Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I am hoping someone here can recall the name of the book that got me interested in computers and Computer Science. It was a Microsoft Press book that taught fundamentals of computing. The book started with discussing relay switches, and progressed to how one could build computational units using them. This book was available at my local public library in the mid 90’s.


That’s almost certainly (the first edition of) the book in this post.


Did it involve a story about kids communicating at night with flashlights? Yup, that's the first edition.


Yes, ok thanks that’s the one. I’ll have to buy the first edition. It was very impactful to me.


I'm sure this new edition will have the same early chapters, just extend further. This is not a 2nd volume but a 2nd edition


Yes, I'm reading the second edition now, it contains those chapters.


I had a very similar experience. I read the book from the library as a kid. I originally thought it was to do with ciphers, as I was into codes then. It introduced me to the programming section of the library, and I expanded to the math section from there. A couple of STEM degrees later and here I am.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: