electrical telegraph machines to communications via the internet.
May 11, 2020
By focusing on the relationship between two men: RCA and NBC executive David Sarnoff and inventor Edwin Armstrong, investigative journalist Scott Woolley traces the intriguing history of the airwaves from the first radio telegraph, through the radio and television industries up to fiber optics and the creation of the internet. Woolley has a unique ability to explain technology and finance in clear understandable terms and convert a highly technical story into compelling human drama. A gem of a book for anyone even remotely interested in radio and television. - BH.
February 25, 2024
This book contains the origin story of the foundational technology of the communications age—as told through the complicated forty-year friendship of an entrepreneurial industrialist & a brilliant inventor.
David Sarnoff, the head of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) who led the charge on radio broadcasting, color television & articulated a vision that prophesied the Internet, & his friend Edwin Armstrong, developer of the first amplifier, the modern radio transmitter, and FM radio.
Many corrupt politicians & corporations had their say in the early alliance between high tech and business & set the precedent for countless legal & industrial battles over broadband & licensing bandwidth. This struggle drives the book's narrative.
Mr. Woolley has a nice touch for describing technology. But his book’s structure is sometimes superfluous: Armstrong’s & Sarnoff’s funerals; the breakup of AT&T. There are also omissions. Woolley never explains how Armstrong’s invention actually reinvigorated electromagnetic waves. He doesn’t explore the creation of NBC or describe the details of Armstrong’s suit against RCA & NBC.
By the way, the FCC is incompetent & dumb to the core. We could’ve had color television earlier. We could’ve had satellite TV in the 60s. Competition does lead to innovation, but as you’ll learn in this book, it can also lead to bitterness & stalled progress. Why? Money & hubris.
“The Network” was an interesting read as someone who is unversed in communication technology & how we got to where we are today. It could’ve been done differently story-wise. But the important thing is it gets the facts straight in a history that involves a slew of different men spanning decades.
David Sarnoff, the head of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) who led the charge on radio broadcasting, color television & articulated a vision that prophesied the Internet, & his friend Edwin Armstrong, developer of the first amplifier, the modern radio transmitter, and FM radio.
Many corrupt politicians & corporations had their say in the early alliance between high tech and business & set the precedent for countless legal & industrial battles over broadband & licensing bandwidth. This struggle drives the book's narrative.
Mr. Woolley has a nice touch for describing technology. But his book’s structure is sometimes superfluous: Armstrong’s & Sarnoff’s funerals; the breakup of AT&T. There are also omissions. Woolley never explains how Armstrong’s invention actually reinvigorated electromagnetic waves. He doesn’t explore the creation of NBC or describe the details of Armstrong’s suit against RCA & NBC.
By the way, the FCC is incompetent & dumb to the core. We could’ve had color television earlier. We could’ve had satellite TV in the 60s. Competition does lead to innovation, but as you’ll learn in this book, it can also lead to bitterness & stalled progress. Why? Money & hubris.
“The Network” was an interesting read as someone who is unversed in communication technology & how we got to where we are today. It could’ve been done differently story-wise. But the important thing is it gets the facts straight in a history that involves a slew of different men spanning decades.
March 7, 2017
Fascinating but uneven
A fascinating, if uneven, account of the professional life of David Sarnoff, who was intimately involved in the founding of every major communications technology from the telegraph through to satellite communications, and predicted with uncanny accuracy in 1965 the advent of the Internet.
I really enjoyed the book, which alternates among several key players in the growth of communcations technology in the first two thirds of the 20th century. The author took care to research the material well enough to place the reader aside Sarnoff, his sometimes friend and compatriot, David Armstrong, and others as they navigate coastal radio towers and research laboratories, the halls of power in Washington and tony New York.
Unfortunately, the narrative at times runs off the rails and sometimes feels a bit contrived. I was particularly surprised when the main running thread -- the growing chasm between Sarnoff and Armstrong -- climaxed suddenly and without enough emotional heft placed behind the story of a friendship gone awry amid the pressures of a disruptive, and lucrative, new industry. I've never written a book, but I've written plenty of stories, and to me, this one felt like trying to force a narrative that either wasn't there or the writer didn't have enough material to completely support.
Still, it was a very enjoyable and informative read that I'd happily recommend to fans of technology, the communications industry or American business and politics.
A fascinating, if uneven, account of the professional life of David Sarnoff, who was intimately involved in the founding of every major communications technology from the telegraph through to satellite communications, and predicted with uncanny accuracy in 1965 the advent of the Internet.
