Visionaries, Rebels and Machines
The story of humanity’s extraordinary journey from electrification to cloudification
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Right Book Press
Publishing:19th Jun '25
£24.99
This title is due to be published on 19th June, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£16.99(9781915483157)

The electrifying story behind technology’s greatest breakthroughs.
From the first sparks of electrification to the dawn of artificial intelligence, Visionaries, Rebels and Machines is a rip-roaring adventure through the history of technology.
It reveals how curiosity, ingenuity, bold breakthroughs and pure chance have driven progress, leading to the artificial intelligence, automation and cloud computing that’s reshaping our world today. It’s not just about how we got here, but also where we’re heading. Understanding this evolution helps us make informed decisions, seize opportunities and stay ahead in a rapidly shifting landscape.
Discover the domino effect of innovation – those unexpected connections and coincidences that have triggered ideas, innovation, experimentation and technological revolution. And, along the way, meet an eccentric cast of fascinating characters that include a video-rental entrepreneur, a bookseller-turned-tech titan, scientists electrifying frogs, a teenage cybercriminal and the brilliant minds who fled Nazi-occupied Europe to reshape computing forever.
With wit, insight and a touch of irreverence, industry expert Jamie Dobson tells a gripping tale of risk-takers and revolutionaries, taking you on a whirlwind ride through tech’s surprising history that’s bigger, bolder and more astonishing than you ever imagined.
An entertaining romp through the history of technology.
- Adrian Cockcroft - Former Cloud Architect at Netflix and AWS
Jamie Dobson has pulled off the impossible—making the history of computing feel like a heist movie.
-Mark Coleman, Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist at NetBox Labs
More than just a book on tech history, this is an enjoyable journey through the failure-fueled cultures that powered innovation, ultimately leading to cloud and AI.
-Daniel Vaughn, Director, Software Engineering, Mastercard
Essential reading for anyone curious about how we got here, and where we’re headed next.
-Ian Miell - Partner at Container Solutions
A fascinating look back at the origins of our modern computing environment: how the technology evolved and, perhaps more importantly, how the people involved made it happen.
-Steve Freeman, Principal Engineer, Gousto
A captivating tale of humanity’s tech evolution—from electrification to AI—told with brilliance and clarity.
-Jan Wiersma, technology executive and investor
An eye opening story that highlights the power of trial and error and how amazing progress can come through failure by learning from it.
-Anne Currie, Founder of Strategically Green and author of Building Green Software
If you care about innovation, leadership, or the impact of technology on society, this book belongs on your shelf.
-Jonny Williams, Chief Digital Adviser, Red Hat and Author of Delivery Management: Enabling Teams to Deliver Value
An insightful journey through the history of cloud and AI technologies as well as the people who made things happen.
-Chris Swan, Co-host, Tech Debt Burndown Podcast
Technology's revolutionary journey, artfully rendered.
-Simon Wardley, Creator of Wardley Maps
Told with insightful storytelling, this book reveals how the pioneers of innovation have shaped not only the tools we use, but the very fabric of our society.
-Philippe Ensarguet, VP Software Engineering, Orange
ISBN: 9781917490078
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
312 pages