We all know the story: Amazon released the Kindle in 2007 and changed reading forever. Right? Well, Marie Lebert's book shows us that's just the final chapter. Une histoire de l'eBook rewinds the clock to the 1970s, introducing us to the pioneers who were typing books onto early computer networks and dreaming of digital libraries. It follows a global cast of programmers, librarians, and writers through the 80s and 90s as they built the first e-texts, often with little funding or support, driven purely by a belief in the idea.

Why You Should Read It

This book surprised me. I expected a tech timeline, but I got a story about human passion. Lebert makes you root for these early visionaries who faced skepticism at every turn. You see how their work—creating the first free digital libraries like Project Gutenberg, or standardizing formats—laid the invisible groundwork for everything that followed. It connects dots I never knew existed, showing how activism for open access and academic curiosity were just as important as corporate innovation.

Final Verdict

Perfect for curious readers who love their e-readers or audiobooks but have never wondered about their origin story. It's also great for anyone interested in how big cultural shifts actually happen—not with a single bang, but through decades of quiet, persistent work by idealists. If you've ever downloaded a free classic or borrowed a library book to your tablet, this book will make you appreciate that simple act so much more.