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Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution

25th Anniversary Edition

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Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution

By: Steven Levy
Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
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Steven Levy's classic book traces the exploits of the computer revolution's original hackers - those brilliant and eccentric nerds from the late 1950s through the early '80s who took risks, bent the rules, and pushed the world in a radical new direction. With updated material from noteworthy hackers such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Stallman, and Steve Wozniak, Hackers is a fascinating story that begins in early computer research labs and leads to the first home computers.

Levy profiles the imaginative brainiacs who found clever and unorthodox solutions to computer engineering problems. They had a shared sense of values, known as "the hacker ethic" that still thrives today. Hackers captures a seminal period in recent history when underground activities blazed a trail for today's digital world, from MIT students finagling access to clunky computer-card machines to the DIY culture that spawned the Altair and the Apple II.

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This was a really good book 10/10 I can really relate to the people in this book

A really good book to get up to speed with the original hackers

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Definitely recommended for anyone with an interest in the history of modern computing. whilst it felt slow to start, it soon picks up and provides a great insight into the lives of those responsible for technology today

A brilliant story of computer history

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the best truly great 👍 what can I say do more great great great 👍

hacker

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Parts of this are very interesting, if you enjoy the subject matter; unfortunately many sections are insufferably dull due to a lack of storytelling, as it is written more like a timeline of facts, with the barrage of names at the start being particularly obnoxious in audio format. I can't say I was keen on the narrator either and may have preferred to have read the book myself.

Enjoyed learning about the hacker-ethic and philosophy along with a lot of the older history I was unaware of, as well as the early gaming development in the 80's. Regretably, the content is entirely US-based, with no mention of the earliest modern computers and code-breakers at Bletchley Park in the UK, during World War II, who were the vital precursors to the hackers at MIT, as I understand it. Was also expecting at least a brief mention of the likes of Vint Cerf and Tim Berners-Lee with the revised versions of this audiobook; they may not be "true hackers" but their impact on modern computing and the world in general has clearly been enormous.

Interesting, but often dull. Mediocre narration.

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This book is a skillfully woven collection of anecdotes and stories going back some 70 years to the earliest days of mainframe and mini computers up to the 1980s and the home computer explosion. If you are not into computers then this book probably isn't for you. If you are, however, you will recognise all the traits of the individuals in this book as they dedicate themselves to making their machines bend to their will.

Of particular interest to me was the many descriptions about the social and cultural aspects of the 'hacker' community which is often missing from similar texts.

The narration style is somewhat over-egged - the guy reminds me of those late night 12-hour long TV advertising channels! He needs to dial it back a bit - however you get used to it and it doesn't detract from the narrative at all. It's just an observation really - don't let it put you off this excellent book. I can highly recommend it.

Skillfully woven

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