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LOSER: Life Of a Software EngineeR
What's common between outsourcing and Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America?
How are arranged marriages related to the Software Development Life Cycle?
For you to command better appraisals, what should’ve your parents named you?
Why does your Project Manager always give you a new task just when you’re about to sign off for the day?
Why are dumb, attractive software engineers always sent onsite?
In Life Of A Software EngineeR (LOSER), author Dipen Ambalia offers some hilarious answers to these questions and more, having struggled through years of terrible appraisals, dumb instructions, Bell Curves and belles’ curves.
How are arranged marriages related to the Software Development Life Cycle?
For you to command better appraisals, what should’ve your parents named you?
Why does your Project Manager always give you a new task just when you’re about to sign off for the day?
Why are dumb, attractive software engineers always sent onsite?
In Life Of A Software EngineeR (LOSER), author Dipen Ambalia offers some hilarious answers to these questions and more, having struggled through years of terrible appraisals, dumb instructions, Bell Curves and belles’ curves.
- GenresFictionCollectionsHumor
212 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
38 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
December 4, 2013
Well..... How to start with my disappointment. It is the most ordinary book I have ever read(I want my money back). The reasons which added to my ever growing frustration with this book are:
1) Creativity: Zero:- The author has not shown any creativity at all. All the examples in the book were too too ordinary. I felt like I can write a book after reading this book(believe me i am a very bad writer).
2) The chapters look like a text book of some software engineering from an author trying to be cool.
3) The content of the book looked liked an answer sheet to me written by a student in his engineering examination, who doesn't know the answer so trying to put same point again and again, sometime in form of paragraph and sometime in the form of Table. Yes table dude its not your company report why tables??.
I could hardly smile after reading the book(I left it with 2 chapter remaining).
Please don't read this......
1) Creativity: Zero:- The author has not shown any creativity at all. All the examples in the book were too too ordinary. I felt like I can write a book after reading this book(believe me i am a very bad writer).
2) The chapters look like a text book of some software engineering from an author trying to be cool.
3) The content of the book looked liked an answer sheet to me written by a student in his engineering examination, who doesn't know the answer so trying to put same point again and again, sometime in form of paragraph and sometime in the form of Table. Yes table dude its not your company report why tables??.
I could hardly smile after reading the book(I left it with 2 chapter remaining).
Please don't read this......
July 13, 2012
Stay Away, the most Ridiculous book I have ever read.
Waste of Money and Time.
Waste of Money and Time.
April 2, 2013
Don't read this.
Just Sucks. No matter nothing. You are not gonna gain something by just fooling your boss. Nor you gonna gain something by making him your friend...
Just Sucks. No matter nothing. You are not gonna gain something by just fooling your boss. Nor you gonna gain something by making him your friend...
Read
February 3, 2013If you are an IT engineer, you can't help but smile!
May 14, 2013
If this book were a person, I would characterize it as - uninteresting, boring, repetitive & obsessed with arranged marriage!
I picked up this book, undoubtedly and like many others, only because of the title. I thought this is an attempt to satirically delve into some of the aspects of Software Engineer's life. Hmm....that was not to be the case.
The experiences described in the book do not portray the reality of the Software Engineering field. Statements on the lines of "Fair skinned and beautiful people go onsite" is absurd and clearly point to either of these:
1. The author, inspite of working in the software industry, has not "got it"!
2. Author's past work experiences have not been so good!
The author loves tables and comparisons, as is evident from the innumerable tables spilled all over the book! This is mildly OK in the beginning, however as you progress through the chapters, gets to you. Bad idea!
The book seems to be a collection of the author's experience in the software world, which does not seem to have been good so far!
Even if you discount all the problems mentioned above, there is no continuity to the chapters or clarity in the expressions. I am wondering why most of the chapters must end with the text "Now you know why/how......etc". There is a clear disconnect between the title of the book and the content.
Strongly NOT recommended!
I picked up this book, undoubtedly and like many others, only because of the title. I thought this is an attempt to satirically delve into some of the aspects of Software Engineer's life. Hmm....that was not to be the case.
