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Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution - 25th Anniversary Edition 1st Edition

by Steven Levy (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 779 ratings
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This 25th anniversary edition of 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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  1. ISBN-10
    1449388396
  2. ISBN-13
    978-1449388393
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    O'Reilly Media
  5. Publication date
    June 29, 2010
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
  8. Print length
    518 pages
  9. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
779 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and informative, providing a great introduction to computer history. They appreciate the well-written, easy-to-understand writing style that provides an insightful look at computer pioneers' lives and times. Readers also like the personal touch and how the book paints a vivid and humane picture of a special period in history.

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ReadabilityHistoryInformational valueWriting styleStyle
56 customers mention "Readability"52 positive4 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They describe it as a must-read for everyone, with well-researched information about important people and events. The ebook edition is useful, with hyperlinks embedded in the text. Readers appreciate the humor and history in the book.

"...I haven't red the entire thing yet, but it's still a good read. External links give you further details and some are entertaining...." Read more

"...A really well done and informative look at how we got from $500 TI calculators to smart watches more powerful than the computers that put a man on..." Read more

"...It's a great read. Oh... there is just one more thing I remember; sweet and sour bitter melon (shudder). So when will the movie be released? ;)" Read more

"...The ebook edition is VERY useful, as it has hyperlinks embedded in the text...." Read more

40 customers mention "History"40 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's history. They find it a great starting point for computer history fans and an interesting deep dive into the history of the computer industry and its developers and programmers. The stories are interesting even if you don't have a background in technology. Overall, customers describe it as an excellent book if you enjoy computing history and getting into the sci-fi story.

"...I love it too. It is about the initial stages of the computer revolution, yet reads more like a collection of entertaining short stories...." Read more

"...First and foremost, I found Hackers to be a facinating story - one with which I would think the majority of the public would be unfamiliar...." Read more

"...All in all, this is a great starting point for computer history fans." Read more

"...it paints a very vivid and humane picture of a very special period of the history of computing...." Read more

31 customers mention "Informational value"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They appreciate the author's job of documenting the lives and times of early computer pioneers. The book explains technology in an understandable way, inspiring readers to improve their skills.

"...It was about the pursuit for knowledge and efficiency. This is a must for serious software engineers and computer science...." Read more

"...A really well done and informative look at how we got from $500 TI calculators to smart watches more powerful than the computers that put a man on..." Read more

"...Levy does an excellent job of documenting the lives and times of the early computer pioneers, and makes those seminal days live again - even for..." Read more

"...a 'way of life' and how the nerds of the world have had a tremendous impact on technology and how their 'hacking philosophy has in most cases led to..." Read more

8 customers mention "Writing style"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's writing style easy to follow and understand. They appreciate the good language and flow. The book covers assembly language, which is rarely covered in college courses. It also provides a fair amount of history of where the term hackers should be applied.

"...There is a fair amount of discussion of assembly language, which is seldom covered in even college classes, usually one class for a single..." Read more

"...Almost 500 pages long with no pictures, it is written in a style that makes you a part of the past, as you where one of the "hackers" per se...." Read more

"...Very well written, it was easy to follow and understand...." Read more

"...Also Steven Levy is a wonderful writer and really knows how to tell the story." Read more

6 customers mention "Style"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's style and personal touch. They find it interesting and say it paints a vivid and humane picture of a special period.

"...Other than that, I think it paints a very vivid and humane picture of a very special period of the history of computing...." Read more

"Really cool and interesting book, raises cool ideas into not only the hacker ethic, but also technology and history of "hacking"...." Read more

"...This was an era of efficiency and elegant code; a time when man and machine merged into one to create truly elegant solutions on inelegant hardware." Read more

"...did not disappoint - it dished all the good and the bad, gave a very good look into how the adventure game genre exploded back when machines were..." Read more