I really enjoyed the book, which alternates among several key players in the growth of communcations technology in the first two thirds of the 20th century. The author took care to research the material well enough to place the reader aside Sarnoff, his sometimes friend and compatriot, David Armstrong, and others as they navigate coastal radio towers and research laboratories, the halls of power in Washington and tony New York.
Unfortunately, the narrative at times runs off the rails and sometimes feels a bit contrived. I was particularly surprised when the main running thread -- the growing chasm between Sarnoff and Armstrong -- climaxed suddenly and without enough emotional heft placed behind the story of a friendship gone awry amid the pressures of a disruptive, and lucrative, new industry. I've never written a book, but I've written plenty of stories, and to me, this one felt like trying to force a narrative that either wasn't there or the writer didn't have enough material to completely support.
Still, it was a very enjoyable and informative read that I'd happily recommend to fans of technology, the communications industry or American business and politics.
September 19, 2017
Good history of the birth of modern communications, but a bit misleading
This highly readable book is an engaging history of the birth of modern communications, from Marconi wireless to the dawn of the digital age. The central figure is David Sarnoff, the founder of RCA, who originally worked for Marconi and, in what amounted to a farewell address, predicted the onset of the digital age in which we now live.
I have one quarrel with is book, and it's an important one. More than half of it deals with the troubled relationship between Sarnoff and inventor Edwin Armstrong, who developed the first amplifier and, ultimately FM radio. Throughout this narrative, the author leads us to believe that Sarnoff undermined Armstrong's FM invention -- a belief Armstrong held that led to his suicide. But in the end, no evidence is presented, and every indication is that Sarnoff did nothing of the sort.
With this major objection aside, this book is an important contribution to the history of modern communications, not the least for the revelations about Sarnoff's vision of the digital future, decades before it came to fruition. Sarnoff was a true visionary, seeing what others could not.
This highly readable book is an engaging history of the birth of modern communications, from Marconi wireless to the dawn of the digital age. The central figure is David Sarnoff, the founder of RCA, who originally worked for Marconi and, in what amounted to a farewell address, predicted the onset of the digital age in which we now live.
I have one quarrel with is book, and it's an important one. More than half of it deals with the troubled relationship between Sarnoff and inventor Edwin Armstrong, who developed the first amplifier and, ultimately FM radio. Throughout this narrative, the author leads us to believe that Sarnoff undermined Armstrong's FM invention -- a belief Armstrong held that led to his suicide. But in the end, no evidence is presented, and every indication is that Sarnoff did nothing of the sort.
With this major objection aside, this book is an important contribution to the history of modern communications, not the least for the revelations about Sarnoff's vision of the digital future, decades before it came to fruition. Sarnoff was a true visionary, seeing what others could not.
July 14, 2017
All genius' are visionaries and all visionaries must have someone who brings his visions to life. So this book is the visionary (David Sarnoff) and the man who made his visions come to life (Edwin Armstrong). Although Sarnoff and Armstrong disagreed on several points they began the revolution in radio and television.
The battle is between RCA, AT&T (Ma Bell), and the US government, which through the FCC caused bureaucratic tied up which produced all kinds of entanglements, till little upstart MCI, in the 70's broke Ma Bell up into Baby Bells and the wonders, that Sarnoff foresaw, into the communications we have today.
Interesting book that is enjoyable, even if sometimes you have to get through some tecno-jargon and shake your head at the politics that almost beat out the future
The battle is between RCA, AT&T (Ma Bell), and the US government, which through the FCC caused bureaucratic tied up which produced all kinds of entanglements, till little upstart MCI, in the 70's broke Ma Bell up into Baby Bells and the wonders, that Sarnoff foresaw, into the communications we have today.
Interesting book that is enjoyable, even if sometimes you have to get through some tecno-jargon and shake your head at the politics that almost beat out the future
December 26, 2017
This book is somewhat unfocused. Most of the book centers on the relationship between David Sarnoff and Edwin Armstrong. The author uses this relationship to give the history of wiFi, starting with telegraphs, and proceeding from there to radio, then television, and eventually cell phones. I found a lot of this story very interesting, especially the sections on the battle between landline and wiFi, a battle which existed even during Marconi's time.
Unfortunately, the book gets bogged down with too much detail about Armstrong's many lawsuits. There are too many long, boring descriptions of court testimony. It would have been a lot better if the author had moved all the court testimony into an Appendix, and expanded the other sections.
Unfortunately, the book gets bogged down with too much detail about Armstrong's many lawsuits. There are too many long, boring descriptions of court testimony. It would have been a lot better if the author had moved all the court testimony into an Appendix, and expanded the other sections.
