Hidden Systems

By Dan Nott

Uncover the hidden stories behind water, electricity, and the internet's past and future.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 1,403 ratings

272 pages

$17.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Dive into the unseen world of everyday utilities in this graphic novel. Explore the origins and future of water, electricity, and the internet. Discover the first internet message, daily water usage, and the invention of electric light. Unravel the hidden histories filled with intrigue and humor, and see how past decisions shape our present and future. With engaging art and insightful diagrams, this journey through science history challenges us to rethink and reshape the systems we rely on.

From the publisher

We use water, electricity, and the internet every day–but how do they actually work? And what’s the plan to keep them running for years to come? This nonfiction science graphic novel takes readers on a journey from how the most essential systems were developed to how they are implemented in our world today and how they will be used in the future. What was the first message sent over the internet? How much water does a single person use every day? How was the electric light invented? For every utility we use each day, there’s a hidden history–a story of intrigue, drama, humor, and inequity. This graphic novel provides a guided tour through the science of the past–and reveals how the decisions people made while inventing and constructing early technology still affect the way people use it today. Full of art, maps, and diagrams, Hidden Systems is a thoughtful, humorous exploration of the history of science and what needs to be done now to change the future.