Status
Available
Call number
Publication
HarperBusiness (2002), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 288 pages
Description
Once upon a time Linus Torvalds was a skinny unknown, just another nerdy Helsinki techie who had been fooling around with computers since childhood. Then he wrote a groundbreaking operating system and distributed it via the Internet -- for free. Today Torvalds is an international folk hero. And his creation LINUX is used by over 12 million people as well as by companies such as IBM.Now, in a narrative that zips along with the speed of e-mail, Torvalds gives a history of his renegade software while candidly revealing the quirky mind of a genius. The result is an engrossing portrayal of a man with a revolutionary vision, who challenges our values and may change our world.
User reviews
LibraryThing member sufehmi
Very fun reading, I laughed a lot reading this book. It makes reading the history of Linux, one of the most popular software on Earth, very interesting.
Linus seems to be a very interesting guy, with a lot of common-sense built in. Which is not very common at all nowadays.
Highly recommended.
Linus seems to be a very interesting guy, with a lot of common-sense built in. Which is not very common at all nowadays.
Highly recommended.
LibraryThing member Miche11e
This isn’t the best book ever written, but it’s an interesting story and well worth reading. Linus spent four years in his bedroom writing the kernel of Linux. There’s lot of interesting facts in the book like;
• his birthday is Dec. 28
• he thought learning Latin in high school was fun
•
• in Finland you build the sauna before you build the house
• his first computer was a VIC-20 which he inherited from his math professor grandfather
• his first cat’s name was a white male named Randi, short for Mithrandit the wizard in the Lord of the Rings
• he was second lieutenant in the Finish army reserves while fulfilling his mandatory 1 year service
• he credits the book, Operating Systems: Design and Implementation by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, with changing his life
Linus believes that there are three fundamental motivators in life:
1. survival
2. your place in the social order
3. entertainment
He points out that most of the development in the internet has been around improving communications, information and the ability of people to socialize. He believes (2001) that there’s still ample opportunity for growth in entertainment. And that’s how Linux was written, “Just for Fun�Â?.
At the same time as I was reading this, I was also reading âÂÂFlow The Pschology of Optimal ExperienceâÂ? by Mihaly Csikszenthmihalyi. The two books well support each other.
• his birthday is Dec. 28
• he thought learning Latin in high school was fun
•
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5% of Finish people speak Swedish (like Linus’s family)• in Finland you build the sauna before you build the house
• his first computer was a VIC-20 which he inherited from his math professor grandfather
• his first cat’s name was a white male named Randi, short for Mithrandit the wizard in the Lord of the Rings
• he was second lieutenant in the Finish army reserves while fulfilling his mandatory 1 year service
• he credits the book, Operating Systems: Design and Implementation by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, with changing his life
Linus believes that there are three fundamental motivators in life:
1. survival
2. your place in the social order
3. entertainment
He points out that most of the development in the internet has been around improving communications, information and the ability of people to socialize. He believes (2001) that there’s still ample opportunity for growth in entertainment. And that’s how Linux was written, “Just for Fun�Â?.
At the same time as I was reading this, I was also reading âÂÂFlow The Pschology of Optimal ExperienceâÂ? by Mihaly Csikszenthmihalyi. The two books well support each other.
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LibraryThing member Makis
The story of Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux Operating System.
Obviously the main problem with a book like this is how to make a nerds life sound interesting? The book manages this to an extent, but I feel that the non-nerd community of the world might find this book boring at times. Linus
This is a must-read for people interested in Linux or computers in general. For others this does offer an insight into the mind of one of the great nerds of today. It gives an insight of what the people who have created the computer revolution are and what makes them tick. But as far as biographies go, there are better available.
Obviously the main problem with a book like this is how to make a nerds life sound interesting? The book manages this to an extent, but I feel that the non-nerd community of the world might find this book boring at times. Linus
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might do something else that's up there with Linux one day and after that the part about Linux can be condensed making it much easier to read.This is a must-read for people interested in Linux or computers in general. For others this does offer an insight into the mind of one of the great nerds of today. It gives an insight of what the people who have created the computer revolution are and what makes them tick. But as far as biographies go, there are better available.
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LibraryThing member scroeser
Quite delightful. I liked tho quote at the beginning from his mother.
LibraryThing member dvf1976
I read this 250 page book in a day.
Linus seems like a very accessible guy.
Although he says that enjoys money and isn't a "monk", it seems weird that he's so careful about circumstances that could get him some easy money.
I wonder if questioning his (not) taking (seemingly) easy money says more
Linus seems like a very accessible guy.
Although he says that enjoys money and isn't a "monk", it seems weird that he's so careful about circumstances that could get him some easy money.
I wonder if questioning his (not) taking (seemingly) easy money says more
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about him or more about me... Show Less
LibraryThing member tyroeternal
It was fun reading about the history of Linux from the point of view of its creator. Torvalds gives the impression of being an average person who inadvertently walked into fame. His apathetic approach to the whole situation conveyed a striking difference to all the other names that come to mind
As a bit of a disclaimer, this book was written through the language and style of a Linux hacker, not a writer. Those expecting a well written essay be forewarned that the timeline wanders and backtracks constantly. For my own reading experience it did not detract from his story, but for many it could.
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when thinking of the 'open source' movement.As a bit of a disclaimer, this book was written through the language and style of a Linux hacker, not a writer. Those expecting a well written essay be forewarned that the timeline wanders and backtracks constantly. For my own reading experience it did not detract from his story, but for many it could.
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LibraryThing member FKarr
bio of Linus Torvalds, developer of Linux, interesting, but not scintillating
Language
Original publication date
2001
Physical description
288 p.; 8.08 inches
ISBN
0066620732 / 9780066620732
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