Okay, so the title sounds like a dry scientific paper, but stick with me. This book is George Forbes's attempt to answer a very specific, practical question: How thick does an underwater telegraph cable need to be to actually work? That's it. That's the whole plot. In the late 1800s, laying a cable across the Atlantic was a colossal gamble. Too thin, and the signal dies. Too thick, and the ship can't carry it, sinking the company's finances. Forbes, who worked on these projects, breaks down the physics of signal loss and material strength into clear, logical steps. He shows you the math, but he's always pointing back to the real wire, the real ocean, and the real cost.

Why You Should Read It

You should read it because it makes genius feel accessible. There's no grandstanding here. It's a masterclass in problem-solving. You see a brilliant mind chipping away at a huge obstacle with sheer, patient logic. It's also a snapshot of a turning point in history. You're witnessing the moment global communication became possible, not through magic, but through calculation. It gives you a deep appreciation for the invisible engineering in everything around us.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone fascinated by the history of technology, engineering, or the Victorian era. If you enjoy stories about how things actually get built, or if you've ever looked at a modern marvel and thought, 'How did they figure that out?', this is your book. It's a short, focused, and surprisingly human look at the birth of our connected world.