Really enjoyed this readable and fun history of UNIX/Bell Labs. If you liked The Idea Factory, this is a good followup where that book left off, centering in on the microcosm of the 1127/CSRC center. It's fascinating how many foundational tools we still use today were created in this corner of New Jersey.
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tiegz reviewed UNIX: A History and a Memoir by Brian W Kernighan
tiegz reviewed Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick
Review of 'Mayflower' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Great historical account of all things Pilgrim/Plymouth Colony, myth and fact, going far beyond what we learn in grade school. My biggest takeaways were the two events that hurt English/Native American relationships: the Pequot War (1636-1638) and King Philip's War (1675-1678). It's a tragedy that the working relationship between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag had soured during Plymouth Colony's 2nd generation. Both sides committed savage acts during King Philip's War, but it's difficult to place one's self in their place and context: the Natives feeling encroached by English land purchases and religious conversion, and also hit by the loss of population in the early 1600s; and the English feeling cornered in a new world, threatened by the French/Indian alliances, and committed to their often-counterproductive faith.
tiegz reviewed The Mastermind by Evan Ratliff
tiegz reviewed Remote: Office Not Required by Jason Fried
Review of 'Remote: Office Not Required' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
My first time going remote full-time was when I was 25 and fresh in a new city (NYC). I found it socially hard, un-motivating, distracting and the tools weren't quite perfect to feel as close to my fellow remote coworkers. Now, at 37, I'm giving it another go, and finding it much easier this time (after a year of giving it a shot remote part-time).
The lessons in this book mirror many of my own learnings: keep different home vs work computers, dedicate a room as your office if possible, the false myths of office collaboration, the not-actually-that-annoying realities of remote work, how to deal with the social distance, breaking up the day, etc.
Kudos to 37s for being cheerleaders for remote work! It has a learning curve -- easing into it may be the best advice -- but there are real benefits.
tiegz rated Domain-Driven Design Distilled: 3 stars
tiegz rated The Fifth Season: 3 stars
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (The Broken Earth, #1)
A SEASON OF ENDINGS HAS BEGUN.
IT STARTS WITH THE GREAT RED RIFT across the heart of the world's sole …
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
"Command the murderous chalices! Drink ye harpooners! Drink and swear, ye men that man the deathful whaleboat's bow -- Death …
tiegz reviewed The Unwritten Laws of Engineering by J. W. King
tiegz rated Comfortable with uncertainty: 3 stars
tiegz rated When Things Fall Apart: 4 stars
tiegz reviewed Dungeons & Dragons art & arcana by Michael Witwer
tiegz reviewed Unshakeable by Anthony Robbins
Review of 'Unshakeable' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I think the book reaches its goal of educating the average person about investing. It’s half-comprised of modern financial wisdom (use index funds, beware of 401k fees, the magic of compounding), and half motivational talk. 100% of book sales go to charity!
tiegz rated Treasure Island: 4 stars
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, N.C. Wyeth
"For sheer storytelling delight and pure adventure, Treasure Island has never been surpassed. From the moment young Jim Hawkins first …
tiegz reviewed Hitchcock by Francois Truffaut
Review of 'Hitchcock' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
A series of interviews that Truffaut did with Hitchcock in 1962. The most interesting thing about it is that Hitchcock had an extraordinary memory. He could recall stories from all the films Truffaut asks about.
The entire series of interviews might not make sense if you haven’t watched many Hitchcock films, but it would be a great reference to read up on you watch any of them.