Close to the Machine Book Summary

In 'Close to the Machine', Ellen Ullman invites readers into the intricate world of software engineering, blending memoir and technical insight. She recounts her journey through the male-dominated tech landscape of the 1990s, where code becomes both a language of clarity and a reflection of the human experience. Ullman's prose reveals the beauty and chaos of programming, exploring the connection between technology and creative expression. As she navigates her own identity and relationships, readers are left pondering the personal cost of an increasingly digital age. This thought-provoking narrative challenges us to consider how closely we live with machines and what it means to be human in their presence.

By Ellen Ullman

Published: 2012

"We are, in our essence, machines made of flesh, interconnected and driven by narratives, yet yearning for understanding."

Book Review of Close to the Machine

Originally published in 1997 by City Lights Books.

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We are, in our essence, machines made of flesh, interconnected and driven by narratives, yet yearning for understanding.

Close to the Machine

By Ellen Ullman