The experiences described in the book do not portray the reality of the Software Engineering field. Statements on the lines of "Fair skinned and beautiful people go onsite" is absurd and clearly point to either of these:
1. The author, inspite of working in the software industry, has not "got it"!
2. Author's past work experiences have not been so good!
The author loves tables and comparisons, as is evident from the innumerable tables spilled all over the book! This is mildly OK in the beginning, however as you progress through the chapters, gets to you. Bad idea!
The book seems to be a collection of the author's experience in the software world, which does not seem to have been good so far!
Even if you discount all the problems mentioned above, there is no continuity to the chapters or clarity in the expressions. I am wondering why most of the chapters must end with the text "Now you know why/how......etc". There is a clear disconnect between the title of the book and the content.
Strongly NOT recommended!
Read
September 1, 2012My review of the book:
http://passey.info/2012/03/notes-for-...
http://passey.info/2012/03/notes-for-...
June 19, 2020
I read this book a day ago. It describes the life of a common software engineer, and if you are a software engineer fresher(myself being one)then my advice would be consider reading it. At least you will get a feel of the world that you are going to get into. It states and explains the facts in a funny manner, you will sure have a good time reading it.
Although it has been a fun read all the way through, still I found something missing there. Don't know what it is,but still it is there. Maybe Dipen has to go a lot of distance as a writer. Another thing, a lot of things in this book have been told in Hindi,so Non-Indian guys will not be able to take out the full pleasure of reading this book. It's a point that the writer may have considered. Anyways, I have had a good time reading it.
Although it has been a fun read all the way through, still I found something missing there. Don't know what it is,but still it is there. Maybe Dipen has to go a lot of distance as a writer. Another thing, a lot of things in this book have been told in Hindi,so Non-Indian guys will not be able to take out the full pleasure of reading this book. It's a point that the writer may have considered. Anyways, I have had a good time reading it.
June 22, 2013
Being in the IT industry for almost 7 years now, I maybe a bit partial in rating this book a full five - but that can be excused because I loved it so much because I could absolutely relate to each word I read!
Right from the title of the book to every observation that Dipen explains is so true! The book is hilarious yet not exaggerated and I'm sure most of my fellow IT walas will agree. Such a wonderful and apt description of the IT industry can only come from an insider and so it is! For people outside the industry,I'm sure it will burst many myths about the IT sector and people working in it.
If you are feeling low, or in mood for a hearty laugh, do pick up this book and I guarantee your jaws will pain in no time!
Right from the title of the book to every observation that Dipen explains is so true! The book is hilarious yet not exaggerated and I'm sure most of my fellow IT walas will agree. Such a wonderful and apt description of the IT industry can only come from an insider and so it is! For people outside the industry,I'm sure it will burst many myths about the IT sector and people working in it.
If you are feeling low, or in mood for a hearty laugh, do pick up this book and I guarantee your jaws will pain in no time!
December 15, 2012
Hilarious! Best Stress Buster Ever!!! everything is a Fact that happens in Day to Day Life in an IT Industry, Dipen has Plotted it in a Very Well Manner with Perfect Examples that will make you go like ROFL.
Complete Funny Dictionary for Software Professionals; with unbeatable Examples. People who want to Join the Industry should also go for it(So that they can have a Better Overview) and People who are already "IN" ,there are lots of tricks and for you.!!!(so that you can enjoy it)
An awesome read!..awaiting more books frm the author!
December 15, 2012
brilliant!!! i was on my way to chennai and happened to pick up LOSER at the mumbai airport... the title suggested thst it was kind of my life too!!... you wont believe if i said that i completed the book by the time i raeched chennai! very engrossing, extremely hilarious...a must read book, could not keep it down till i finished reading. the best chapter was the one on onsite and offshore deewar!... expect a lot more from the author...
April 2, 2013
Just completed reading the book. Though, being a budding writer myself and an engineering student on the brink of entering the macabre wonder world of IT, i was able to empathize with Dipen's views. Though the style and the influx of creativity was not to be seen. It was like an "open-and-shut" book albeit interspersed with hilarious anecdotes but written by an abecedarian. Definitely not a page turner but a regular read to pass surplus time at hand!
June 20, 2012
Hilarious read!
Completed in 2 days, couldn't stop reading..it has a nice flow.
A must read if you are a software engineer or aspire to become one in future.
Please keep it away from managers !
