Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Steven Levy's classic book explains why the misuse of the word "hackers" to describe computer criminals does a terrible disservice to many important shapers of the digital revolution. Levy follows members of an MIT model railroad club--a group of brilliant budding electrical engineers and computer innovators--from the late 1950s to the mid-1980s. These eccentric characters used the term "hack" to describe a clever way of improving the electronic system that ran their massive railroad. And as they started designing clever ways to improve computer systems, "hack" moved over with them. These maverick characters were often fanatics who did not always restrict themselves to the letter of the law and who devoted themselves to what became known as "The Hacker Ethic." The book traces the history of hackers, from finagling access to clunky computer-card-punching machines to uncovering the inner secrets of what would become the Internet. This story of brilliant, eccentric, flawed, and often funny people devoted to their dream of a better world will appeal to a wide audience.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
The New York Times
"A remarkable collection of characters . . . courageously exploring mindspace, an inner world where nobody had ever been before."
Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution
Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution,Steven Levy,Steven Levy,Penguin (Non-Classics),0141000511,Computer Bks - General Information,Computer Industry,Computer hackers,Computer programming,General,History,Science/Mathematics,Technology,Computer fraud & hacking,Computers / General,Data security & data encryption,True crime
Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution
Books:
Books