mushimilda's review against another edition
4.0
Les différents essais composant ce livre sont très inégaux. Certains m’ont vraiment passionné, parce que lire le point de vue de l’autrice, une femme queer programmeuse informatique dans les années 70 est exactement ce que j’ai envie de lire en ce moment. D’autres s’apparentent plus à des articles courts sur des sujets plus ou moins intéressants comme on peut lire dans la presse (pensez Wired). D’autres sont très intimes et personnels, notamment sur la mort de son chat, et ressemble à des extraits de journal intime. Enfin, certains sont des critiques acerbes de ce que la technologie et internet sont devenus. Je ne pense pas que ce soit le meilleur livre pour découvrir l’autrice. Elle s’adresse à des lecteurs qui connaissent déjà son travail, ses publications, et m’ont donné l’impression de manquer quelque chose, me demandant pourquoi l’autrice survolait certains sujets pour se concentrer sur des détails. J’ai envie de lire son autobiographie, qui a rencontré plus de succès, et puis ses romans (genre celui sur une personne qui passe une année complète à chercher un bug dans un programme informatique).
mrsthrift's review
I picked this up because Ellen Ullman was on my favorite podcast (Note to Self) and I liked some of the things she said. This book was interesting both for the historic perspective (she was a computer programmer in the 70s and has watched technology and culture evolve together), and also for her insights into life, culture, technology, privacy, and activism. I could probably re-read this book every year and still glean a lot of insight and perspective from it, and I hope it will be one I will return to.
quietdomino's review against another edition
3.0
Ullman is exactly as mad as you think she ought to be about everything.
eric_roling's review
3.0
I read this because I was a huge fan of Ullman's "Close to the Machine" and was expecting more of the same - immersive writing about life at the vanguard of the personal computer age. This was much more of a collection of previously published (or written) essays on the topic dating back to the 90s. The collection was uneven - some were great, hilarious tales of weird male programmers that can't communicate in person, and the piercing perspective that made her previous book so poignant. But others were really dated, or felt tacked-on. Glad I read it, but wish it had been something different.
click2carney's review
5.0
So much Ullman imparts to us here. Encouragement to women and underrepresented groups to break into coding and disperse the boys club that stands at the gate. Encouragement to the next generation to fight the culture that has overtaken the Internet.
This book isn't for everyone. But for me, as a woman who codes in the 21st century, it was encouraging to hear her thoughts. I found myself nodding along with experiences she had persevering in the boys club of coding. I laughed at some of her stories. I was saddened by other stories and warnings she relayed.
I could read it again and still get something out of it. Even if it's to be reminded of why I do what I do, and "power lies in refusal to be intimidated... use your anger to fuel your determination." These are words to live by as a woman in tech.
This book isn't for everyone. But for me, as a woman who codes in the 21st century, it was encouraging to hear her thoughts. I found myself nodding along with experiences she had persevering in the boys club of coding. I laughed at some of her stories. I was saddened by other stories and warnings she relayed.
I could read it again and still get something out of it. Even if it's to be reminded of why I do what I do, and "power lies in refusal to be intimidated... use your anger to fuel your determination." These are words to live by as a woman in tech.
ancequay's review
3.0
The first couple chapters and the last chapter were five stars. The philosophy bits and stuff about the nature of AI really dragged for me. I related to her discussion of being a woman in tech, to her need to prove herself over and over again, to her disapproval of the [little] boys club that so often happens when you get a bunch of engineers, particularly software engineers, together. I am an adult woman and your Star Wars and Big Bang inside jokes and nerf gun fights are neither inclusive nor funny.
In the end, there are a couple essays I will wholeheartedly recommend to friends and colleagues but not the whole book. (But if philosophy is your thing, knock yourself out!)
In the end, there are a couple essays I will wholeheartedly recommend to friends and colleagues but not the whole book. (But if philosophy is your thing, knock yourself out!)