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Ask HN: Computer Science/History Books?

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Re: Ask HN: Computer Science/History Books?

#151

Post by jonjacky »

Mongoose wrote: post #35

Highly recommend A History of Modern Computing [1]. Starting with the ENIAC in the '40s through the successive generations of computing technology in the 20th century, it gives a fantastic overview of the field's history. Sadly, now that I look into it, it looks like it's out of print. There are a few copies available on Amazon, so act now! [1] https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/history-modern-computing

I think that the best sections in this book are on the 1950s through the 1970s: the mainframe and minicomputer eras, and the beginnings of the Internet and personal computers. That's all in the first edition.

Re: Ask HN: Computer Science/History Books?

#152

Post by jonjacky »

Computer: A History of the Information Machine by Martin Campbell-Kelly and William Aspray. Good on prehistory: pre-computer data processing in the 19th and early 20th centuries -- there was a lot of it! --- the founding and early history of IBM and the computer industry etc.

Computer Power and Human Reason by Joseph Weizenbaum. From 1976. Not exactly a history, but now of historical interest as the first thorough ethical and humanist critique of computing and AI, by the MIT computer scientist who wrote the original Eliza program. The chapter on the hacking culture at MIT has been widely quoted and was one of the first popular accounts of that scene.

Computer Lib/Dream Machines by Ted Nelson. From 1974. Another book now of historical interest. Self-published, with a DIY look similar to its contemporary Whole Earth Catalog. Along with advocacy ("You can and must understand computers now!") it is also an opinionated survey of the computing world right before the personal computer appeared. Nelson is now best known as the author of the Xanadu hypertext proposal, which does get a few pages here, but I think this book might be his most influential contribution.

Re: Ask HN: Computer Science/History Books?

#154

Post by leoc »

johnb wrote: post #51

A few good ones that haven't been mentioned yet: * "IBM's 360 and Early 370 Systems " https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/ibms-360-and-early-370-system... * "Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35953464-broad-band * "Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1427580.Fire_in_the_Vall...

The First Computers—History and Architecture edited by Rojas and Hashagen

Re: Ask HN: Computer Science/History Books?

#155

Post by blueyes »

Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer

High Stakes, No Prisoners - history of the birth of the Internet written by the founder of FrontPage, with a keen critique of Netscape's history - Charles Ferguson

Computer Wars - a look at the decline of IBM by the early 90s - Charles Ferguson

Valley of Genius: The Uncensored History of Silicon Valley - An oral history of the Valley in the 80s and 90s.

Re: Ask HN: Computer Science/History Books?

#156

Post by craigkilgo »

madhadron wrote: post #90
gonehome wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also think it's a great book, but partly because it is technical. Charles is great at explaining how computers actually work with circuit diagrams from the ground up in a way that's articulate, clear, and engaging. I think I learned more from this book than I did in my CS architecture class. The historical context he puts it in helps with clarity since it's easier to understand when you know how each successive ste…

If you're going to read the Phoenix Project, skip it and go back to Goldratt's 'The Goal'. And take it with a grain of salt.

I read Phoenix Project first and then The Goal. I enjoyed both and I think that's the best order.
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