The Man Who Invented the Computer

The Man Who Invented the Computer tells the story of John Vincent Atanasoff, an Iowa State professor who created the first electronic digital computer in the late 1930s. The book traces his development of the ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer) while examining the parallel efforts of other computing pioneers across the US and Europe. Through extensive research and historical documentation, Smiley reconstructs the race to build the first computer against the backdrop of World War II. The narrative follows multiple threads, including the legal battles over computer patents and the complex web of relationships between universities, governments, and researchers during this pivotal period. The personalities and motivations of the key players emerge through a mix of biographical details and technical explanations. Smiley presents the scientific concepts in clear terms while maintaining focus on the human elements of innovation and competition. This history raises questions about the nature of invention itself and how technological breakthroughs occur through both individual genius and collaborative effort. The book examines the role of timing, circumstance, and institutional support in shaping watershed moments of scientific progress.

Readers found this book attempted to tell an important story but fell short in execution. Many noted that while Atanasoff's contributions deserve recognition, the narrative structure made it difficult to follow the chronology and key developments. Readers appreciated: - Coverage of lesser-known computer pioneers beyond just Von Neumann - Technical details about early computing mechanisms - Historical context of WWII's influence on computer development Common criticisms: - Confusing timeline jumps between characters - Too many tangential biographical details - Lack of clear explanations of the technical innovations - Title is misleading since multiple inventors are discussed "The narrative meanders and loses focus," noted one Amazon reviewer. Another wrote "Expected more about the actual invention, less about personal lives." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (447 ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (81 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.3/5 (28 ratings) The book draws interest from computer history buffs but frustrates readers seeking a more focused technological narrative.

The Innovators by Walter Isaacson This collaborative history traces the development of computers from Ada Lovelace through the digital revolution, connecting the pioneers who built upon each other's work.

Turing's Cathedral by George Dyson The book chronicles the birth of the digital universe through the work at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, where John von Neumann and his colleagues built one of the first computers.

Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Peckham The text demystifies the fundamental concepts of computing by explaining how computers work from the ground up, starting with simple circuits and progressing to modern machines.

A Computer Called LEO by Georgina Ferry The narrative reveals how J. Lyons & Co., a British catering company, built the world's first business computer in 1951, marking a pivotal moment in commercial computing history.

When Computers Were Human by David Alan Grier The book uncovers the forgotten history of human computers—the people who performed complex mathematical calculations by hand before electronic computers existed.

🔷 Though Atanasoff is credited as "the man who invented the computer" in the book's title, his creation (the ABC) was never fully operational and couldn't be programmed - it could only solve linear equations. 🔷 Author Jane Smiley is primarily known as a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist (for "A Thousand Acres"), making this detailed technology history a significant departure from her usual work. 🔷 The book reveals how World War II played a crucial role in computer development, with many early pioneers working on military projects like calculating artillery trajectories and breaking enemy codes. 🔷 John Vincent Atanasoff conceived his key ideas for digital computing during a 200-mile drive to Illinois in the winter of 1937, stopping at a roadhouse where he sketched his thoughts on a cocktail napkin. 🔷 The legal battle over computer patents between Sperry Rand and Honeywell in 1973 unexpectedly brought Atanasoff's work to light, overturning ENIAC's patent and establishing Atanasoff's place in computing history.