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Rating: 
Summary: it is not computer, it is human behind computer
Review: After reading this book, i no longer look at any computer system or modern ultra sophisticated systems driven by computers as some brute magic of modern technology, but as a power of human thought and intellect amplified by the magnificient tool--the computer. i see the human face. thanks,Daniel Kohanski, for changing my former paradigm which was isolating me from the technology to one of embracing the technology by showing its human nature.
Rating:
Summary: it is not computer, it is human behind computer
Review: After reading this book, i no longer look at any computer system or modern ultra sophisticated systems driven by computers as some brute magic of modern technology, but as a power of human thought and intellect amplified by the magnificient tool--the computer. i see the human face. thanks,Daniel Kohanski, for changing my former paradigm which was isolating me from the technology to one of embracing the technology by showing its human nature.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting approach to an ordinarily stale subject.
Review: Being a younger programmer (20) and being unfamiliar with the technologies of the past, I thought that Kohanski was able to convey the true meaning of what programmers are, and the mentality that accompanies ingenuity.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book
Review: I have been programming for upwards of three years, but I have never read a book such as this one. It give philosophical argument pertaining to the ins and outs of programming. Whether you are a casual computer user, a casual programmer, a philosophical person, a expert programmer, or anywhere in between, this book will defintly be worth reading. Whether it expands your skills or just opens new methods of though, it is defintly a must read on my list.
Rating: 
Summary: You need to understand a tool to use it effectively
Review: I've always thought that, if you don't understand how a tool works, and where it came from, it is impossible to use it effectively. It doesn't matter whether the tool is a power saw, a bulldozer, or a computer. The Philosophical Programmer provides just that kind of background for computers. The book's cover calls it "a programming book for English majors," but it's considerably more than that. Even if you have absolutely no desire to know the evolution of memory chips and programming languages, you should still read the rest of this book. If you're already neck-deep in geek, read it for the insights about the computer as a tool and an extension of a person.
Rating: 
Summary: Well written, but ill-titled and empty
Review: The only reason I can find for Kirkus and Booklist falling all over themselves in praise for this book is the writing. The author is both a computer science and philosophy major; this combination does not a philosophical programmer make. The closest he comes is a stab at the psychology of computer programming. However, anyone writing in this area who excludes Gerald Weinberg from his bibliography is either clueless, short on time or just plain lazy.
Rating: 
Summary: A Few Interesting Insights
Review: This book is written by someone who, I gather, studied a little philosophy early in life and has been programming ever since then -- for over 30 years. He certainly has some interesting things to say about computers, and how we interact with them especially as programmers. Unfortunately, he didn't have enough interesting things to say to fill up 192 pages.In parts one and four of this book, the author presents some insights into computer programming that he has learned over the years. But instead of condensing his ideas and publishing them as an essay or magazine article, they are presented here at the beginning and end of this book. In the middle of this odd sandwich is a dry and dated introduction to computer science -- the early history of computers and an introduction to computer hardware and programming. The title of this book is misleading. This is implicitly acknowledged by the author when he uses only the subtitle, "Reflections on the Moth in the Machine", for the 2nd edition of this book. One might call his insights into computers "philosophical" in a general sense -- although this might best be left up to the reader -- but I doubt this is considered a work of the academic field of philosophy. And there is little mention of any other philosophy. I only recall a brief mention of a few philosophers during an introduction to fuzzy logic.
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Summary: Intro for the beginner, waste of time for the vet
Review: What I had hoped to find in The Philosophical Programmer was insights into the synergies between philosophy and programming. What I got was yet another introduction to programming, albeit a quality one. A more accurate title would be Introduction To Programming By a Philosophical Author. In other words, the author has a sound philosophy for describing various aspects of programming (and making them intuitive), but offers no philosophy for a programmer to apply to her or his job. What I wanted but didn't get was a fresh perspective on what a programmer does and how she or he can apply various philosphies to make them better. For example, Descartes' method of doubt is perfectly suited to coding. I recommend this book to anyone who needs a general (and soft) introduction to programming. If your a seasoned vet, read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
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