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Things Are Going to Get a Lot Worse Before Things Get Worse
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2005
If you can find a copy of The UNIX Hater's Handbook, grab it and hold on to it, for it's a true UNIX classic. Don't miss the Forward by Donald Norman, Apple Computer, and the Anti-Forward by Dennis Ritchie of AT&T Bell Labs.The preface starts off by stating, "Things Are Going to Get a Lot Worse Before Things Get Worse." As you read on, you'll quickly see their point... as you laugh between the paragraphs.Then there's this choice tidbit: "Modern UNIX is a catastrophe. It's the 'Un-Operating System': unreliable, unintuitive, unforgiving, unhelpful, and underpowered. Little is more frustrating than trying to force UNIX to do something useful and nontrivial. Modern UNIX impedes progress in computer science, wastes billions of dollars, and destroys the common sense of many who seriously use it. An exaggeration? You won't think so after reading this book."This is truly a humorous look at the dark side of UNIX, written by highly knowledgeable UNIX insiders. Some of the chapter subtitles include: "Power Tools for Power Fools," and for the C++ chapter, "The COBOL of the 90s."This book explains that there are several myths about UNIX, one being that UNIX is well-documented. Another is that UNIX is documented.The authors are well-respected experts in their field - just check on the links and see all they have written. They have a marvelous tongue-in-cheek way of explaining the various foibles they have encountered along the way in dealing with UNIX. There are numerous funny accounts from other users fed up with UNIX as well.Please keep in mind that this was published in 1994, so some of the information may seem a bit outdated to UNIX newbies. And the Anti-Microsoft-at-Any-Price Linux zealots will possibly hate this book, feeling that it's heretical propaganda. Sometimes they just need to learn to lighten up - this book was written to be funny, in a dark humor fashion that only a true geek could appreciate.If it wasn't made to be humorous, then why would the authors glue a real barf bag inside the cover?You might be lucky and find a copy online here or in a second-hand bookstore, but they are rare to end up on anyone's shelf for long. If you do find one, grab it and enjoy it. I'm on my second copy - the first was "borrowed" by a UNIX zealot who "forgot" to return it. And no, you can't have mine - it's not for sale.You have to love UNIX and all it's idiosyncrasies to really appreciate this book. Here's real proof that computer geeks have a real sense of humor, far more than might be expected.This reviewer cannot help but close with the following quotation, which is not in the book:"Many say that DOS is the dark side [from Star Wars], but actually UNIX is more like the dark side: It's less likely to find the one way to destroy your incredibly powerful machine, and more likely to make upper management choke."~ Lore Sjöberg, noted Internet humoristCan't put it much better than that.
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2005
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Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2005
The preface starts off by stating, "Things Are Going to Get a Lot Worse Before Things Get Worse." As you read on, you'll quickly see their point... as you laugh between the paragraphs.
Then there's this choice tidbit: "Modern UNIX is a catastrophe. It's the 'Un-Operating System': unreliable, unintuitive, unforgiving, unhelpful, and underpowered. Little is more frustrating than trying to force UNIX to do something useful and nontrivial. Modern UNIX impedes progress in computer science, wastes billions of dollars, and destroys the common sense of many who seriously use it. An exaggeration? You won't think so after reading this book."
This is truly a humorous look at the dark side of UNIX, written by highly knowledgeable UNIX insiders. Some of the chapter subtitles include: "Power Tools for Power Fools," and for the C++ chapter, "The COBOL of the 90s."
This book explains that there are several myths about UNIX, one being that UNIX is well-documented. Another is that UNIX is documented.
The authors are well-respected experts in their field - just check on the links and see all they have written. They have a marvelous tongue-in-cheek way of explaining the various foibles they have encountered along the way in dealing with UNIX. There are numerous funny accounts from other users fed up with UNIX as well.
