The Secret History Of Social Networking

Rory Cellan-Jones (Author, Reader) RORY CELLAN-JONES was the BBC’s principal technology correspondent until 2021. He now writes an influential Substack column on medical innovation, tech and his beloved Romanian rescue dog, Sophie. Through this and his Twitter following @ruskin147 he spreads awareness of technological developments in the fields of medicine, health care and – more specifically – Parkinson’s. Together with Jeremy Paxman and several others he has begun a new podcast on Parkinson’s called Movers and Shakers. He also shares the progress of #SophiefromRomania on @ruskin147.

Rory Cellan-Jones traces the roots of social networking from the counterculture of the 197s through early bulletin board systems such as California's The WELL and the first networks on the World Wide Web, finding out how a geeky hobby became a mass phenomenon. He discovers how Facebook became the world's biggest social network, looks at the sites of the future and asks where the phenomenon is heading. His interviewees include Lee Felsenstein, co-founder of Community Memory, Larry Brilliant, co-founder of The WELL, Andrew Weinrich, founder of SixDegrees.com, Jonathan Abrams, co-founder of Friendster, Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Facebook, Chris DeWolfe, co-founder of MySpace, Michael and Xochi Birch, co-founders of Bebo, Wayne Ting, co-founder of Campus Network, David Kirkpatrick, author of The Facebook Effect, Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, Dennis Crowley, co-founder of Foursquare and Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn.

Rory Cellan-Jones

I am one of the many who has followed the story of Sophie from Romania. Those of us who adopted traumatised rescue dogs know that their story is one of patience, perseverance, and frequent setbacks. But what Sophie, Rory and Diane have also shown is the utter joy and reward that comes with every step forward. In a dark time, their story has given all of us a daily dose of hope, and a reminder of the importance - and endurance - of kindness.

I find myself rushing online to see what little Sophie has been up to... It fills my heart with so much joy. A wonderful dog, rescued by beautifully patient humans. Everything that is good about life.

A love story of sorts... A tale of a besotted middle-aged man – former BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones – and Sophie, a rescue dog from Romania, the pointy-eared object of his affection

Olive and Mabel are fascinated by Sophie’s journey, firmly believing that sofas are to be slept on, rather than hidden behind and are excited to hear her story being read to them by their human assistant.

Andrew Cotter, author of 'Olive and Mabel'

This is a loving, moving, honest book about the incredible patience required to build up trust with a traumatised dog, and the love that builds on both sides

We’re cat people, not dog people. But it turned out to be a great read. Not just because it is a salutary tale about what you let yourself in for when adopting a rescue dog. But also because it’s also about how Rory is dealing with Parkinson’s and Movers and Shakers, the remarkable podcast series he started with several friends who also have the condition.

What a rescue dog taught me about patience, love and hope

‘Fills my heart with so much joy' Niall Harbison, bestselling author of Tina 
'In a dark time, a daily dose of hope’ Jojo Moyes 
 
How do you welcome someone new into your heart and home? A week before Christmas, newly retired BBC journalist Rory Cellan-Jones receives a special delivery that will change his life. 
 
This is the story of rescue dog #SophieFromRomania. 
 
In January 2022, the Cellan-Jones-Coyle family said goodbye to their beloved elderly Collie cross, Cabbage. She and Rory had become inseparable during daily pandemic walks, which alleviated his Parkinson’s symptoms. After a grief-stricken year, Rory and his wife Diane come across a listing for ‘a kind girl who loves everybody and is just looking for her forever home’. 
 
Bright-eyed, big-eared and trembling, Sophie arrives in London on 17 December 2022. Rory holds the Romanian rescue in his arms, excited for their first walk together – but the road ahead will be a long one . . . This book follows the real journey of Sophie’s adoption – from her battles with anxiety, to the joys of play and her first time outside – as Rory and Diane work with expert dog trainer Si to win Sophie’s trust and navigate Rory’s Parkinson’s disease. 
 
This is a moving story of love, kindness and a lot of patience, paying tribute to rescue dogs and their tender community.

Rory Cellan-Jones

Praise for Sophie From Romania

I am one of the many who has followed the story of Sophie from Romania. Those of us who adopted traumatised rescue dogs know that their story is one of patience, perseverance, and frequent setbacks. But what ...

I find myself rushing online to see what little Sophie has been up to... It fills my heart with so much joy. A wonderful dog, rescued by beautifully patient humans. Everything that is good about life.

A love story of sorts... A tale of a besotted middle-aged man – former BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones – and Sophie, a rescue dog from Romania, the pointy-eared object of his affection

I am one of the many who has followed the story of Sophie from Romania. Those of us who adopted traumatised rescue dogs know that their story is one of patience, perseverance, and frequent setbacks. But what ...

I find myself rushing online to see what little Sophie has been up to... It fills my heart with so much joy. A wonderful dog, rescued by beautifully patient humans. Everything that is good about life.

A love story of sorts... A tale of a besotted middle-aged man – former BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones – and Sophie, a rescue dog from Romania, the pointy-eared object of his affection

I am one of the many who has followed the story of Sophie from Romania. Those of us who adopted traumatised rescue dogs know that their story is one of patience, perseverance, and frequent setbacks. But what ...

I find myself rushing online to see what little Sophie has been up to... It fills my heart with so much joy. A wonderful dog, rescued by beautifully patient humans. Everything that is good about life.

A love story of sorts... A tale of a besotted middle-aged man – former BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones – and Sophie, a rescue dog from Romania, the pointy-eared object of his affection

Books by Rory Cellan-Jones

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