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Gerald M. Weinberg

The Psychology of Computer Programming: Silver Anniversary Edition Annual, Subsequent Edition

by Gerald M. Weinberg (Author)

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This landmark 1971 classic is reprinted with a new preface, chapter-by-chapter commentary, and straight-from-the-heart observations on topics that affect the professional life of programmers.

Long regarded as one of the first books to pioneer a people-oriented approach to computing, The Psychology of Computer Programming endures as a penetrating analysis of the intelligence, skill, teamwork, and problem-solving power of the computer programmer.

Finding the chapters strikingly relevant to today's issues in programming, Gerald M. Weinberg adds new insights and highlights the similarities and differences between now and then. Using a conversational style that invites the reader to join him, Weinberg reunites with some of his most insightful writings on the human side of software engineering.

Topics include egoless programming, intelligence, psychological measurement, personality factors, motivation, training, social problems on large projects, problem-solving ability, programming language design, team formation, the programming environment, and much more.

Dorset House Publishing is proud to make this important text available to new generations of Weinberg fans and to encourage readers of the first edition to return to its valuable lessons.

ISBN-10

0932633420
ISBN-13

978-0932633422
Edition

Annual, Subsequent
Publisher

Dorset House
Publication date

September 1, 1998
Language

English
Dimensions

6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
Print length

292 pages
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Editorial Reviews

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I recently reread parts of The Psychology of Computer Programming that seemed very radical to me when I first read them in 1971. As I look around at today's programmers, I can see what a large, beneficial effect that work has had. --Richard Mateosian, IEEE Micro

The Psychology of Computer Programming . . . was the first major book to address programming as an individual and team effort, and became a classic in the field. . . . Despite, or perhaps even because of, the perspective of 1971, this book remains a must-read for all software development managers. --J.J. Hirschfelder, Computing Reviews

Whether you're part of the generation of the 1960's and 1970's, or part of the current generation . . . you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this wonderful book. Once you've digested it, you should then track down all [twenty] of the other Weinberg textbooks published by Dorset House. . . . Every one of them is a jewel. --Ed Yourdon, Cutter IT E-Mail Advisor

About the Author

Internationally respected for his innovative thinking on both human and technical issues, GERALD M. WEINBERG focuses on ways to help people improve their productivity. A highly influential author, lecturer, and consultant, he draws on experiences gained in all three roles, as well as from a long technical career as a software developer and researcher.

Gerald M. Weinberg has written on topics ranging from computer systems and programming to education and problem solving -- and most recently, on writing, itself, and fiction! He is author, coauthor, or editor of more than twenty Dorset House books.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dorset House; Annual, Subsequent edition (September 1, 1998)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 292 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0932633420
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0932633422
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,329,154 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,120 in Computer Programming Languages
- #1,845 in Microsoft Programming (Books)
- #15,152 in Mathematics (Books)

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Gerald M. Weinberg
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I've always been interested in helping smart people be happy and productive. To that end, I've published books on human behavior, including Weinberg on Writing: The Fieldstone Method, The Psychology of Computer Programming, Perfect Software and Other Fallacies, and an Introduction to General Systems Thinking. I've also written books on leadership including Becoming a Technical Leader, The Secrets of Consulting (Foreword by Virginia Satir), More Secrets of Consulting, and the nine-volume Quality Software series.
I try to incorporate my knowledge of science, engineering, and human behavior into all of my writing and consulting work (with writers, hi-tech researchers, software engineers, and people whose life-situation could require the use of a service dog). I write novels about such people, including The Aremac Project, Aremac Power, Jigglers, First Stringers, Second Stringers, The Hands of God, Freshman Murders, Earth's Endless Effort, Mistress of Molecules, Where There’s a Will There’s a Murder, The Death Lottery—all about how my brilliant protagonists produce quality work and learn to be happy. My books may be found linked from my website: geraldmweinberg.com.
I’ve won many awards for my writing but the "award" I'm most proud of is the book, The Gift of Time (Fiona Charles, ed.) written by my student and readers for my 75th birthday. Their stories make me feel that I've been at least partially successful at helping smart people be happy.
- Gerald M. (Jerry) Weinberg
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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5

94 global ratings

5 star		52%
4 star		23%
3 star		13%
2 star		8%
1 star		4%

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Eric B. Wertz

Remarkable flashback to current time

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 21, 2022

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I found this book through Adam Barr's recent ACM lecture and book ("The Problem with Software"). Perhaps most remarkable is how little the psychology and social aspects of programming and programmers hasn't changed much in 50+ years. Mr. Barr goes into this in some detail in his book(s?) also, and the reasons for it.

If it weren't for the references to the really old systems in use, you'd be hard-pressed to know that this book isn't contemporary. The only exceptions are the last two chapters about languages and tools. Even the discussion about the meta-environment in which batch jobs/systems (still prevalent at that time, apparently) still have relevance in a time-shifted way in programmers' social patterns and mindsets today.

Pretty much all of the human factors and behaviors that he presents are nearly spot-on. If it weren't so funny it'd be nauseating how similar the field is still today. It's hard to recommend this book enough if you have any interest in the psychological or social aspects of software development. I'll almost certainly follow-up by reading other work from the author.

One person found this helpful

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Abdullah Alansari

Minor editing errors but great otherwise

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 11, 2021

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“The Psychology of Computer Programming” is a pioneer in the human side of software development. Although it was released more than 50 years ago, it has stood the test of time and is still very much relevant today.

