The Soul of a New MachineThe Soul of a New Machine
Score Classic
What it's about
In the late 1970s, at a computer company called Data General, a team of young engineers led by the intense Tom West raced to build a new 32-bit minicomputer in about a year, working nights and weekends with little reward except the work itself. Tracy Kidder was there, and tells what they did and why they cared so much.
Why it's worth reading
It won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. It's a classic about technology, work and obsession, still read in Silicon Valley.
You'll love it if you liked
Steve Jobs
The Code Breaker
Strength in What Remains: A Journey of Remembrance and ForgivenessGood to know
The technology is dated, but the human story isn't.
By the numbers
- Readers66 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics87 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #25 of the 119 science and ideas books we rank
- #62 of the 198 history books we rank
- #110 of the 762 classics we rank
- #342 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by Tracy Kidder
If you like this, read next
Liar's Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine
Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow
Originals: How Non-conformists Change the World
The Making of the Atomic Bomb
The Lord of the RingsExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The Soul of a New Machine worth reading?
Yes. It won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. It ranks #342 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 80.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Soul of a New Machine about?
In the late 1970s, at a computer company called Data General, a team of young engineers led by the intense Tom West raced to build a new 32-bit minicomputer in about a year, working nights and weekends with little reward except the work itself. Tracy Kidder was there, and tells what they did and why they cared so much.
How long does it take to read The Soul of a New Machine?
About 7 hours (293 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Soul of a New Machine won?
Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction) winner (1982); National Book Award (Nonfiction) winner (1982).
What should I read after The Soul of a New Machine?
If you liked it, try Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson or Strength in What Remains: A Journey of Remembrance and Forgiveness by Tracy Kidder.