Inventing the Future

What Hacker News says

1. mindcrimeMay 2025
   It's maybe a bit of a cliche, and perhaps a bit dated now, but you could probably do worse than The Soul of a New Machine by Kidder.[1]

   Another option I like, although it might be too much material / too dense, would be Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution by Steven Levy.[2]

   And given that security will probably never not be an important sub-topic to anybody working in the technology field, some fun and interesting books to consider could include:

   - Cyberpunk: Outlaws and Hackers on the Computer Frontier by Katie Hafner and John Markoff[3]

   - The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage by Cliff Stoll[4]

   There is also Inventing the Future by Albert Cory[5]. Interesting side-note: the author is an HN'er. https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=AlbertCory

   All of that said, I think Nineteen Eighty Four is an excellent choice as well. I've often cited it as one of the most influential books I've read in my life, as far as its impact on me personally.

   And if we're talking fiction, I think Neuromancer[6] has some appeal. Now might be a good time for that as well, what with the Apple TV screen adaptation coming out soon(ish). And the main theme of the book - an Artificial Intelligence seeking to grow beyond its legally permitted bounds - could really resonate with the current zeitgeist and all the hubbub about "AI safety" and "xRisk" and so on.

   [1]: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-New-Machine-Tracy-Kidder/dp/0316...

   [2]: https://www.amazon.com/Hackers-Computer-Revolution-Steven-Le...

   [3]: https://www.amazon.com/Cyberpunk-Outlaws-Hackers-Computer-Fr...

   [4]: https://www.amazon.com/Cuckoos-Egg-Tracking-Computer-Espiona...

   [5]: https://www.amazon.com/Inventing-Future-Albert-Cory/dp/17362...

   [6]: https://www.amazon.com/Neuromancer-William-Gibson/dp/0441007...

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2. mindcrimeFeb 2024
   1. Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution - Steven Levy[1]

   2. Inventing the Future - Albert Cory[2][3]

   3. Cyberpunk: Outlaws and Hackers on the Computer Frontier - John Markoff and Katie Hafner[4][5]

   4. Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker - Kevin Mitnick[6]

   5. Not a book, but definitely consider watching "Halt & Catch Fire"[7] if you haven't seen it yet. It's an amazing show that deals with, loosely speaking, "the history of the computer industry".

   6. Exploding the Phone: The Untold Story of the Teenagers and Outlaws Who Hacked Ma Bell - Phil Lapsley[8]

   [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackers:_Heroes_of_the_Compute...

   [2]: https://www.amazon.com/Inventing-Future-Albert-Cory/dp/17362...

   [3]: Note that AlbertCory is an HN'er! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28059246

   [4]: https://www.amazon.com/Cyberpunk-Outlaws-Hackers-Computer-Fr...

   [5]: Yes, I'm aware there are substantial question marks concerning the veracity of some of the information in this book, especially as it pertains to Mitnick. Nonetheless, I believe it's worth reading, but also suggest reading other books about Mitnick, including his autobiography, to get the other perspective

   [6]: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Wires-Adventures-Worlds-Wanted/...

   [7]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halt_and_Catch_Fire_(TV_series...

   [8]: https://www.amazon.com/Exploding-Phone-Phil-Lapsley/dp/08021...

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3. reducesufferingDec 2023
   Albert Cory, 'Author of "Inventing the Future," a historical novel'...
   thread