Please keep in mind that this was published in 1994, so some of the information may seem a bit outdated to UNIX newbies. And the Anti-Microsoft-at-Any-Price Linux zealots will possibly hate this book, feeling that it's heretical propaganda. Sometimes they just need to learn to lighten up - this book was written to be funny, in a dark humor fashion that only a true geek could appreciate.
If it wasn't made to be humorous, then why would the authors glue a real barf bag inside the cover?
You might be lucky and find a copy online here or in a second-hand bookstore, but they are rare to end up on anyone's shelf for long. If you do find one, grab it and enjoy it. I'm on my second copy - the first was "borrowed" by a UNIX zealot who "forgot" to return it. And no, you can't have mine - it's not for sale.
You have to love UNIX and all it's idiosyncrasies to really appreciate this book. Here's real proof that computer geeks have a real sense of humor, far more than might be expected.
This reviewer cannot help but close with the following quotation, which is not in the book:
"Many say that DOS is the dark side [from Star Wars], but actually UNIX is more like the dark side: It's less likely to find the one way to destroy your incredibly powerful machine, and more likely to make upper management choke."
~ Lore Sjöberg, noted Internet humorist
Can't put it much better than that.
Things Are Going to Get a Lot Worse Before Things Get Worse
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2005
If you can find a copy of [[ASIN:1568842031 The UNIX Hater's Handbook]], grab it and hold on to it, for it's a true UNIX classic. Don't miss the Forward by Donald Norman, Apple Computer, and the Anti-Forward by Dennis Ritchie of AT&T Bell Labs.Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2005
The preface starts off by stating, "Things Are Going to Get a Lot Worse Before Things Get Worse." As you read on, you'll quickly see their point... as you laugh between the paragraphs.
Then there's this choice tidbit: "Modern UNIX is a catastrophe. It's the 'Un-Operating System': unreliable, unintuitive, unforgiving, unhelpful, and underpowered. Little is more frustrating than trying to force UNIX to do something useful and nontrivial. Modern UNIX impedes progress in computer science, wastes billions of dollars, and destroys the common sense of many who seriously use it. An exaggeration? You won't think so after reading this book."
This is truly a humorous look at the dark side of UNIX, written by highly knowledgeable UNIX insiders. Some of the chapter subtitles include: "Power Tools for Power Fools," and for the C++ chapter, "The COBOL of the 90s."
This book explains that there are several myths about UNIX, one being that UNIX is well-documented. Another is that UNIX is documented.
The authors are well-respected experts in their field - just check on the links and see all they have written. They have a marvelous tongue-in-cheek way of explaining the various foibles they have encountered along the way in dealing with UNIX. There are numerous funny accounts from other users fed up with UNIX as well.
Please keep in mind that this was published in 1994, so some of the information may seem a bit outdated to UNIX newbies. And the Anti-Microsoft-at-Any-Price Linux zealots will possibly hate this book, feeling that it's heretical propaganda. Sometimes they just need to learn to lighten up - this book was written to be funny, in a dark humor fashion that only a true geek could appreciate.
If it wasn't made to be humorous, then why would the authors glue a real barf bag inside the cover?
You might be lucky and find a copy online here or in a second-hand bookstore, but they are rare to end up on anyone's shelf for long. If you do find one, grab it and enjoy it. I'm on my second copy - the first was "borrowed" by a UNIX zealot who "forgot" to return it. And no, you can't have mine - it's not for sale.
You have to love UNIX and all it's idiosyncrasies to really appreciate this book. Here's real proof that computer geeks have a real sense of humor, far more than might be expected.
This reviewer cannot help but close with the following quotation, which is not in the book:
"Many say that DOS is the dark side [from Star Wars], but actually UNIX is more like the dark side: It's less likely to find the one way to destroy your incredibly powerful machine, and more likely to make upper management choke."
~ Lore Sjöberg, noted Internet humorist
Can't put it much better than that.
Images in this review
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Bettina Prühs
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2014Verified Purchase
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Reviewed in Germany on April 11, 2013Verified Purchase