You can learn how the software industry changed and for the better or worse. This will help you to understand more how what might seem like a great idea in the current ecosystem can result in a catastrophe in the future.

A book that is just as timely is “The Mythical Man-Month,” where the author talks about a hard-learned experience on a software project where the situation was so dire that the company added hardware engineers to the project roster.

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Peter Penning

Psychological part as relevant as when written in 1970

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 19, 2016

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Technically clearly from a different era, difficult to understand when familiar with today's tools. The errors and limitations that define programming are as valid as 45 years ago. Good decision of the author to leave the original text untouched and only add comments to the silver anniversary addition. The most striking part is the lucid description of the huge gap between management and the people doing the work, still so often the case.

3 people found this helpful

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I. M. Gretz

No Added Value and Too Little Too Late

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 9, 2012

Verified Purchase

In the 70s, system programmers from local industry flocked to SUNY-Binghamton to take Gerry's course, and they gave it rave reviews. A quarter-century later and still involved in relatively complex programming, I decided that I might find some value from reading "Psychology." Pleased to find that there was a new "silver anniversary" edition, I bit, tasted, and finished it -- and found little of any value.

Gerry pretty-much summed it up himself in his Epilogue when he quotes a reviewer who spent a delightful afternoon reading it, but finding little of value in the book. I, also, enjoyed the parts that reflected the times.

My biggest disappointment was with the new material. The approach taken was to add retrospectives at the ends of sections, but the thoughts-after are, well, after thoughts. And, I was bitter that the author or the publisher didn't take the occasion of the new edition to clean up the errors and typos left in the 25-year-old book. Too tired, I guess.

I did get continuing chuckles at prospects of 60s commune-style programming groups self-organizing, self-planning, and self-directing. Occasionally, a big laugh.

12 people found this helpful

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Ferentschik Hardy

When it comes to understanding people little is learned in IT

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 17, 2018

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Some awesome anecdotes from times long ago - punchcards, mainframes, etc. And still, so many things stayed unchanged and are valid now as they were then. I definitely recommend this book.

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Noah

One of the best. Five stars is not enough.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 15, 2016

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There are few books that I recommend to every programmer I ever meet, but this is one of those books. I love this book. It's a fun read for programmers, and from a practical standpoint this book would be a great introduction to people, like software managers, that interact with programmers and want to learn about the profession without diving into a terminal. The writing is less dry than similar texts, and the examples/real world situations presented really tie the points being made to things at my own job.

4 people found this helpful

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Steven N. Vaughn

Source of Perspective

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 6, 2012

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This book is like a time capsule. The author references all sorts of technologies from my youth and topics that were hot 30 years ago. It conjures a lot of nostalgia in me.

But the main message is very relevant and very priceless: programming is a human activity that is still not well understood. Even as technology changes the human issues seem to remain fairly constant and require attention.

You would read this book for the same reason you would read 'The Prince' by Machiavelli.

One person found this helpful

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John A Jimenez

Great subject matter in terrible binding

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 15, 2014

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My only complaint is in regards to the quality of the physical book itself. I'm only in my first reading and the book is falling part. The spine of the book has broken in multiple places from only slight pressure in trying to fold the pages.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

M.I.

The bigger picture

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 30, 2010

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As programmers and software developers dealing with the details of code construction and software implementation, we often forget keeping an eye on the bigger picture of what we are doing and why. This book reminds you that you are part of a bigger picture, where psychological aspects play a crucial role as well. Especially when you are part of a team, programming must be seen also as a social activity, and not only as an individual activity. This is the part of the book that I liked most. This book should be a compulsory reading for team leaders and managers, who still consider programmers as black boxes where you give orders and code comes out. As already other readers have pointed out, considering the perspective provided by the book, it is amazing how little things have changed from the 70s.

One person found this helpful

Kerola Sami

Technical progress is illusion

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 26, 2009

Verified Purchase

This is surreal book. After almost forty years not much has hanged. Some details are a bit outdated, but mostly the book is as relevant as it must have been at the time of writing. The book is worth of reading for two reasons. Firstly anyone who is computer professional should be aware of history, and the book is piece of living history of the computer science & engineering. Secondly the book gives comfort. Problems of programming have been known for long time, but there are ways how to live with the problems and such ideas are almost as old as problems.

George Santayana; 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it'. Unfortunately this book (like so many other excellent books) has not teach most of computer professionals and that's why the whole industry is in endless repeat loop.

7 people found this helpful

Sohnee

Definitive

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 30, 2014

Verified Purchase

This book is so good, I have bought two copies. The first copy doesn't leave my possession - but I allow my colleagues to borrow the other. Despite being written in 1971, we are still a long way from the great concepts in this book.

2 people found this helpful

Mr. C. Whiteside

A deserved classic, though it sometimes feels slightly anachronistic ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 9, 2016

Verified Purchase

A deserved classic, though it sometimes feels slightly anachronistic (a few pages daydreaming about hypothetical programming tools we now take for granted, for example).

Andrzej S.

Psychology? - what psychology?

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on May 21, 2020

Verified Purchase

The author has null background in science of psychology. He is a programmer, I guess. Since anybody can work in IT, he anticipated, anyone can write a book about psychology and not be laughed about it. In the end you become some plain vanilla, elementary school obviousness with a catchy title written by IT nerd. Cheap prosa without any research material to support presented assumptions. Sells well, so far.

But psychology is simply not there.

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