This isn't a dry history lesson. Gregory Newby, who led Project Gutenberg for years, gives us the insider's view. The book walks us from the very first ebook—typed in 1971—through the dial-up era, the rise of the web, and into our current age of smartphones and tablets. It shows how a simple idea, 'making literature accessible to everyone,' crashed into the hard realities of outdated scanners, endless proofreading, and complex copyright laws.

Why You Should Read It

You'll be amazed by the sheer stubbornness and heart behind it all. The book is filled with stories of volunteers spending thousands of hours correcting scanned text, one comma at a time. It makes you appreciate every free classic you've ever downloaded. It also asks big questions we're still wrestling with: Who owns our cultural heritage? What happens when technology moves faster than the law?

Final Verdict

This is a must-read for anyone who loves books, technology, or a great underdog story. It’s perfect for readers curious about the 'how' behind their digital libraries, for tech historians, and for anyone who believes in the power of free information. It turns the invisible work of digitization into a compelling human drama.