March 20, 2018
I've always been fascinated by the era of invention at the beginning of the twentieth century and in particular the area of electronic communications. I worked in the industry right up until recently and lived through the growth of vacuum tubes and semiconductors.
The book is more about the political machinations revolving around the personalities such as de Forest, Sarnoff and Armstrong. Wish there had been more detail about them personally. Still, it is a fascinating historical perspective especially on the growth of the FCC and how that organization was influenced by moneyed companies and politics. Well worth the time to dive into it.
The book is more about the political machinations revolving around the personalities such as de Forest, Sarnoff and Armstrong. Wish there had been more detail about them personally. Still, it is a fascinating historical perspective especially on the growth of the FCC and how that organization was influenced by moneyed companies and politics. Well worth the time to dive into it.
September 17, 2017
David Sarnoff, battle for airwaves, legislation for AM, FM, TV airwaves. First half goes over history, Marconi, inventor Anderson, Sarnoff. Goes into creation of RCA, looking into monopolies. Later the book moves to satellite, military usage (and deregulation), and foresight into fibre optic cables and the internet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2018
Extremely interesting book
Who knew the history of communication could be so fascinating. From Marconi to McGowan the story is a great read. Sorry to learn of the scheming and abuse of Lyndon Johnson. He was able to turn 25,000 dollars into over 8,000,000 dollars because of his political connection. Shame on the FCC.
Who knew the history of communication could be so fascinating. From Marconi to McGowan the story is a great read. Sorry to learn of the scheming and abuse of Lyndon Johnson. He was able to turn 25,000 dollars into over 8,000,000 dollars because of his political connection. Shame on the FCC.
June 16, 2019
Absolutely Terrific
This book manages to do the unthinkable: Make the history of communications interesting while not watering down the science. More than anything, it’s a story of humans being humans and of corruption both scene and unseen until very recently. I love this book. I absolutely love it.
This book manages to do the unthinkable: Make the history of communications interesting while not watering down the science. More than anything, it’s a story of humans being humans and of corruption both scene and unseen until very recently. I love this book. I absolutely love it.
October 30, 2021
Incredible book and read on radio/television and in the communications industry and FCC and who has control and power over said frequencies and media outlets.
Also, why I may or may not be a pirate radio operator.
Also, why I may or may not be a pirate radio operator.
November 5, 2022
This isn't what the subtitle or even the intro sells the book as, rather this is a book about the rise and fall of RCA, aka Radio Corporation of America. How David Sarnoff and Edward Armstrong built the technology that we have accepted as being standards of life which is modern AM radio, FM radio and TV. Which effectively built the communications age as we know it. The better subtitle would be something about how inventors tried to break the communications monopolies.
Starting with Marconi Corporations around the world and the need to break free from the wired telegraph systems to developments that would lead to AM and shortwave radio to the war that would spur the developments for FM radio and TV. Finally the book ends with how a a little company out of Illinois broke AT&T monopolies on telephone service by exploring the legal regulations and sped up the developments that would lead to cellphones and even the investments into fiber optics and internet protocols.
This is a good overview of how things like the FCC came to be, a synopsis of how AT&T eas broken up, how RCA and 30 Rock and NBC came to be, and what lead to the technology. The author tries to tie a common thread of David Sarnoff through all of this story but at times it misses a beat and you can tell as we dive into things like how LBJ (and other politicians) laundered money through his radio and TV conglomerate in Texas. Which I am sure is important but it's like a wild short cut to get over to how the FCC became corrupt for a while and an willing arm of the monopolies to suppress new technology that would upset their business.
There is a number of really good interesting stories here and the details how how we got the modern communications age equipment is good. Just feel like the author wanted to keep this lightweight and didn't dive too deep into some of the issues that they could have with regards to the FCC and lobbying by monopolies in communications to keep their monopolies in tact. Let alone dive too deep into the technology itself. Still this is pretty interesting and worthwhile to read if only to know how we went from telegraphs to cellular phones in 100 yrs.
Starting with Marconi Corporations around the world and the need to break free from the wired telegraph systems to developments that would lead to AM and shortwave radio to the war that would spur the developments for FM radio and TV. Finally the book ends with how a a little company out of Illinois broke AT&T monopolies on telephone service by exploring the legal regulations and sped up the developments that would lead to cellphones and even the investments into fiber optics and internet protocols.
