Personal Stereo, by Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow

Children of the '80s will enjoy the nostalgia trip in Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow's Personal Stereo, part of Bloomsbury Acedemic's "Object Lessons" series.  She succinctly follows the rise, influence, and lasting societal impact of the Sony Walkman.  Sony introduced the compact cassette player, paired with lightweight headphones, in the late 1970s, and seemingly overnight they were everywhere, the most coveted new invention in memory.

Imitators quickly followed, of course.  I think my first Walkman (the word became generic for all brands, not just Sony) was actually the Panasonic Way.  I don't know that it had any great advantage over Sony's, other than I thought it looked cool.  Even with the imitators, there is no question Sony was the pioneer.  Tuhus-Dubrow spends a lot of time on the fans and the critics of the new technology.  I remember well the warnings about hearing loss, and the frowns of others when a Walkman user went through life in his or her Walkman-induced isolation.

Her reflections on the differences between Walkman use and smart phone use are interesting.  While both can give the user a sense of isolation, there is something more pure about Walkman use.  It's a single-purpose tool, not prone to the interruptions and distractions from the music that smartphones give us.

Personal Stereo is thoughtful, reflective, and honoring to the innovation that Walkman represented.  The Walkman spurred a revolution in the music industry, and, arguably, revolutionized the way we consume and enjoy music.  Tuhus-Dubrow fosters a deep appreciation for the Walkman.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!