Book details of 'Accidental Empires'

Title	Accidental Empires
Author(s)	Robert X. Cringely
ISBN	0887308554
Language	English
Published	September 1996
Publisher	HarperBusiness

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Back to shelf Computer history/fun
Amazon.com info for Accidental Empires

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virtualbookcase.com score: 4.0   Vote for this book

The Virtual Bookcase Reviews of 'Accidental Empires':

Reviewer amazon.com wrote:
Robert X. Cringely manages to capture the contradictions and everyday insanity of computer industry empire building, while at the same time chipping away sardonically at the PR campaigns that have built up some very common businesspeople into the household gods of geekdom. Despite some chuckles at the expense of all things nerdy, white, and male in the computer industry, Cringely somehow manages to balance the humor with a genuine appreciation of both the technical and strategic accomplishments of these industry luminaries. Whether you're a hard-boiled Silicon Valley marketing exec fishing for an IPO or just a plain old reader with an interest in business history and anecdotal storytelling, there's something to enjoy here.
Reviewer Rob Slade wrote:
In chapter two, "normal" distribution--the fact that for any given skill, there are those who do poorly, those who do well, and most, the vast majority, who do "middlin'"--is discussed. It is used as an illustration of what technical brilliance; even genius; is. The early chapters of the book serve as such an illustration as well. Most people don't understand technology. Of those who do, very few can understand people or business. And of those very few who understand all three, almost nobody can write. The opening chapter combines technical understanding with personal insights and business analysis, all packaged in brilliantly entertaining text. This book is intended to be fun, rather than history. It certainly is fun, a fascinating collection of snippets and anecdotes from microcomputer development and the rise of the major companies today. The inclusion of the canard that Gary Kildall skipped an appointment with IBM to go flying makes some of the stories suspect, but the overall framework is so solid that a few varnished rumours probably don't hurt. One aspect for which I was very grateful was the lack of axe-grinding. The temptation to dispense advice, common to columnists and professors alike, is avoided until almost two-thirds of the way through the book. At that point, the material gets a bit disorganized, a bit preachy, and less interesting. The last third is only good, where the majority of the book is great. Recommended for anyone in the technical fields, business, or who just likes a good read.
Reviewer Koos van den Hout wrote:
A book on how millions are made in Sillicon Valley. The very weird way.
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