Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzold

Review

A truly remarkable book. In under 400 pages it takes the reader on a journey through the birth of computing, and does so in an amazingly coherent fashion.

If you’ve ever wondered how computers really work, then this is the book I would recommend. No knowledge is assumed. The important concepts are explained from first principles, and then built on. If it seems like this would be dry, it really isn’t.

Throughout, explanations are clear and concise. If you flip through the book you’ll probably spot dozens of impenetrable-looking diagrams. Read along, and you’ll understand them.

The the opening 10 or so chapters are simply magical. Unfortunately this can’t be sustained the whole way through. I think this is a consequence of it needing to cover ground quickly and also the goals becoming more abstract. It’s much easier to tell a story about the need for Morse code than it is to tell one about the need for a system bus inside a computer (and if you don’t know what a system bus is, you will if you read the book!). That said, you’ll either be hooked by this point or you won’t.

The only real let down is the last couple of chapters. Both felt a bit rushed and slightly. But these chapters in no way diminish the brilliance of what precedes them. A very special book indeed.

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