I want Code to be a book that makes you understand these things, not in some abstract way, but with a depth that just might even rival that of electrical engineers and programmers. …someone once asked me: “Why can’t you run Macintosh programs under Windows?” My mouth opened to begin an answer when I realized that it involved many more technical issues than I’m sure my questioner was prepared to deal with in one sitting. Petzold maintains a good balance: the pace is comfortable, and the tone is informal while at the same time incorporating the appropriate technical terminology to accurately convey the subject matter without obscuring it by unnecessarily avoiding precision out of fear that the reader will be turned off by too much jargon. It provides an unparalleled depth of understanding for how little it requires from readers in the way of prior knowledge.

I think he succeeds here in a way that few others ever have.Ĭode is a unique book with a conversational tone that leads a general audience of readers through a mix of expository writing, imaginative fictional scenarios, and history, to learn about the inner workings of computer hardware and software. With Code, Petzold sets out to inform a general audience about the inner workings of computers. I have not read those, but I can’t imagine they will age nearly as well as Code has.

Charles Petzold is perhaps best known for his books on programming Windows applications.

Code charles petzold audiobook