Rating: 
Summary: Great Bit History You've Never Heard Before
Review: This the real history behind the World Wide Web told by its creator/inventor Tim Berners-Lee. The author writes about the events leading up to the emergence of the web as a worldwide phenomenon in the mid-1990's.It was surprising to read about how much promoting and convincing Berners-Lee had to do in order to mobilize people to use the web. Also, the web isn't exactly aligned with Berners-Lee's original vision. He imagined a web in which users created content and information, rather than mostly read and react to it. Tim writes about steps that can be taken to steer the web toward that type of experience. The last two chapters, which summarize the author's vision for the future of the web, seemed a little unorganized and difficult to follow. It was as if the author was tired and inable to communicate a well-structured sequence of ideas. Perhaps I was just tired of reading (it was pretty late when I finished).
Rating: 
Summary: Past Present & Future - by the man who invented it
Review: Tim Berners-Lee explains how the Internet got started, but how he then conceived of the World Wide Web. Berners-Lee is a very modest man, and tells a good story that makes you feel you were there. He then takes us through his plans for the future of the WWW; obviously there are greater commercial forces now at play that might foil his plans, but good luck to him in his endeavours.
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Summary: Wow...the Web was born on a MAC ?!?
Review: Very insightful and historical view of the Web by the gent that created it. Tim gives credit to the folks that influenced his design for the Web and tells exactly how it came inot being in the mid 90's. Amazing to think he used a NEXT computer from Steve Job's old company to start the Web @ CERN. A must read for anyone who is intrested in Web history and doesn't settle for the common place acceptance of what the Web is today, but want's to learn of it's origins. Are you a grandma who loves checking email from her distant relatives and doesn't care how yahooappears in front of you when you type the URL? Then this book isn't for you. This book is for techies like myself that are tired of every John, Dick and Tom who use the "www" acronym and have no idea of what the heck they are talking about. How can you fully understand a technology if you don't know where it came from. This book is a litle dry (hence 4 stars) but will keep the intrest of any knowledgable Unix/dot.com geek, even if you have ADD. =) Much love to the folks @ CERN and to Tim...even though we evolve into new entities, lets not forget how or when we first started this wonderful Web process. Kevin
Rating:
Summary: OH, WHAT A WEB WE WEAVE......
Review: While he doesn't enjoy the fame or fortune of a mega mortal such as Bill Gates, Tim Berners-Lee is more than a major player in the world of the Web - he invented it. Dubbed one of the greatest minds of the 20th century by Time magazine, Berners-Lee is a visionary who relates how he created the World Wide Web, and what it means. He describes the Web's true nature, some of which helps us use it to better advantage. In addition, he offers his thinking regarding censorship, privacy, and the titan-like companies that have evolved. Now director of the World Wide Web Consortium, Berners-Lee has provided a lucid and compelling outline of today and tomorrow. - Gail Cooke
Rating:
Summary: Great read for technologists and non-technologists alike!
Review: Written in a conversational style, Weaving the Web provides a first hand account of the people and personalities behind the creation of the WWW. In addition to Berners-Lee's account of how the web was created, he provides his thought-provoking vision of the "web of the future." The book provides an interesting insight into Berners-Lee, himself. It is interesting to understand his motivations in creating the WWW and how he and others interacted during the emergence of this new medium - such as those at the University of Illinois (Marc Andreesen etc..). Another reason why this book so relevant is the fact that the events described are in the "so-recent" past that many of us can think clearly back when the WWW was not such a pervasive influence in our lives. From a "non-technical perspective," I enjoyed learning about Berners-Lee positions on such controversial issues as the Microsoft Anti-trust case, Censorship on the Web, the commercialization of the web and many other issues. This book provides and excellent opportunity for the founder of the web to address many issues that touch our every day lives. From a technological perspective, Berners-Lee challenges technologists to think about the implications of the technologies that they create and the work that they do. He challenges us to take more a "macro" perspective and about the web and it's potential. He provides ideas for many new technologies that could benefit the web well into the future. He provides arguments in support of the "open-source" movement as well as critiques of the current patent system. The book uses technical terms but the author provides a Glossary that makes the book accessible to technicians and non-technicians alike. This is thoughtful on the author's part and should encourage anyone to pick up this book. In sum, the book can best be described as an easy to read historical account that is both thought-provoking and accessible to a general audience.
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