Marie Lebert's book is a clear and concise walk through the digital transformation of the written word. She starts with the early, clunky days of digitizing texts and follows the thread through to the rise of e-readers and open-access libraries. The focus isn't on circuit boards, but on the people and projects—like Project Gutenberg—that slowly built the foundation for our current reality where millions of books are just a click away.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this book special is its optimism and focus on access. Lebert presents the tech as a tool for a noble goal: breaking down barriers. She highlights the volunteers who typed out public domain works and the legal battles for fairer copyright. It reframes the digital shift from a scary disruption to a long, ongoing effort to share knowledge more widely. It made me appreciate my e-reader and local digital library in a whole new way.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for curious readers and book lovers who aren't tech experts. If you've ever downloaded a free classic or borrowed an ebook and wondered 'How did this even become possible?', Lebert gives you the friendly, human-centered backstory. It's a hopeful and informative snapshot of a quiet revolution that's still happening on our screens every day.