Abrazolica

The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood, by James Gleick

The book makes its way through information theory the way the Platte River runs through Nebraska, an inch deep and a mile wide. When you finish the book you will have only a vague and foggy notion of what information theory is, but you will know some interesting things about the personalities connected with it. There is something to be said for that I suppose. They are interesting after all, and I doubt that Mr. Gleick intended to provide an in-depth review of information theory. As a popular book it does a fine job of giving the flavor of the subject. There is not a single equation in the book. This is sad. It's a bit like writing a book about Renaissance painting without a single picture of a painting.