A compelling story of an altogether new realm where the virtual world meets the physical' Paul Goldberger, New Yorker You will never open an e-mail in quite the same way again' Tom Vanderbilt, author of Traffic Andrew Blum's fascinating book demystifies the earthly geography of this most ethereal terra incognita' Joshua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein For non-techies, the book is a very accessible revelation' Forbes 'Blum is perhaps the millennial generation's John McPhee, chronicling an arcane journey of deep relevance to everyday life. 'A great, playful, wondrous read' ArsTechnica 'For a full understanding of the Internet on every level, this book is a must-read' Techzone This valuable book leaves you with its share of unsettling visions, but there are comic ones too' The New York Times 'A Quixotic and winning book with a knack for bundling packets of data into memorable observations. The history, in particular, is one of the best and most memorable I have ever read' New Scientist 'Makes hard-to-grasp concepts easy to understand, even obvious. An excellent introduction to the nuts and bolts of how exactly it all works and a timely antidote to oft-repeated abstractions about 'cyberspace' or 'cloud computing' Economist 'An engaging reminder that, cyber-Utopianism aside, the Internet is as much a thing of flesh and steel as any industrial-age lumber mill or factory. He uncovers the secret data warehouses where our online selves are stored, peels back the wires that transport us across the globe, reveals its mammoth hubs and surprising alley-ways, explaining what the Internet actually is, where it is, how it got there - and, yes, what happens when it breaks.

In Tubes Andrew Blum takes us on a gripping backstage tour of the real but hidden world of the Internet, introducing us to the remarkable clan of insiders and eccentrics who own, design and run it everyday. where is that exactly? And who's in charge again? And what if it breaks? Our careers, our relationships, our selves, all of them are out there - online. Home to the most important and intimate aspects of our lives. Full of memorable images that make its complex architecture easier to comprehend' Observer Excels at rooting the Internet in real-world locations. Even the most geek-wary of readers will enjoy' Independent The year's most original and stimulating 'travel' book. Click here to purchase from Rakuten Kobo Tubes: Behind the Scenes at the Internet by Andrew Blum is.

Tubes by andrew blum