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The Man Who Invented the Computer: The Biography of John Atanasoff, Digital Pioneer Audiobook
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(2.93) - 104 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From one of our most acclaimed novelists, a David-and-Goliath biography for the digital age. One night in the late 1930s, in a bar on the Illinois–Iowa border, John Vincent Atanasoff, a professor of physics at Iowa State University, after a frustrating day performing tedious mathematical calculations in his lab, hit on the idea that the binary number system and electronic switches, combined with an array of capacitors on a moving drum to serve as memory, could yield a computing machine that would make his life and the lives of other similarly burdened scientists easier. Then he went back and built the machine. It worked. The whole world changed. Why don’t we know the name of John Atanasoff as well as we know those of Alan Turing and John von Neumann? Because he never patented the device, and because the developers of the far-better-known ENIAC almost certainly stole critical ideas from him. But in 1973 a court declared that the patent on that Sperry Rand device was invalid, opening the intellectual property gates to the computer revolution. Jane Smiley tells the quintessentially American story of the child of immigrants John Atanasoff with technical clarity and narrative drive, making the race to develop digital computing as gripping as a real-life techno-thriller.
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"Amazing how hidden history really did change history. What other classified secrets will be revealed that will rewrite actual history?! "
— Jaime (4 out of 5 stars)
The Man Who Invented the Computer Listener Reviews
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" Smiley's a novelist for a reason. Without her inventive imagination, this bio ends up about as interesting as its title. A real disappointment from one of my fave authors. "
— Rick, 2/11/2014 -
" I thought: it's by Jane Smiley so it must be a good read. I thought: it sounds so boring that it must be interesting. WRONG! B-O-R-I-N-G. Very. The only interesting parts that I could get to were about Allen Turing and the Enigma machine. "
— Trae, 1/16/2014 -
" Amazing how hidden history really did change history. What other classified secrets will be revealed that will rewrite actual history?! "
— Jaime, 12/22/2013 -
" I was looking forward to reading this but was pretty disappointed. The author has obviously spent a lot of time researching the facts. Unfortunately she spends most of her time repeating every bit of information she found instead of constructing a compelling narrative. "
— Owen, 7/16/2013 -
" I listened to this at 2x speed to make the endless facts move on a bit more quickly. It consisted of more detail than I needed as a technophobe, but I loved the historical context and players. "
— Florence, 1/12/2013 -
" No new information but does bring together the many people involved in the development of the computer. A balanced view of the controversy in claiming credit. "
— Lane, 12/24/2012 -
" I love Jane Smiley, but this guy is just not as interesting as she thinks he is. "
— Kira, 11/22/2012 -
" interesting biography, looks at innovation, WWII's influence on technology, patent laws, early computing technologies "
— Becca, 10/6/2011 -
" I thought: it's by Jane Smiley so it must be a good read. I thought: it sounds so boring that it must be interesting. WRONG! B-O-R-I-N-G. Very. The only interesting parts that I could get to were about Allen Turing and the Enigma machine. "
— Trae, 1/26/2011 -
" I love Jane Smiley, but this guy is just not as interesting as she thinks he is. "
— Kira, 1/23/2011
About Jane Smiley
Jane Smiley is the author of numerous novels, including A Thousand Acres, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, as well of works of nonfiction and books for young adults. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she has also received the PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature. In 2001 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
About Kathe Mazur
Kathe Mazur has narrated many audiobooks, winning the prestigious Audie Award for best narration in 2014, being named a finalist for the Audie Award in 2013 and 2015, and winning several AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an actress, she can be seen as DDA Hobbs on The Closer and in the upcoming Major Crimes. She has worked extensively in film, theater, and television, including appearances on Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, House, Brothers and Sisters, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, ER, Monk, and many others.