Computer Parables: Enlightenment in the Information Age [Paperback]

Geoffrey James (Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Info Books (October 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0931137136
• ISBN-13: 978-0931137136
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,788,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The risks which can be named are not the true risks, August 8, 2001

By 

Richard Threadgill (Palo Alto, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computer Parables: Enlightenment in the Information Age (Paperback)

While slightly weaker than the first two books in this set, "The Tao of Programming," and "The Zen of Programming," this volume is strongly recommended for new software project leads and project managers, and for managers and executives who are trying to understand how (and why) software is built the way that it is built.

With the other two books in this series, James does an excellent job of conveying many of the lessons of large software project management and software design in a series of short, accessible anecdotes which can be easily digested by someone who is just coming to the field, or who doesn't have the time and focus to really digest Brooks ("The Mythical Man-month") or Demarco/Lister ("Peopleware"). This set is concise and to-the-point, and a must have for the new project manager or project lead.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As good as the others, May 15, 2000

By 

Cynthia Matuszek (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Computer Parables: Enlightenment in the Information Age (Paperback)

Similar to _The Tao of Programming_ and _The Zen of Programming_ by James, in that it's funny, but also tremendously insightful. Like most very funny things, the parables in this book have a grain of truth that would be hard to convey in any other way.

It does us good to laugh at ourselves, and it does us good to take a look at ourselves as computer scientists; this trilogy accomplishes both of those. I would (easily!) call this a must-read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Computer Wisdom in a humorous disguise, August 30, 2001

By 

Jose R. Valverde Carrillo "jrvalverde" (EMBnet/CNB, Madrid Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computer Parables: Enlightenment in the Information Age (Paperback)

If you are a novice in the arkana of programming, this book will make your delight while enlightening you in the best practices and the philosophy of Computer Science and creativity. But to truly appreciate the wisdom contained herein, you must be a computer Wizard or Guru. Only then will you really enjoy the invaluable wisdom and humour distilled in these short aphorisms.
A timeless classic of Computer Science. If you are into programming and have a sense of humour, you'll love it.