If you think the story of the ebook starts with Amazon or the first Kindle, think again. Marie Lebert's book takes us on a journey that begins in the 1970s, long before the internet was a household word. She shows us the early, clunky experiments—projects with names like Project Gutenberg, which began by painstakingly typing classic books into massive mainframe computers. This isn't a story of one brilliant inventor, but of a scattered, global community of programmers, librarians, and enthusiasts who shared a simple belief: that knowledge should be free and accessible to all.

The Story

Lebert guides us through the key moments, not with complex jargon, but by introducing us to the people. We meet Michael Hart, the founder of Project Gutenberg, who started it all on a university computer he had spare time on. We see the evolution from plain text files to the early, proprietary formats that locked books into specific devices. The narrative follows the tension between open-access ideals and commercial interests, the failed hardware of the 90s, and finally, the convergence of technology, market demand, and legal frameworks that led to the ebook explosion we know today. It's a story of incremental progress, sudden breakthroughs, and a lot of stubborn hope.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this book special is how it connects the dots. Reading it, you'll never look at your e-reader the same way again. You'll understand that the convenience we take for granted was built on decades of volunteer effort, legal battles over digital rights, and constant technological refinement. Lebert makes you appreciate the sheer amount of collaboration and problem-solving it took to get here. It reframes the ebook not as a disruptive, modern invention, but as the slow, hard-won victory of an idea.

Final Verdict

This is the perfect book for curious readers who love books—in any form. If you're a tech history fan, you'll find the origins fascinating. If you're a bibliophile, you'll gain a deep appreciation for the ecosystem that feeds your habit. It's not a heavy academic text; it's a clear, personable account of how a revolution in reading quietly happened around us. After finishing it, you'll have a great story to tell the next time someone asks, 'But don't you miss real books?'