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| Reviews Summary for Ham Radios Technical Culture |
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Reviews: 4
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Average rating: 3.5/5
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MSRP: $27.95
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Description: Decades before the Internet, ham radio provided instantaneous, global, person-to-person communication. Hundreds of thousands of amateur radio operators--a predominantly male, middle- and upper-class group known as "hams"--built and operated two-way radios for recreation in mid twentieth century America. In Ham Radio's Technical Culture, Kristen Haring examines why so many men adopted the technical hobby of ham radio from the 1930s through 1970s and how the pastime helped them form identity and community.
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More info: http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/author/default.asp?aid=33123
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KY6R
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 26, 2007 08:06
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Revised Review
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I should have given this book a "4" - so I am revising my review to average the rating.
The book does go a long way to describing the "essence" of what it was like to be a ham through ham radio's beginnings until the early 80's. It reads like part history book and part sociology book. It is not what I would call an "easy" read as in "highly entertaining".
Most of the book resonated with me - especially the description about how technology changed ham radio culture (building vs. buying and even going from tubes to semi conductors and how that related to general societies immersion in the "new electronics age"). I got into the computer industry because of ham radio, and right in the timeline and way that she discusses. The Heathkit sub story was really right on too - Heathkit had everything to do with my career - albeit indirectly. The "tinkering" side of ham radio has been very important to my career.
The gender thread in the book was a little weird because it seems a bit too "clinical". The human story is missing here. I think looking at how the culture changed due to technology is right on the mark, and can be discussed "clinically". I don't think the human relationships can be observed just under a microscope or by someone who doesn't conduct extensive interviews. Some stories did seem to be based on reading old club newsletters (i.e. the NCDXC and SCDXC meetings). I wonder if she interviewed anyone from those clubs who were there though - I would have loved just one or two anecdotes - comments from real people who lived through those events, and with a bit more humor thrown in.
Robert Cringely did this sort of thing in his "Triumph of the Nerds" documentary. His approach was clinical as far as history goes, but when he described the human relationships in that historical timeframe, he infused the humor associated with how techies do "battle".
But I must admit, it is a very thought provoking book - so that's why I think its worth a 4 - and why I added the 5 to average my rating out.
Its not "Triumph of the Nerds" - its more like "On Ham Radio" (i.e. sort of like "On Photography" by Susan Sontag). Reading a critical essay may not be as entertaining as "Triumph of the Nerds", but it certainly is worth the read anyway.
I applaud anyone who at least believes ham radio is worth writing about in a mostly positive light.
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N8WXQ
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Rating: 2/5
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Jan 24, 2007 18:02
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Weird Book
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This book is written by a non-ham who learned about ham radio by reading a bunch of old QST and CQ magazines. Talking with a few hams would have helped greatly.
This work considers ham radio in the middle decades of the 20th century.
The book explores the value of technical hobbies to society in general. As such this could have been a really great book. Unfortunately the author has been influenced by a bunch of ultra left-wing politically correct professors. (My apologies to those on the left but this is really left. Hi Hi) There are positively weird references to homosexuality, gender bias and racism that seem to reflect more on the psyche of the author than to ham radio. These comments reflect poor scholarship on the part of the author. The author would have had a better perspective if she considered ham radio as a world wide phenomena rather than just an American one.
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W5FRG
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Rating: 2/5
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Jan 5, 2007 19:30
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disappointed
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I was very disappointed with this book. For one thing, the author (a woman) is constantly whining about how poorly women are treated in the ham radio world. And for another thing, the author brags about not doing a single interview when writing this book. In my opinion, a few interviews with long-time, knowledgable hams could have greatly improved this tedious screed.
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KB3I
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 5, 2007 17:23
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A must read for any ham!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Here's a great book with a fascinating perspective of our hobby, written by a non-ham technical historian. The author, through an engaging writing style provides an insight into ham radio as a technical culture, and will warm the heart and mind of any ham radio operator.
You'll love this book!
73,
Ira KB3I
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