No longer just a mainstay of science fiction, VR has seen recent success with companies such as Oculus, Sony, and HTC. But little is known about its history, which reaches back decades. Ewalt chronicles its origins in Cold War military laboratories, and traces it through decades of hype and failed products, to a teenage gamer whose advancements made the recent breakthroughs in VR possible. Writing for a mainstream audience as well as technology enthusiasts, Ewalt offers a unique perspective on how VR got here, where it's going, and how and why it will change the way we live.