Sujatha

As a computer engineer/scientist, I found this book to be simply beautiful. Like stepping into your grandmother's attic and discovering treasures, which brings back a flood of memories. It reminded me of the beauty of the field of information science. But more than that, it brought to life the familiar theories pounded into us through dry textbooks. It tells the stories of the people behind the thoughts that changed the way our world works. It weaves together disparate fields. As any great book should, this will make you look at the world through different eyes.

So beautiful.

Silly question, really. If you prefer reading, read. If you prefer listening, listen. The book itself is unquestionably unmissable.

Not sure - I've read a lot of books on neuroscience and cognitive psychology...such as The Language Instinct, the Happiness Advantage, Predictably Irrational, The Invisible Gorilla etc. This book is definitely in a class of its own. Much more comprehensive. I love that this wonderful man waited to gain a lifetime of knowledge before coming out with his magnum opus.

Can't speculate on this. The best I can say is that the reading did not detract from the book.

I feel a bit guilty only giving this four stars (not five), but I have to make it consistent with my grading scale. This book is unquestionably enjoyable. It is definitely a refreshing perspective, a very thoughtful exploration. Startlingly poetic.

But, not particularly "meaty", in my opinion. That is, it doesn't delve into computer science - it's mostly anecdotal in its narrative. Nevertheless, highly entertaining.

I work in the technology industry, and have worked with every "stage" of customer Moore has listed here...from the visionary/enthusiasts to the laggards. His characterization of these customer stages is so spot on that it's actually funny.

Before the next technological marvel product comes around, get your basics right, so you can recognize which stage your particular product is in!

I work in the technology industry, which seems to progress in fits and spurts, through disruptive innovations that become mainstream products within mere years, not decades. This book was eye-opening in its exploration of disruptive innovations, the conditions under which they succeed, their effect on "established" players...how (if) a disruptive innovation can be defended against by the established players..

Very interesting read.

Garden-variety advice, garden-variety prose. Can't argue with the advice, but it's simply the sort of thing anyone's mom tells them. "Be a good person".

I expected this book to "follow the money", and delve into the extent to which the interests of large corporations have molded the evolution of the internet. Instead, this book investigates the legal implications of a "borderless" medium such as the Internet. In other words, how do the laws of one land apply to content that originates in another land? How do companies comply with the variable free speech laws of different nations (China vs. the U.S. for instance).

For me, I found it getting tedious about halfway through. Possibly more interesting to a law student.

Mary Roach is not squeamish about inquiring into every dark nook of an astronaut's demanding job. But, in doing so, she reveals the extraordinary mental strength and courage possessed by these individuals.

Throughout history, the people who pursue science out of pure passion have taken astounding risks, made extraordinary leaps of faith, their desire to *know* easily outpacing fear. That is what makes books like these a joy to read...being reminded that people like that exist, and they are the reason civilizations progress.

Thoroughly enjoyed the book. The content is interesting in itself, but the writing style takes the book beyond the realm of the ordinary. Dan Ariely knows how to twist a phrase. Wry humor peeks out in unexpected places, surprising and delighting.

Delightful insights into the human psyche and social norms.

The author is definitely someone who has drunk the Kool-Aid, down to the last drop. Nevertheless, this is a useful collection of examples of a growing trend, a social shift. I didn't find myself in complete agreement with the author on everything, nevertheless it is a viewpoint worth listening to.