This is a good overview of how things like the FCC came to be, a synopsis of how AT&T eas broken up, how RCA and 30 Rock and NBC came to be, and what lead to the technology. The author tries to tie a common thread of David Sarnoff through all of this story but at times it misses a beat and you can tell as we dive into things like how LBJ (and other politicians) laundered money through his radio and TV conglomerate in Texas. Which I am sure is important but it's like a wild short cut to get over to how the FCC became corrupt for a while and an willing arm of the monopolies to suppress new technology that would upset their business.
There is a number of really good interesting stories here and the details how how we got the modern communications age equipment is good. Just feel like the author wanted to keep this lightweight and didn't dive too deep into some of the issues that they could have with regards to the FCC and lobbying by monopolies in communications to keep their monopolies in tact. Let alone dive too deep into the technology itself. Still this is pretty interesting and worthwhile to read if only to know how we went from telegraphs to cellular phones in 100 yrs.
April 17, 2020
3.5 stars, rounding down (close call). Mildly interesting book detailing the lives and battles of engineer/genius Edwin Armstrong and his once friend and later rival David Sarnoff. Sarnoff was informally trained while at Marconi Wireless Telegraph company as a teenager, eventually rising to chief radio inspector. Sanoff learned simultaneously much of the technology of the day and more crucially how to apply it to the business end of things. The book also details Armstrong's brilliance as an inventor who not only pioneered the concept of amplification of AM radio waves (which Sarnoff used), but Armstrong basically invented FM radio transmissions. Of course, the incompetence of the mostly bought-off FCC at the time (not too different from now) by the monopoly of AM networks back in the 40s and 50s stymied any progress Armstrong hoped to see with FM and it's superior sound quality. Not much of a spoiler alert since it's revealed very early on - for reasons not completely known (maybe over losing battles to the FCC over FM, his years of unfairly losing legal battles with far inferior inventors over patents, and combined with a pre-existing condition of depression) made him take his own life in 1954.
Sarnoff went on to live till aged 80 in 1971. The guy was pretty brilliant as a prognosticator - he even gave a speech in 1965 that hinted at the concept of every home in the country being connected by laser cables (fiber optic cables) that would shoot information in and out of every home so everyone could instantly read the latest news, books, magazine, etc... on a personal home device not that different from a television at the time. The guy sort-of predicted the internet back in 1965, maybe not exactly but he got a lot of details right.
There's also a great epilogue - maybe the best I've ever read in a non-fiction book - which completely walks the read through the story of how upstart MCI basically takes down the AT&T monopoly. Epic!
Sarnoff went on to live till aged 80 in 1971. The guy was pretty brilliant as a prognosticator - he even gave a speech in 1965 that hinted at the concept of every home in the country being connected by laser cables (fiber optic cables) that would shoot information in and out of every home so everyone could instantly read the latest news, books, magazine, etc... on a personal home device not that different from a television at the time. The guy sort-of predicted the internet back in 1965, maybe not exactly but he got a lot of details right.
There's also a great epilogue - maybe the best I've ever read in a non-fiction book - which completely walks the read through the story of how upstart MCI basically takes down the AT&T monopoly. Epic!
March 27, 2020
A tasty hors d’oeuvre on the history of wireless telecommunications, through the lens of the life of RCA’s David Sarnoff. The book is very engaging at tracing the history and conflict between the leading companies in the wireless and wired worlds (RCA and AT&T). Woolley also looks at the role of government and monopoly regulation, showing how government intervention originally made the radio industry feasible (by forcing consolidation and bringing a mass of patent claims together under the RCA banner), but then continually made bad decisions that slowed the uptake of new technology and reduced consumer choice and welfare, largely due to the regulatory capture of the Federal Communications Commission.
The biggest problem with this book was its brevity – I wanted more on almost every topic introduced, particularly on the technical side. For a book written by a “technology writer”, the reader is not trusted to understand the technical aspects. I needed to use the Net to answer some of the questions that really should have been made clear in the book (what exactly was the miraculous invention Major Armstrong invented to improve the reception of radio signals; why is FM radio technically superior to AM?). But these are minor quibbles – this is still highly recommended.
The biggest problem with this book was its brevity – I wanted more on almost every topic introduced, particularly on the technical side. For a book written by a “technology writer”, the reader is not trusted to understand the technical aspects. I needed to use the Net to answer some of the questions that really should have been made clear in the book (what exactly was the miraculous invention Major Armstrong invented to improve the reception of radio signals; why is FM radio technically superior to AM?). But these are minor quibbles – this is still highly recommended.
