WRITING ON THE WALL Social Media: The First 2,000 Years

Simon Vance's engaging voice helps to drive Standage's history of social media. His English accent and use of emphasis command listeners' attention and hold it throughout the production. His vocal energy also keeps a consistent momentum within the narrative that can help listeners get through some dry parts. Sometimes when quoting a person or a letter, it's not always clear when he's done quoting and has returned to prose. Standage provides a fascinating history of social media by identifying and connecting its predecessors all the way back to the dawn of time. Recognizing social media as an outgrowth of socializing and communications, he moves from period to period of human history, teasing out social media's forefathers. L.E. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2013]