Code

Computers are everywhere, most obviously in our laptops and smartphones, but also in our cars, TVs, microwave ovens, robot vacuums, and other smart appliances. Have you ever wondered what goes on inside these devices that often make your life easier, but sometimes infuriate you and complicate everything?
The book Code was first published twenty-five years ago and focuses on designing and working on computers without a deep knowledge of programming and electronics. As the author states in the preface to the 2nd edition, he thought at the time that he had written a book that would never need to be revised. And with his characteristic humour, he adds how wrong he was:
„ Yes, it's a longer journey, but as you walk with me through the pages of this second edition, you'll dive much deeper into the guts of the processor. Whether it's a more enjoyable experience for you or not, I don't know. If you feel like you're drowning, please come up for air. But if you can get through chapter 24, you should feel quite proud, and you'll be glad to know that the rest of the book will be a breeze. “
Charles Petzold's enlightening story about the secret inner life of computers is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-understand book. It starts with a story and builds layer upon layer, analogy upon analogy, until the reader understands not only the code, but the system. Code is a book that is as much about systems thinking and abstractions as it is about code and programming.