September 16, 2022
As someone whose job partially involves telecom and signals, this book was incredibly fascinating. I've been trying (and not really succeeding) to learn more of the mechanical side of signals tech for a while, so having historical AND human context to the matter was very important. The book's format doesn't hurt, either. It's written with all the emotion and setting detail of a fiction book. Characters are introduced along the lines of "placidly staring out the window, swilling a glass of Merlot". I, for one, would love more historical books to be written this way, as long none of the narrative changes characterization or hard facts.
Woolley often delves into the technical side of 19th-century telecom and I can appreciate how he handles the topic of Morse code. I learned to use it in high school because I thought it was cool and never studied it much further than that, so this book has filled so many gaps in my knowledge.
Woolley's pacing and mood setting are excellent, and he takes care not to incriminate any of the characters in the eyes of the reader. I continue to be amazed that such a historical event is not more widely known about in the American public, and that makes for a very entertaining read.
Woolley often delves into the technical side of 19th-century telecom and I can appreciate how he handles the topic of Morse code. I learned to use it in high school because I thought it was cool and never studied it much further than that, so this book has filled so many gaps in my knowledge.
Woolley's pacing and mood setting are excellent, and he takes care not to incriminate any of the characters in the eyes of the reader. I continue to be amazed that such a historical event is not more widely known about in the American public, and that makes for a very entertaining read.
February 21, 2020
This is not one coherent story, but a collection of stories trying to find ways to fit together. The conflict between Sarnoff and Armstrong (and DeForest) was better told by Ken Burns in “Empire of the Air.” There is a chapter devoted to how LBJ got rich using his influence to buy and expand radio and TV stations. The final chapter details the battle between AT&T and MCI. The book unsuccessfully to weave these disparate stories into a coherent narrative.
Woolley is quite wrong about the viability of UHF television. He repeatedly pronounces it a failed experiment. I grew up in a medium-sized city (200K+) that had five UHF stations and no VHF stations. (As a child, I always wondered what that “other” dial was for on the TV.) The first station went on the air in 1953 and continues to operate today, although under different ownership. The fifth station signed on in 1978; if UHF had been a failed experiment, it would have been obvious to potential owners by then.
Parts of this book are very interesting. But overall it is too jumbled. A number of stylistic errors point to the lack of a competent editor.
Woolley is quite wrong about the viability of UHF television. He repeatedly pronounces it a failed experiment. I grew up in a medium-sized city (200K+) that had five UHF stations and no VHF stations. (As a child, I always wondered what that “other” dial was for on the TV.) The first station went on the air in 1953 and continues to operate today, although under different ownership. The fifth station signed on in 1978; if UHF had been a failed experiment, it would have been obvious to potential owners by then.
Parts of this book are very interesting. But overall it is too jumbled. A number of stylistic errors point to the lack of a competent editor.
July 27, 2020
A fascinating story about something that is so ubiquitous it now barely even registers as something that wasn't always there - I didn't realise the invention of mass media radio was so late in the game, it's only just over a century old - and the speed at which 'the wireless' became all the various different forms of mass media. The book was at its best when chronicling the story of the inventor Armstrong and the businessman Sarnoff and their pivotal contributions to shaping the way the industry is now, and begins to lose the thread somewhat when the story of mass media continues beyond them - but with a less personal touch. Frankly, as the business schemes and legal battles began to run together, it became harder and harder to follow what was happening, not through any fault of the writer as such but more through the often dizzying complexity of the various grifts that a colourful cast of characters (including President Johnson!) were running on one another. Still, an enjoyable read.
February 10, 2021
A history of telecommunications which is heavy on legal battles and political wrangling, one which left me with a fresh contempt for the FCC. The book is dominated by not by Marconi, as expected, but someone I'd never heard of but who built the radio-tv telecommunications industry around himself: David Sarnoff. Like Pan Am's Juan Trippe, he was a force to be reckoned with in telecomms from its infancy to its maturity. In addition to the legal battles, Woolley also communicates a little of the technical evolution of telecommunications (the discovery of AM, for instance), but virtually nothing of radio's cultural mark. The narrative also jumps decade to decade so that we experience milestones, but not the in-between; I often felt a little disoriented after each jump, since the industr(ies) would grow significantly in the interim. Although the book wasn't quite what I was looking for, I still learned quite a bit.
September 12, 2017
An enjoyable and easy read for those interested in the development of the technology and business of the American communications systems. In this story the technology and government is always driven by the business end of the rope. If a technology or government position hurts your making money then fight it with all you might, but if the technology or government regulation help you make money then push it will all you skill and determination. In the world portrayed in this book only the need to make more money and protect your way of making it counts for much. Idealists like Edwin Armstrong the inventor and spokesman for better ways of doing things jump out of buildings in the end.
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