A History of Communications: Media and Society from the Evolution of Speech to the Internet [Hardcover]

A History of Communications advances a theory of media that explains the origins and impact of different forms of communication on human history.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, allowing us to see for the first time what is truly new about the Internet, what is not, and where it is taking us.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, allowing us to see for the first time what is truly new about the Internet, what is not, and where it is taking us.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.Introduction: media causes and effects; 1. Homo loquens: humanity in the age of speech and memory; 2. Homo scriptor: humanity in the age of manuscripts; 3. Homo lector: humanity in the age of print; 4. Homo videns: humanity in the age of the audio-visual media; 5. Homo somnians: humanity in the age of Internet; Conclusion: the media and human well-being.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 CambridgeThe l³l