The only thing that is missing in this wonderful book is the UNIX era, which constitutes a story by itself. I was really disappointed to see that UNIX is mentioned in only one or two pages (and nothing is mentioned about UNIX and C hackers). Other than that, I think it paints a very vivid and humane picture of a very special period of the history of computing.

I would also recommend it to people who are not technical so that they can understand the mindset and psychology of hackers better. The distinction between the styles of serious business computing and passionate, obsessive, creative and innovative hacking pushing the boundaries is also made very clear in the book. That distinction still exists today, even though the flagship of modern hacking GNU/Linux is becoming more and more of a business commodity rather than a risky playground for trying out really groundbreaking ideas. I also recommend the book to programmers, hackers and technical managers so that they know more about the past of their field. The roads taken and the roads not takes.

I must admit that I learned much more about the history of Homebrew Computer Club and game hacking from this book, wish it contained more stories about Commodore, ZX Spectrum and Amiga.

So grab some Chinese food, set up your hacking environment, put this book on your desk and give it a go! :) ( )

An interesting look at the early hackers & computers. Especially for those in the computer field, it's a fun look at history. Well written & engaging. ( )

This book chronicles the history of hackers, computer programmers, computer hardware engineers, and hobbyists. It also shows the rise of these strange types as the hardware became smaller and more accessible to the general public.

The book is very well written and focuses on the stories of key persons. It is easy to relate to them and the book reveals the hidden drama, goals and ideals of computer programmers/hackers. The book gives more depth to the computer industry.

Especially interesting were the later sections where the computer game industry was discussed. That's when computers really became popular and it was interesting to see how people tried to commericialize them, such as by turning programmers into factory line workers, or by having a tv show about video game playing, or movie/game tie-ins.

Levy is a fantastic writer and really brings out the human element. I've read the book 3 times and I think I'll always be able to re-read it without feeling bored. ( )

Steven Levy's classic book explains why the misuse of the word "hackers" to describe computer criminals does a terrible disservice to many important shapers of the digital revolution. Levy follows members of an MIT model railroad club--a group of brilliant budding electrical engineers and computer innovators--from the late 1950s to the mid-1980s. These eccentric characters used the term "hack" to describe a clever way of improving the electronic system that ran their massive railroad. And as they started designing clever ways to improve computer systems, "hack" moved over with them. These maverick characters were often fanatics who did not always restrict themselves to the letter of the law and who devoted themselves to what became known as "The Hacker Ethic." The book traces the history of hackers, from finagling access to clunky computer-card-punching machines to uncovering the inner secrets of what would become the Internet. This story of brilliant, eccentric, flawed, and often funny people devoted to their dream of a better world will appeal to a wide audience. ( )

This book traces the early development of computer programming from the MIT days to the 1990's. Levy researched the MIT model railroad club that became the first group of "hackers" working on an early computer in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, this book also serves as evidence of how women were kept out of computing, or, if they engaged in it, are generally ignored. Levy is only interested in the guys, and dismisses women out-of-hand (the quote is: "it's a hardware problem" in reference to women and computing). Thinking about this book always gives me a stomach ache.