The Whole Internet: User's Guide & Catalog
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A user's guide to Internet, a computer network, explaining the resources of the network and how to use them. This edition includes an expanded, subject oriented resource catalog t…
Book Summary
Ed Krol's 'The Whole Internet' is a classic user's guide and catalog for the early Internet. It explains network resources and how to use them, with an expanded subject-oriented catalog to help you find what you need. Ideal for readers wanting a structured, book-based introduction to Internet tools and directories from the 1990s.
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About The Whole Internet: User's Guide & Catalog
First published in the early 1990s, 'The Whole Internet: User's Guide & Catalog' by Ed Krol became a foundational reference for newcomers to the Internet. The book combines a practical user's guide with a detailed, subject-oriented resource catalog. Krol explains core network concepts and tools—such as email, Usenet, FTP, Telnet, and early information services—while the catalog points readers to specific resources by topic. This edition expands that catalog, making it easier to locate useful information across the network. Though much of the technology is dated, the book remains a valuable historical snapshot of how the Internet was organized, documented, and navigated before the web became dominant. It is best appreciated as a primary source for understanding early Internet culture and information retrieval.
Who should read The Whole Internet: User's Guide & Catalog?
This book suits technology historians, librarians, and educators studying the early public Internet. It is also useful for collectors of computing literature and readers curious about pre-web network tools and resource directories. Students of information science may find it a revealing case study in how knowledge was cataloged online. General readers seeking current Internet guidance should look elsewhere, as the tools and references are largely obsolete.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Clear, accessible explanations of foundational Internet tools and concepts
- ✓ Expanded subject-oriented catalog aids targeted resource discovery
- ✓ Well-organized structure that blends instruction with reference
- ✓ Historically significant as a widely used early Internet guide
- ✓ Written in a practical, user-friendly tone for non-specialists
Cons
- ✗ Highly dated; most tools and resources are obsolete
- ✗ Limited relevance for modern web and mobile Internet users
- ✗ Catalog entries point to services that no longer exist
- ✗ Assumes access to early command-line environments
- ✗ Not a substitute for current technical or security guidance
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Frequently asked questions
Is this book still useful for learning the Internet today?
No. It documents early tools and resources that are largely obsolete. It is valuable mainly as a historical reference, not as a current guide.
What topics does the book cover?
It explains core Internet concepts and tools such as email, Usenet, FTP, Telnet, and early information services, plus a subject-oriented resource catalog.
Who was Ed Krol?
Ed Krol was a network administrator and author known for writing one of the first widely used guides to the Internet for general readers.
Does this edition include an expanded catalog?
Yes. This edition features an expanded, subject-oriented resource catalog designed to help readers locate resources by topic.
Is this book suitable for children or beginners today?
It is not recommended for modern beginners. Its content is dated and assumes familiarity with early command-line Internet tools.
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