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A review by luckypluto
Close to the Machine: Technophilia and Its Discontents by Ellen Ullman
4.0
Ellen Ullman’s novel The Bug is one of my favorite books, and I was excited to read Close to the Machine, her memoirs about working in Silicon Valley. Ullman’s take on the tech world is uniquely refreshing and mirrors my own in some key ways, and I think she offers a unique insight on the industry that is valuable for any software developer.
Close to the Machine did not disappoint. It was a fabulously interesting read, and while it only covers a short swath of Silicon Valley history, it is rich with insight and intelligence—a break from the usual feel-good tripe written about software development. Admittedly, some parts of it were a bit slow, particularly where she waxes philosophical about the nature of contract work, but overall I found it to be edifying and worth the time I put into it.
While she has plenty of articles floating around, her only other book (that I haven’t read) is By Blood. I’m impressed enough by both Close to the Machine and The Bug that I may just give By Blood a go at some point.
Close to the Machine did not disappoint. It was a fabulously interesting read, and while it only covers a short swath of Silicon Valley history, it is rich with insight and intelligence—a break from the usual feel-good tripe written about software development. Admittedly, some parts of it were a bit slow, particularly where she waxes philosophical about the nature of contract work, but overall I found it to be edifying and worth the time I put into it.
While she has plenty of articles floating around, her only other book (that I haven’t read) is By Blood. I’m impressed enough by both Close to the Machine and The Bug that I may just give By Blood a go at some point.