Lars Wirzenius5d ago

"The Soul of a New Machine" by the recently-departed Tracy Kidder was a formative book when I had been programming only a small number of years. I was still a high school student and had never worked in the industry, but it gave me a glimpse of what I would later learn was common, even if stupid.

I haven't read it again in a long time. I should rectify that.

https://www.tracykidder.com/the-soul-of-a-new-machine.html

#SoulOfANewMachine #TracyKidder

The Soul of a New Machine by Author Tracy Kidder

The Soul of a New Machine endures as the classic chronicle of the computer age and the masterminds behind its technological advances.

Tracy Kidder
dorianlistensNov 27, 2022
Just finished reading “The Soul of a New Machine” after watching one-too-many @bcantrill talks, ahhhnnnnnnd… wow! Quite the journey, equal parts inspiring and tragic! The description of obsession in all its forms resonated very deeply, and I think my main takeaway is “be careful what you sign up for.”
Also: I guess I’m at the point in my life/career where non-fiction books about engineering management can be “thrilling”. 🤓#SoulOfANewMachine