Visionaries, Rebels and Machines

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 and a teenage cybercriminal.

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.