It's maybe a bit of a cliche, and perhaps a bit dated now, but you could probably do worse than
The Soul of a New Machine by Kidder.[1]
Another option I like, although it might be too much material / too dense, would be Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution by Steven Levy.[2]
And given that security will probably never not be an important sub-topic to anybody working in the technology field, some fun and interesting books to consider could include:
- Cyberpunk: Outlaws and Hackers on the Computer Frontier by Katie Hafner and John Markoff[3]
- The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage by Cliff Stoll[4]
There is also Inventing the Future by Albert Cory[5]. Interesting side-note: the author is an HN'er. https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=AlbertCory
All of that said, I think Nineteen Eighty Four is an excellent choice as well. I've often cited it as one of the most influential books I've read in my life, as far as its impact on me personally.
And if we're talking fiction, I think Neuromancer[6] has some appeal. Now might be a good time for that as well, what with the Apple TV screen adaptation coming out soon(ish). And the main theme of the book - an Artificial Intelligence seeking to grow beyond its legally permitted bounds - could really resonate with the current zeitgeist and all the hubbub about "AI safety" and "xRisk" and so on.
[1]: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-New-Machine-Tracy-Kidder/dp/0316...
[2]: https://www.amazon.com/Hackers-Computer-Revolution-Steven-Le...
[3]: https://www.amazon.com/Cyberpunk-Outlaws-Hackers-Computer-Fr...
[4]: https://www.amazon.com/Cuckoos-Egg-Tracking-Computer-Espiona...
[5]: https://www.amazon.com/
Another option I like, although it might be too much material / too dense, would be Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution by Steven Levy.[2]
And given that security will probably never not be an important sub-topic to anybody working in the technology field, some fun and interesting books to consider could include:
- Cyberpunk: Outlaws and Hackers on the Computer Frontier by Katie Hafner and John Markoff[3]
- The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage by Cliff Stoll[4]
There is also Inventing the Future by Albert Cory[5]. Interesting side-note: the author is an HN'er. https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=AlbertCory
All of that said, I think Nineteen Eighty Four is an excellent choice as well. I've often cited it as one of the most influential books I've read in my life, as far as its impact on me personally.
And if we're talking fiction, I think Neuromancer[6] has some appeal. Now might be a good time for that as well, what with the Apple TV screen adaptation coming out soon(ish). And the main theme of the book - an Artificial Intelligence seeking to grow beyond its legally permitted bounds - could really resonate with the current zeitgeist and all the hubbub about "AI safety" and "xRisk" and so on.
[1]: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-New-Machine-Tracy-Kidder/dp/0316...
[2]: https://www.amazon.com/Hackers-Computer-Revolution-Steven-Le...
[3]: https://www.amazon.com/Cyberpunk-Outlaws-Hackers-Computer-Fr...
[4]: https://www.amazon.com/Cuckoos-Egg-Tracking-Computer-Espiona...
[5]: https://www.amazon.com/