Comic genius ( )

Quirky, funny, and touching. Not my usual genre, and I'm not a geek, so I can't imagine what possessed me to pick this book up in the first place, but I'm so glad I did. It's so well written, and about far more than the world of programming and computers. I just loved it. ( )

Parable of working in the big hi-tech world. A description of serfdom at Microsoft, eerily reminiscent of young enthusiasms and work hard, play hard life at HP in the days of hiring young, singles in cohorts out of college.

Near perfect in form, presentation and emotional drain. A handful of similarly quirky but unqiue characters handle similarly quirky but unique situations through a variety of historical, current and futuristic technologies, all while building a LEGO simulator that will put their new gaming company on the map. Great portrayl of Bill Gates and the Microsoft culture, as well as the campuses and lifestyles of a variety of other tech companies of the time. Fairly unique in presentation, often incorporating a literal reprinting of computer-related topics presented in each chapter, including the main character's computer's "sub-conscious" files acting as barriers between chapters. Taught me many a random factoid - the amounts of chemicals in the human body and the various uses for them, the body as a form of memory, flatland foods - and many a life lesson - why talking to someone through "license plate" speak can be the most heartbreaking and hopeful communication in the world. Touching, honest, hilarious and surprisingly warm look at the computer industry, nerds, and the Silicon Valley. ( )

http://alookatabook.blogspot.com/2009... ( )