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Gutenberg the Geek
by
Jeff Jarvis
Johannes Gutenberg was our first geek, the original technology entrepreneur, who had to grapple with all the challenges a Silicon Valley startup faces today. Jeff Jarvis tells Gutenberg's story from an entrepreneurial perspective, examining how he overcame technology hurdles, how he operated with the secrecy of a Steve Jobs but then shifted to openness, how he raised capit...more
Kindle Edition, 20 pages
Published
February 27th 2012
by Amazon Digital Services
(first published February 1st 2012)
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I don't think ANY of the other books I have read on Gutenberg has infuriated me like this one. Firstly, to compare what Gutenberg did to dot coms and Silicon Valley is ridiculous. It's only been a few years and no one talks about or cares about them any more and Gutenberg created something that changed the world and has endured for centuries, not forgotten five minutes later. Then to compare him to Steve Jobs, how insulting. Yes, they where both secretive men, but Fust, the man who stole Gutenbe...more
Nearly everyone knows the name Johannes Gutenberg. What you don't know about him is what makes this book so fascinating.
This book will entertain and inform anyone interested in history. Additionally, author Jeff Jarvis tells Gutenberg's story in terms readily understood by today's entrepreneur and inventor -- capital formation, technology challenge, personnel management, intellectual property protection, contract formation. No stretch of imagination is required on the reader's part, but the auth...more
This book will entertain and inform anyone interested in history. Additionally, author Jeff Jarvis tells Gutenberg's story in terms readily understood by today's entrepreneur and inventor -- capital formation, technology challenge, personnel management, intellectual property protection, contract formation. No stretch of imagination is required on the reader's part, but the auth...more
This short book (more of an essay, really) was sold as an Amazon single. I got it because I have been thinking about the premise that seeing how printing changed the world in the 15th century can help us understand how the Internet is changing our world in the 21st century. Jarvis gets into this by postulating that Gutenberg can be understood as an early version of a Silicon Valley Start-Up. This is an interesting take since I never thought of it in exactly those terms before.
My own thinking ha...more
My own thinking ha...more
This is a short essay-type read. In fact, I spent most of the book assuming it was a college paper. Turns out it evolved from interesting stuff the author dug up while researching another book.
The essay/book has a great thesis. It does spend most of its time on Gutenberg and his process, hence the title (and even some interesting tidbits about how long it took for him to have a successful printing, and how he was undercut by competitors because of his startup debts). But the author draws some s...more
The essay/book has a great thesis. It does spend most of its time on Gutenberg and his process, hence the title (and even some interesting tidbits about how long it took for him to have a successful printing, and how he was undercut by competitors because of his startup debts). But the author draws some s...more
This Kindle Single is a very quick read. Whether you call Gutenberg a "geek," a start-up entrepreneur, or a great innovator, his invention of the printing press was a revolutionary technological development that changed the world. This little book gives the reader an overview of the historical context and Gutenberg's process. The author approaches this from an entrepreneurial perspective, showing the challenges Gutenberg faced, how his competitor gained control of much of his work, and how Guten...more
I have to admit, I wanted this as soon as I saw the cover, without regard to the subject, because I really like picture. Now that Ive read it, I'm glad I got it, and not just because of the cool cover. The essay, for the most part, discusses Gutenberg's contribution to mankind with his advent of the printing press, and reading this has made me feel as though we ought to all go back in time and shake Gutenberg's hand and say, "Thank you." I had no idea he had to go through so much controversy to...more
There isn't much here that you wouldn't find in a wikipedia article, and this kindle single isn't much longer than that. I still had seven minutes left on the elliptical in the gym when I finished this. Jarvis tries to paint Gutenberg as the 15th century Steve Jobs, which is an interesting theory, but he doesn't back it up with much evidence - just a lot of 'Gutenberg did 'x'. JUST LIKE STEVE JOBS!'. The writing-style is reminiscent of a motivational speaker, which I also found a little annoying...more
This is a concise book which is meant to garner your attention to the fact that we are living in a very interesting time when it comes to how information is disseminated. The book goes into "broad strokes of detail" (if you can image that) in how Gutenberg invented and more importantly financed his venture into the printing press. It's amazing how his investors sued him and stole his work, but he never gave up and started all over from scratch! This is the little known story of the man who chang...more
I am trying to synchronize my work with my reading lifestyle. I wish I could uncover the trigger to excite this term's students in terms of reading. I regularly get the question, "How can I improve my English?" I get many complaints of lack of practice time, fewer native English speakers, etc.; however, when I suggest reading as a way to increase comprehension and visualization of ideas, my students, almost to a person, say the same thing -- "We don't like to read." That response is akin to some...more
This book makes me think about how the Internet is revolutioning everything like the Gutenberg prees did in its days. Based in other two biographies, the author presents us the story of Gutenberg, where he came from, how he did it, what the press meant at that time, and making comparisons about internet entrpeneurs and situations they and Gutenberg face. Finally, the autor call us to action, to encourage the spread of Internet the way Gutenberg did with books. Great Kindle Single without a doubt...more
Mar 05, 2012
Stephen Davis
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone
Recommended to Stephen by:
The Amazon Robot
Great, quick read that is thought provoking...I am still thinking about the image of "The Gutenberg Parentheses" ...I highly recommend this...The only bad thing about this piece is the last two or three paragraphs that are promoting a free and open internet. I am all for a free and open internet; however, the point of the rest of the piece is an examination of similarities between the creation of Gutenberg's Press and modernity's technological advances...
