OT: best book in years

[John J. Lee]

Peter Hansen <peter at engcorp.com> writes:
[...]
> This sounds like a good opportunity to read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle
> Maintenance" (by Robert Pirsig) if you have not already.  It's certainly
> about IT, and ties into "The Zen of Python" (by Tim Peters) nicely, too. :-)

Don't read it, it's a pile of junk.  :-)  IMNSHO.


> (Failing that, or if you've already read it, I'd suggest one of the XP
> books, probably the white one as it was first, or the TDD book, and either 
> way Kent Beck gets your money. :-)

A much better idea.

Another one, that comes to mind for two reasons: "Secrets and Lies" by
Bruce Schneier.  First, it's fascinating and informative stuff on the
subject of real-world computer security, but second, it's a pleasure
to read, and often quite funny.  If you insist on reading something
technical while in hospital, this will at least make you smile from
time to time!

In the same area, an even more fun and readable book, "The Cuckoo's
Egg" by Clifford Stoll.  You've probably heard of it before -- sold a
lot of copies, I think.  A ripping yarn about the 'true story' (it
really is a true story, but who knows how much elaboration and
reconstruction it underwent for the book ;-) of how Cliff unearthed a
hacker in the early days of wide-area networking.  You won't put it
down.


John