Completed in 2 days, couldn't stop reading..it has a nice flow.
A must read if you are a software engineer or aspire to become one in future.
Please keep it away from managers !
August 7, 2012
This is the most fun you'll ever have inside a book about software engineering. Everyone who works in the world of software engineering, and anyone who is even mildly frustrated about his job, increments, bosses will enjoy reading this corporate satire.
December 15, 2012
Hats off to the Author for such good observations and plotting them so well in a book and also thanks for making us laugh so hard by such wonderful gift [;)]... the best chapter was on the difference between the onsite and offshore!
Read
November 26, 2012Most painful hour of my reading experience ... a book which insults your intelligence
October 2, 2017
Read it long time ago. I felt ossum that time with negligible experience of reading. But when you read very good literature,you end up feeling this book as a plain reading with some experiences in software job etc.
This one is for those who are new readers with no experience of reading at all and are engineers,who wants to start reading something apart from chetan bhagat etc. if you are not one of those then avoid it.
This one is for those who are new readers with no experience of reading at all and are engineers,who wants to start reading something apart from chetan bhagat etc. if you are not one of those then avoid it.
March 9, 2018
It was different from most Indian books. It was half rant, have advice and funny on the whole. I could relate to most of it and if you work in(or worked) a service-based IT company you'l probably relate to this completely. The analogies are creative. I as in a reading rut for a oong time and I couldn't read a book for long but I finished this book in a day.
So it was a light read.
So it was a light read.
September 24, 2018
One of the worst books I have read to date. Repetitive narration & ordinary writing. To be frank, I found it so boring that I left the book 25% unread. Most of the comparisons that the author does don't make sense. At the start, you will enjoy these comparisons but reading the same type of things again & again will bore you to death. Total waste of money.
September 8, 2019
L.O.S.E.R by Dipen Ambalia https://tejaswiniparwatikar.blogspot....
June 23, 2012
This book has so many funny details of incidents and people working in IT industry that I was unable to control my laugh all the way. Thing which touched me most was the description of conversation which takes place between people who have been to onsite and the one who haven't. It was totally hilarious. Marriage of a IT professional, how he travels to office, how much time he spends in travelling, what he does when he is on bench, appraisals, resignation, onsite experience, chocolates which they get, how a project manager, leader, team lead, and team member work, how appraisals happen. All these and many other minute details of IT industry have been put forth in a funny way. One who is IT industry will have total enjoy it. A funny book!..worth read!
June 23, 2012
Best Stress Buster Ever!!! , Everything is a Fact that happens in Day to Day Life in an IT Industry, Dipen has Plotted it in a Very Well Manner with Perfect Examples that will make you go like LOL (Not just like chat "lol" but yes Laugh Out Loud) or Rather ROFL.
Complete Funny Dictionary for Software Professionals; with unbeatable Examples (which Most of us already had and if not then you can go ahead and give it a Try).
People who want to Join the Industry should also go for it(So that they can have a Better Overview) and People who are already "IN" ,there are lots of tricks and for you.!!!(so that you can enjoy it)
Hats off to the Author for such good observations and plotting them so well in a book and also thanks for making us laugh so hard by such wonderful gift [
Complete Funny Dictionary for Software Professionals; with unbeatable Examples (which Most of us already had and if not then you can go ahead and give it a Try).
People who want to Join the Industry should also go for it(So that they can have a Better Overview) and People who are already "IN" ,there are lots of tricks and for you.!!!(so that you can enjoy it)
Hats off to the Author for such good observations and plotting them so well in a book and also thanks for making us laugh so hard by such wonderful gift [
March 18, 2016
1.5 Stars to be frank.Such a shabby book.
Preface mentions that the author is a software engineer by profession, but a writer by passion.
If he can publish a book, which is very very poorly written, shabbily edited, and designed in the worst way possible, in a work he claims to be passionate about,I can imagine how badly he would have worked in the industry.
Obsessed with going onsite, and getting a girlfriend and getting married, this is nothing more than the lamenting of a moron.
I fell for the title, like so many other readers.
The real Loser is the reader, for wasting precious time trying to read this piece of bullshit.
Preface mentions that the author is a software engineer by profession, but a writer by passion.