Canonical history of hackers and their loosing lexicon of kludge
5 out of 5 stars
Canonical history of hackers and their loosing lexicon of kludge
If you ever use the word kludge or talk about a hack then this book is REQUIRED READING (unless you were or are involved with electric train sets at MIT -- then please forgive my loosing review that you should have written).* MIT at night*.* Joke of the day:* Apple Modem shipped with extra phreaky features from Captain Crunch.* Homebrew** Zorky game developers break out rich and sit in hot tubs.This book tells a history that is already being rewritten and forgotten.*hackers
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Brian
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must for computer enthusiasts and Computer Science Majors.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I was recommended this book by a colleague. I love it too. It is about the initial stages of the computer revolution, yet reads more like a collection of entertaining short stories. It is far from a dry read. Included in the front are short descriptions about people and devices mentioned or interviewed. If you're a software developer this actually explains why IDEs mark errors with red. If you're a gamer, you'll learn about the first video game. (It wasn't Pong). I haven't red the entire thing yet, but it's still a good read. External links give you further details and some are entertaining. The book may be titled hackers, but there isn't anything illegal or even ill-intented. It was about the pursuit for knowledge and efficiency. This is a must for serious software engineers and computer science. If for nothing else then leisurely reading. There is a fair amount of discussion of assembly language, which is seldom covered in even college classes, usually one class for a single assignment or chapter. Not much is explained in detail so the education level to understand the book completely is fairly high. There are a bunch of inside jokes, but I do think that an average college student could understand 90-95% of the book.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Gabriel
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you like computers, this book will tell you where they came from. A fun read!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Ok, I admit, I'm old. I actually remember most of the things talked about in this history of the computer age's genesis. Got my first home computer in 1982, a Timex Sinclair ZX81. 8K of ram and no keyboard, just a flat panel like on microwaves. Try typing in programming code on that! hah! Moved "up" to an Atari 800XL, which I hated and then to a Commodore 64, which I expected to hate, but loved. After that I reluctantly moved to a PC clone, although I wanted a $3600 Macintosh. Just couldn't afford it. At that point I got my first job as a self taught computer tech, in 1988. And I am still doing the same work now, although it's just about time to retire. So I've seen a lot over the years The rise of Microsoft, the surprising success of Apple, the fall of CP/M and about 50 different computer languages, such as Logo, Lisp, Fortran and Cobol. I saw the first computer expos, long before there was CES. People wandering around big halls, buying stacks of floppies and glossy computer mags. I played the games from Sierra (before it was Sierra Online) and Electronic Arts, (before it was "EA") and I was there when AOL became a monster app and spanked CompuServe. I had a BBS in 1990 that was one of the first to offer Internet email access. But it was all text as the WWW hadn't been invented yet! All these milestones and much more is covered in this book and I found it fascinating, even though I was never "in the In Crowd" where the Home Brew Computer Club was located. A really well done and informative look at how we got from $500 TI calculators to smart watches more powerful than the computers that put a man on the moon. Wowsers.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Cyrano
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Gem with Inclusions
    Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2003
    Verified Purchase
    To be honest, it's been a number of years since I read Hackers, having read it soon after it's initial publication in the '90's. However, I have some lasting impressions, which may amplify, or at least supplement, several of the previous reviews. First and foremost, I found Hackers to be a facinating story - one with which I would think the majority of the public would be unfamiliar. Levy does an excellent job of documenting the lives and times of the early computer pioneers, and makes those seminal days live again - even for those of us who wouldn't know a byte from a bite from a bight. However, Levy has a tendency for hyperbole, and in Hackers, he gives that tendency full rein. Levy's prose are rife with phrases like '...these brilliant geniuses' and '...such giant intellects.' I'm working from memory, so those are not directs quotes, but I think you get the idea. The other negative impression I have, is Levy's unnecessary dwelling on his characters' personal foibles. I still recall with disgust (alright... mild disgust, but disgust, nonetheless) his description of - if I remember correctly - what were called "blatties." Over all however, I loved "Hackers" and would recommend it to almost anyone without reservation. It's a great read. Oh... there is just one more thing I remember; sweet and sour bitter melon (shudder). So when will the movie be released? ;)
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Amanda
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Beginning of the Computer Age
    Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    It all started when I saw TRON: Legacy. I decided to delve into computer history to get a better understanding of the Grid. This book came up, and I was hooked.

    Once upon a time, 'hacker' solely meant someone who explored technology, whether it was the early computers, the ARPAnet, or the Bell system. College students at MIT. The Homebrew Computer Club in Silicon Valley. People who wrote their own programs. Back then, computers weren't as easy to use as they are today. Since you had to write your own programs, this meant the intended audience was rather small. Computers were seen as mysterious things, machines that couldn't possibly do things like calculate (one of the people covered in this book wrote a calculator problem for his college computer and used it for a math course. The teacher gave him an F, and the words "You used a computer! This <i>can't</i> be right!"), play chess,music, or be used by normal people.

    The story of how this started to change is a fascinating one. The ebook edition is VERY useful, as it has hyperlinks embedded in the text. You will find yourself bookmarking pages where topics such as LIFE, Arpanet, and the Altair 8800. Then you will find yourself looking them up online. All in all, this is a great starting point for computer history fans.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Jorge Aguiar
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente livro
    Reviewed in Brazil on April 4, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Muito detalhado. Apresenta histórias do início da computação muito bem contextualizadas. Recomendo.
    Report
  • ivigo business space
    5.0 out of 5 stars un clásico imprescindible!!
    Reviewed in Spain on September 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Un clásico imprescindible actualizado en su 25 aniversario.
    Es necesario para comprender el origen de la transformación digital del mundo.
    Report
  • Sachin Tumbre
    1.0 out of 5 stars Feels like reading a fantacy novel. Skip this one...
    Reviewed in India on July 26, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This book is about techies .
    Author has made it like a novel by adding too much poetic phrases.
    I read “iWoz”in three days straight. This one i dont think i ll be able to finish.
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  • Francois
    5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best book on the early days of the computer revolution ...
    Reviewed in Canada on December 5, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Probably the best book on the early days of the computer revolution from the late 50's to the early 80's.
    I have read many essay and books on this topic and this is one of the most complete account.

    While not an easy read if you are not a Tech oriented person it is well writen and gives a clear high level overview of the most significants milestones. From the software hacker laboring on huge mainframe and mini (in the 60's and 70's) to the hobbyist building the first peronnal PC in the 80's.

    For me it was the best read since "The soul of a new machine" has open my mind to computing in the early 80's
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  • Adam
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good but too short
    Reviewed in Australia on April 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Very enjoyable little book to read. But it stops just as it feels like it should be getting started! Guess I will need to find more books on computer history elsewhere.

    Kindle edition has some serious formatting issues.
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