Birth Culture

The dream of capturing and organizing knowledge is as old as history. From the archives of ancient Sumeria and the Library of Alexandria to the Library of Congress and Wikipedia, humanity has wrestled with the problem of harnessing its intellectual output. The timeless quest for wisdom has been as much about information storage and retrieval as creative genius. In Cataloging the World, Alex Wright introduces us to a figure who stands out in the long line of thinkers and idealists who devoted themselves to the task.

From sex-crazed gods to ravenous monsters, Ben Thompson brings legendary titans to life in tales of adventure, bloodlust, and unrelenting badassitude. Since the beginning of human history people have created myths, tall tales, superheroes, and arch-villains - men and women who embarked on insane adventures, performed extraordinary feats of unparalleled awesomeness, and overcame all odds to violently smite their foes into bloody pulp.

This selection comes from the 1910 book on the history of the telephone by Herbert N. Casson. The two sections cover the birth of the phone and its future. What makes this fascinating is how 110 years ago writers viewed the future of such a communicative device.

Everything you need to understand the content and vocabulary to successfully navigate the Advanced Placement United States History exam. The book and its audio narration explain every key concept, word for word, that the College Board publishes for the Advanced Placement United States History. Better yet, it is delivered by a professional actor in language that is relatable, understandable, and sometimes humorous. This is your best investment for a passing grade on your exam!