If he can publish a book, which is very very poorly written, shabbily edited, and designed in the worst way possible, in a work he claims to be passionate about,I can imagine how badly he would have worked in the industry.
Obsessed with going onsite, and getting a girlfriend and getting married, this is nothing more than the lamenting of a moron.
I fell for the title, like so many other readers.
The real Loser is the reader, for wasting precious time trying to read this piece of bullshit.
June 14, 2012
Throws ample light on the world of the IT industry . A little opinionated but I would say a very honest and satirical take . The author tries to be as funny as possible with the daily life situations, the essential aspects etc. The tabular comparisons are very well made, and humor is good. Richa , Ramesh, plain Jane - a plus(read to know more).
To say that i finished this book in a single sitting of 2.5 hours shows my enthusiasm.
Bottom-line: Don't get influenced from the book. Take it as a fun read. You will surely love it. Not recommended for final year students though!
To say that i finished this book in a single sitting of 2.5 hours shows my enthusiasm.
Bottom-line: Don't get influenced from the book. Take it as a fun read. You will surely love it. Not recommended for final year students though!
June 23, 2012
This is one of the book where I found myself related in each and every chapter either directly or indirectly, The most valuable thing that I got to know was about "outsourcing" industry's evolution.
I kept laughing all the way down till last chapter was read and kept telling that Dipen could have written more chapters on our beloved Software Industry. Few of my colleagues who read this book now have started pointing out characters named in the book specially the Richa's :P.
But all I can say is great work ! very realistic !!
I kept laughing all the way down till last chapter was read and kept telling that Dipen could have written more chapters on our beloved Software Industry. Few of my colleagues who read this book now have started pointing out characters named in the book specially the Richa's :P.
But all I can say is great work ! very realistic !!
June 24, 2012
This was induction manual, this very useful for those who not yet know, what happens in IT field? LOSER doesn't have lots of discussion about Sustaining the Job, apart some 3 or 4 chapters. This book also suggest at some point you need work harder to good appraisals. But i like the way in which he explains concepts by means of real-life examples such as marriage, Columbus discovery of outsourcing. It contains discussion about precious days such as First day and last day of the company. But i doesn't his approach in getting us amused about the book by abusing people of IT sector.
March 13, 2012
A book that is very pragmatic and brings the day to day life of a software engineer to limelight. The worst thing about this book is 20% of the book is written in Hindi. The most important dialogues in this books are in hindi, and makes it pointless for a non-hindi reader. Intended to be humorous, but just brings a smile on your face, because it is reality! Was very real that I finished it in a sitting.
March 16, 2012
A wonderfully written rib tickling satire on the Indian I.T industry. The book draws upon the author's many years of experience in the Software industry. Read this book to find the connection between Outsourcing and Christopher Columbus or to find the difference between those who have been Onsite and those who have not. This book is a must read for those who are working or know someone who works in the many IT companies in India.
December 15, 2012
LOL, ROFL are few of the short forms in which i can describe my reaction after reading LOSER...while reading the book i felt as if dipen was telling my story..I am a Richa and i can totally relate to what i stated in the book! I admire his attention to detail and the observation and various comparisons! i have already booked 6 copies for my team mates! kudos to the author for such a splendid work! keep it up...
August 29, 2013
At the beginning it was boring,later it become interesting. It tell about the Indian software guys mentality. We must accept that most of the good software are developed by foreigners ,only useless and non-challenging work we are doing.
After reading this book,sure no one will see the software guy as a great one...Though it doesn't have much creativity, we should appreciate the writer to bring out the IT world.
After reading this book,sure no one will see the software guy as a great one...Though it doesn't have much creativity, we should appreciate the writer to bring out the IT world.
December 18, 2018
The book is plain and simple. Hilarious it is not! It does very well depict the life of the IT-Crowd, to the extent that Google actually is our god.
However it does push some stereotype notions, which I would beg to differ.
Nonetheless, it is a straightforward book. Sadly, the book is from a male-perspective and I am afraid that female readers (if any) won't be able to take the fullest amusement of the book.
However it does push some stereotype notions, which I would beg to differ.
Nonetheless, it is a straightforward book. Sadly, the book is from a male-perspective and I am afraid that female readers (if any) won't be able to take the fullest amusement of the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews