The company first began upgrading radios and then eventually produced the first tape recorder available in Japan. The company’s initial name was Tokyo Telecommunications Research and was later changed to Sony, derived from the Latin word for sound and a play on the English word “sonny”, a slang term meaning young boy that was common in Japan at the time. I found this section incredibly engaging and loved learning that Sony began with a staff of eight crammed into a small office in a bombed downtown Tokyo department store in 1945. Personal Stereo thankfully begins long before the invention of the Walkman with a history of Sony and its founders, Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita. Looking back from a time when iPhones exist, at times it was almost comical to read some of the concerns that critics voiced about the Walkman. The Walkman’s debut occurred when I was young so I do not remember either the excitement it generated nor the consternation about its potential negative impact on society. Personal Stereo is a quick and fascinating read that covers both the history of the Walkman and its effects on society. I had not encountered the Object Lessons series previously, but after reading this one I plan to seek out more of them. I love music almost as much as reading so when I saw this book I knew it was a must-read (plus the cover is fabulous).
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