Giant brains; or, Machines that think

This book offers a clear, conversational tour of the first generation of machines that began to think like brains. It explains how early “mechanical brains” such as MIT’s differential analyzer, Harvard’s IBM calculator, the ENIAC, and Bell Labs’ relay computer were conceived, built, and put to work during the 1940s. The author walks listeners through the basic physics, algebra, and logic behind the devices, showing why their speed and reliability could replace hundreds of human workers in science, business, and government.

Beyond the hardware, the narrative explores what it means for a machine to handle information, reason, and solve problems, drawing parallels to language, symbols, and the human nervous system. Readers are invited to ponder how these pioneering calculators might reshape society, much like the printing press did for writing. The structure lets you dip in wherever curiosity strikes—whether you want a high‑level story or a deeper dive into the mathematics that made the first thinking machines possible.