Tubes by Andrew Blum Summary

Tubes explores the physical infrastructure behind the internet, including undersea cables, data centers, and fiber-optic networks. Andrew Blum travels globally to uncover these hidden systems, meeting engineers and visiting landmarks like Manhattan’s underground tunnels and Google’s data centers. The book bridges the gap between the internet’s abstract perception and its tangible, human-built reality.

Tech enthusiasts, infrastructure nerds, and curious readers interested in how the internet physically operates will find Tubes compelling. It’s ideal for those who appreciate narrative-driven nonfiction that blends history, engineering, and on-the-ground reporting.

Yes—critics praise Blum’s accessible writing and vivid storytelling for demystifying the internet’s physicality. The book offers a unique perspective on a rarely explored topic, making it a standout choice for readers seeking to understand the “real-world” mechanics of digital life.

Key concepts include:

• Undersea cables: Thin fiber-optic lines connecting continents.
• Data centers: Massive facilities housing servers, like Google’s guarded complexes.
• Human labor: Engineers maintaining networks manually.
• Historical roots: Repurposed telegraph buildings as internet hubs.

Blum traces the journey of data through physical pathways, such as cables under Manhattan and undersea lines spanning oceans. He highlights how data centers act as “cathedrals of the digital age” and emphasizes the internet’s reliance on human ingenuity rather than abstract “clouds”.

A squirrel chewing through Blum’s Brooklyn internet cable sparked his curiosity about the internet’s materiality. This mundane incident led to a global investigation into its infrastructure.

• “The Internet wasn’t a physical world or a virtual world, but a human world.” Blum concludes that the network’s true center is its users.
• “Glass fibers pulse with light”: A poetic nod to the hidden beauty of cables.

Like Tracy Kidder’s classic, Tubes combines technical rigor with immersive storytelling. Both books humanize complex systems—Blum focuses on infrastructure, while Kidder explores early computer development.

Some reviewers note the book’s focus on physical descriptions over deeper analysis. Critics argue it occasionally prioritizes anecdotal journeys over exploring broader societal implications.

As debates about internet governance and data privacy intensify, Tubes remains a vital primer on the infrastructure underpinning these issues. Its insights into corporate control (e.g., Google’s secretive data centers) resonate amid growing tech skepticism.

Undersea cables, often no thicker than a garden hose, form the backbone of global connectivity. Blum visits landing stations in Portugal and details how these cables enable cross-continental data transfers, debunking myths of satellite-dominated networks.

By revealing miles of cables, humming data centers, and manual labor, Blum dismantles the illusion of a frictionless “cloud.” He argues the internet’s physicality makes it vulnerable to natural disasters and human interference.

For readers fascinated by infrastructure:

• The Undersea Network by Nicole Starosielski
• Broad Band by Claire L. Evans
• The Works by Kate Ascher