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Es muy breve, es como un corolario (y un promocional) a su libro sobre el mismo personaje, además de que se da tiempo de trazar paralelos entre la situación actual con Grecia endeudada, la primavera árabe y a el entorno de los "Entrepreneur" de hoy en día.
Y remata haciendo una apología a una red sin censura cuando equipara el
Poder disrruptor de la introducción de ambas tecnologías .
Es breve, muy breve, de puros highlights en Amazon te lo pueden contar.
Y remata haciendo una apología a una red sin censura cuando equipara el
Poder disrruptor de la introducción de ambas tecnologías .
Es breve, muy breve, de puros highlights en Amazon te lo pueden contar.
A quick and informative read about Gutenberg and his invention, the printing press. I liked the historical parts but the comparison to today's inventors (while plausible) could have used some more substance and - despite the shortness of the work - I felt like there was too much repetition. Nonetheless, I learned quite a few things and feel like I know Gutenberg much better now.
3.5 stars
A very interesting Kindle Single taking a look at the inventor of the printing press from a modern entrepreneur perspective! As we read this work, we see Gutenberg as a 16th-century techno-genius. comparable to the likes of Steve Jobs & Bill Gates, who was ultimately responsible for the widespread dissemination of the written word.
A very interesting Kindle Single taking a look at the inventor of the printing press from a modern entrepreneur perspective! As we read this work, we see Gutenberg as a 16th-century techno-genius. comparable to the likes of Steve Jobs & Bill Gates, who was ultimately responsible for the widespread dissemination of the written word.
This was a pretty quick read. Basically it is a short essay on the impact Gutenberg had on the world. Mind you it is nothing short of epic. As for the content of the book itself, Jarvis spends most of the time quoting those who came before him and adding his commentary. I would recommend it on the historical information provided alone.
Jeff Jarvis likes Germany, a feeling he brings across his short study on the printing press. I took away the thought that after the invention, it took about 50 years until society was revolutionised by the new technology. So we have a few decades to go until the internet will turn our habits around.
This is Jeff's comparison of Guttenberg, the inventor of the printing press to current silicon valley entrepreneurs. This is a kindle single with a length of approximately 5000 words. Jeff states that the issues of IP rights and funding that Guttenberg faced can be seen in today's silicon valley.
Not very long or interesting. The wikipedia article on Gutenberg with the occasional "just like Steve Jobs!" inserted for effect. It felt like an attemt to shoehorn Gutenberg into the role of a Silicon Valley entrepeneur, without any real reason other than the aliteration in the title.
A longish essay about the entrepreneurship of Gutenberg, showcasing some of it's Valley-ness . Concludes with some great thoughts about the parallels between the printing press and the internet and how much more awesomeness is yet to come!
Another enjoyable Kindle Single - essentially an interesting essay comparing the invention of the printing press to modern technological inventions, and how marketing and business practices are little changed since then. A short and fun read!
No sure Jarvis fully proves his point of Gutenberg being a forefather of the Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. It feels less like attaching a label and more like justifying a label. Overall though a short intro to the history of Gutenberg.
Jeff's portrayal of the Gutenberg in the light of today's valley superstars is serious fun all the way. But it would have been so good if the book lasted more than a short train ride ...
I was amazed to discover that this book wasn't writen by a high school student. It was mostly filled with repeating wh others had said before and hitting the reader over the head with comparisons to modern companies.
If you listen to This Week in Google (the podcast Jeff Jarvis participates in) you've heard most of this.
I'm hoping he does one next about Habermas next and gets them both out of his system.
I'm hoping he does one next about Habermas next and gets them both out of his system.
Nice, short read on the parallels between Gutenberg and the entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. It's really short though and more than anything else, it leaves you wanting more in the end.
It was OK but not great. It should have been a long form magazine article rather than a very short book--that may have helped to focus and tighten it.
A great short piece with one of my favorite themes -- history seems to repeat itself. Anyone interested in the future of journalism should read this.
A quick read that compares the invention of the press to current Silicon Valley start ups. An interesting read that didn't give much depth to my understanding of Gutenberg as a person.
A nice short easy read on how Gutenberg actually worked and how his life helped set up many of the changes to a modern world.
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Jeff Jarvis is an American journalist writing for publications such as New York Daily News, the San Francisco Examiner, and The Guardian. In 2006 he became an associate professor at City University of New York's Graduate School of Journalism, directing its new media program. He is a co-host on This Week in Google, a show on the TWiT Network.
Picture by Robert Scoble
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Picture by Robert Scoble
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“I believe the internet could prove to be as momentous an invention, as profound a platform. This is why we must protect the net from the control of governments and corporations — especially because they are the objects of the disruption technology enables. Only if it remains as open as the printing press for anyone — no, everyone — to use can the net.”
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