Michael A. Padlipsky, (May 9, 1939 – March 3, 2011), known as MAP or Mike, was an early member of the working group that developed the ARPANET networking protocols that underpin today's Internet, and an internetworking polemicist.

[3] When internetworking of dissimilar computer types was begun under ARPA funding, Mike participated representing Multics.

Mike summarized his own internetworking experience as follows:[4] Therefore, to combat that sort of brain surgery by transmission mechanics, I feel I should present my credentials.

"[34] On the occasion of The Book's reissuance, Peter Salus wrote a review in Cisco's Internet Protocol Journal[35] which included the following observations: Padlipsky brought together several strands that managed to result in the perfect chord for me over 15 years ago.

[Emphasis added] The instruments Padlipsky employs are a sharp wit (and a deep admiration for François Marie Arouet), a sincere detestation for the ISO Reference Model, a deep knowledge of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET)/Internet, and wide reading in classic science fiction.In a lighter vein, The Book has been called "... beyond doubt the funniest technical book ever written.

At the intersection of Mike's involvement with internetting computers and his "real area of research" was what some have termed the Pun of the Year, 1986: I was asked to give a talk at Edinburgh University, since I was going to be in the neighborhood to do field work in my real area of research interest, what we call single malt Scotch and what they call malt whisky.

Since he had an appointment in a few minutes and I was supposed to go off to the pub with my local cohorts, we didn't even take time to sit, just exchanged a few pleasantries about our respective books and a thought or two about the particular malt whisky he'd happened to have in his desk.

At the pub, I mentioned the incident to the gang and was informed that my host had been their new Professor of Computer Science, which, I might not know, was a relatively more distinguished rank there than in the States.