R.A.W.: Book: Hackers and Painters - Big Ideas from the Computer Age

Book: Hackers and Painters - Big Ideas from the Computer Age · 13. October 2004, 17:47

Hackers and Painters – Big Ideas from the Computer Age by Paul Graham

This book is a look at the computer industry, the participants therein and some of the tools of the trade. The book comprises fifteen individual essays that can be read in any order. Several of the essays make reference to the visual arts – a medium studied by Paul Graham and hence the reference to Painters in the title.

The impression I got while reading this book is that whilst Paul Graham may be a very interesting individual he is certainly not modest. In every chapter he presents his ideas as definitive and final. This is only mildly annoying however in a book which contains many interesting and thought provoking ideas.

For European readers (or at least Irish readers), I suspect Paul Grahams comments on the US educational system will seem very foreign indeed. I’d recommend skipping the first chapter unless you take an interest in learning about educational systems very different to your own.

Overall I would rate this book as a good and approachable read by anyone interested in the computer industry regardless of prior computing experience. I would however caution believing every idea that Paul Graham expounds.

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