Ever downloaded a novel in seconds? Marie Lebert shows us that simple act is the result of a 50-year revolution. 'A History of EBooks' isn't a dry tech manual; it's the story of people. It starts with early dreamers in the 1970s typing out classics on giant mainframe computers, long before anyone had a laptop. The book follows the bumpy ride through clunky first attempts, like the Sony Data Discman, and the format wars that almost killed the idea. The real plot twist isn't a gadget, but the fight to change a fundamental idea: what makes a book a book?

Why You Should Read It

You should read this because it connects the dots in a way that will make you look at your e-reader or phone with new respect. Lebert focuses on the human struggle—the authors, programmers, and librarians who kept believing in digital words when everyone else thought they were crazy. It’s packed with moments that feel both quaint and visionary, like Project Gutenberg volunteers manually typing in entire books. It reminds us that major shifts in how we live often start with quiet, persistent passion, not corporate marketing.

Final Verdict

Perfect for curious readers who love behind-the-scenes stories, tech enthusiasts who enjoy pre-internet history, and anyone who has ever argued about paper books vs. e-readers. This book gives you the history to back up your opinion. It’s a quick, engaging read that proves the history of technology is really a history of people and their big ideas.