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A History of Communications: Media and Society from the Evolution of Speech to the Internet Illustrated Edition

by Marshall T. Poe (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 21 ratings
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A History of Communications advances a new theory of media that explains the origins and impact of different forms of communication – speech, writing, print, electronic devices, and the Internet – on human history in the long term. New media are “pulled” into widespread use by broad historical trends and these media, once in widespread use, “push” social institutions and beliefs in predictable directions. This view allows us to see for the first time what is truly new about the Internet, what is not, and where it is taking us.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0521179440
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0521179447
  3. Edition
    Illustrated
  4. Publisher
    Cambridge University Press
  5. Publication date
    December 6, 2010
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    6 x 0.79 x 9 inches
  8. Print length
    352 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Based on a truly impressive range (as well as amount) of reading, arguing an original and convincing thesis, and written in a lucid and engaging style, this book deserves to reach a wide audience of students and scholars alike.” – Peter Burke, University of Cambridge

“The ambition and sweep of Marshall Poe’s analysis of media make it different from anything else I have read on the topic. Many modern ‘consumers’ of media, in all its forms, have a vague sense that technological advances are altering their sense of the world in ways they can’t fully appreciate in real time. Poe’s book is a big advance in helping citizens understand the opportunities and problems the new media landscape offers.” – James Fallows, The Atlantic

"A History of Communications is clearly a labor of love, and Poe brings the historian's craft to bear on it." -Science, Christopher Kelty

Book Description

A History of Communications advances a theory of media that explains the origins and impact of different forms of communication on human history.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cambridge University Press; Illustrated edition (December 6, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0521179440
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0521179447
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.79 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

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Marshall Poe

Marshall Poe

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
21 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Allan Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars An Overlooked Classic
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2013
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I used to teach a course at Northwestern University on Orality, Literacy, and Cybercy. I wish that this book had been written sooner so that I might have included in my course on the history of communications. Marshall Poe breaks the history into five eras: the eras of orality, writing, printing, audio-visual, and computers. Of course no medium drives out earlier media, but instead we accumulate different ways of communicating. As earlier writers such as Elizabeth Eisenstein, Harold Innis, Marshall McLuhan, Walter Ong, and Neil Postman have made clear, each new medium has profound effects on society.

Poe analyzes each of the five media in terms of eight critical characteristics: accessibility, privacy, fidelity, volume, velocity, range, persistence, and searchability. He looks at these from the point of view of both the sender and receiver. Most importantly he analyzes effect of these characteristics on social practices and cultural values. This is a grand theory about the effects of different media, and everyone who wants to understand how media affect society will find this book both well written and quite revealing.
10 people found this helpful
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Ömer Köksal
5.0 out of 5 stars It is very painful to send it back so I have decided to ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2017
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While I was making a search on another subject I added it to the cart by mistake and then forgot to remove. So it was in my hands. It is very painful to send it back so I have decided to keep and read it. I haven'd finished, half way there yet, but it is a wonderful book, just a pleasure to read.
2 people found this helpful
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John Ribbler
5.0 out of 5 stars Answers many, many, many important questions about who we are!
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2014
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In less than 300 pages, Poe offers a thorough perspective on how humans came to be who we are and why we do what we do. . This book is both philosophically awesome and offers practical clues for anyone who believes that a mature understanding of communication is essential to effective living.
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Steven A. Boggs
3.0 out of 5 stars Good for academics in the field but tedious for someone with a "general interest" in the subject
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2016
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If you are an academic interested in this topic, this is probably a good book. I am an academic, but not in this area, and my interest is more general. As a result, I find this book tedious.
3 people found this helpful
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ROBERT OLIVAREZ
5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I expected.
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2013
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Exactly what I expected I am happy with my purchase and would recommend to anyone who is interested in this book.
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Benjamin Lab
5.0 out of 5 stars Super clair
Reviewed in France on September 30, 2014
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Un livre bien écrit qui repose sur une thèse claire et intelligible : les médias préfigurent des changements à venir dans notre organisation, sociale, commerciale, religieuse etc. C'est didactique et très instructif. Un très bon livre.
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