Hackers

Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution

Hardcover - USA - 1st edition.

Author Steven Levy Published 1984-??-?? Type Non-fiction Genre Educational Themes Computers, Hacking Age Group Adult

Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution is a non-fiction book about the history of computer hardware and software developers from the early days of university computers, to the 80s with personal computers. It was written by Steven Levy and first published in 1984.

Personal

Own?	Audiobook, 25th Anniversary Edition, read by Mike Chamberlain.
Read?	Audiobook, 25th Anniversary Edition, read by Mike Chamberlain.
Finished	2017-09-10.

A friend lent me this book in my early-20s, but I only skimmed it. I bought it as part of an audiobook bundle when I was in my late-30s, and was much more interested in the history of the computer industry, so I read it fully.

Review

Overall:

Good

• The book is well-written from beginning to end with a lot of interesting stories about many of the of big names in the computer industry.
• The added chapter from the 25th anniversary edition is a nice follow-up to where Levy left off in 1984.

Bad

• The author romanticizes too much of the early history of computers and hackers. There is a lot of religious and magical metaphor for something that is actually a hard science. I get that he's trying to evoke a feeling of mystery, but it just sounds silly.
• Too much of the book is about Sierra On-Line. Granted, it was a major computer company, but it was one of many.
• While the stories about the people involved are really great, I wish the author had gotten more technical with his description of hardware and software.
• At one point the author suggests Dungeons & Dragons players use an 18-sided die! For shame!

Ugly

• Nothing.

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