Book details of 'The Cult of Mac'

Title	The Cult of Mac
Author(s)	Leander Kahney
ISBN	1886411832
Language	English
Published	October 2004
Publisher	No Starch

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The Virtual Bookcase Reviews of 'The Cult of Mac':

Reviewer Rob Slade wrote:
Part one outlines Macintosh Madness. In chapter one, "Techno Fetishism," Kahney starts to try to explain the allure of the Mac (with a signal lack of success), but then wisely moves on to detail some of the oddities of Mac-fanaticism: hogging cheap stickers, vanity plates for cars, attending store openings, and considering the Mac to be an object of desire. The interrelationship of the Mac and the counterculture is explored in chapter two. The perception of "The Two Steves" is examined in chapter three: as usual, Jobs gets most of the attention. Chapter four shows a number of Mac tattoos. Macspotting, the practice of looking out for celebrities who use Macs and TV shows that feature them, is briefly described in chapter five, but most of the material deals with Apple's efforts at product placement. It's widely understood that pretty much any Mac user is supposed to be a missionary (for the product), but chapter six concentrates on the specific Apple marketing tool known as the EvangeList. Mac sites on the Web are listed in chapter seven. Part two reviews Apple assemblies and gatherings. Chapter eight describes the Macworld conferences and events. The special class of Mac fanaticism found in Japan is covered in chapter nine. Part three looks into tinkering. "Macquariums" get a few pages in chapter ten. Chapter eleven showcases a number of people who mock up designs for Mac cases, while twelve notes some who go further and actually build new cases in which to put Mac internal hardware. Chapter thirteen presents some designs for making paper cutouts of Mac computers, and then goes on to detail items that people have made with the empty cardboard shipping boxes. Part four examines people who keep or maintain old Macs. Chapter fourteen looks at collectors and collectable memorabilia. Antique Macs, and even cardboard pieces, are described in chapter fifteen. Part five is the obligatory miscellany. Chapter sixteen outlines activities surrounding the iPod. In chapter seventeen Kahney has another go at explaining why Mac fans are so loyal, but, despite lots of interesting speculation, doesn't come up with a convincing answer. However, along the way there is lots of interesting trivia, and pictures of really cool techie stuff. copyright Robert M. Slade, 2004
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Book description:

No other computer inspires devotion like a Mac. The largest and most fervent subculture in computing, Mac fans come in all shapes and sizes, but never waver in their dedication. Like fans of a football team or rock band, Macintosh fans have their own subculture, with clearly defined obsessions and rites of passage. The Cult of Mac takes you inside the world of the Mac addict. Meet fans who get Mac tattoos and haircuts, people who travel across the globe to attend Apple Store openings, and counterculture icons who love the Mac. Discover the realm where old Macs become aquariums or bongs, origami Macs are made out of paper, and where the Macs of the future are envisioned not by suits in Cupertino, but by Mac heads all over the world. Visit the gatherings of the Mac tribe, from the big trade shows to tongue-in-cheek lookalike contests of Mac celebrities. And explore the little-publicized underbelly of Mac culture, including erotic fiction featuring Steve Jobs and the influence of mind-altering drugs on the Mac’s famous interface. Whether you’re a casual observer, a mild Mac fan, or a hardcore member of the cult, join journalist and loyal Mac user Leander Kahney as he exposes all sides of Mac fanaticism, from the innocuous to the insane.