The Tao of Computing

Chapman & Hall/CRC Textbooks in Computing

by Henry M. Walker

This text presents a broad, practical introduction to computers and computer technology. It uses a question and answer format to provide thoughtful answers to the many practical questions that students have about computing. The text offers a down-to-earth overview of fundamental computer fluency topics, from the basics of how a computer is organized, to an overview of operating systems, to a description of how the Internet works. The second edition includes technological advances, new applications, examples from popular culture, and new research exercises.

555 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 31, 2004

Reviews

[William Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers many aspects of computers both practical and esoteric: how computers work, their roles and what all those acronyms mean.

It is designed as a text with the explication followed by discussion questions and such; however, this is a good book for non-students to peruse. The explanations are made in response to assorted questions a user might ask.

The title could be misleading for some readers. Except for some discussion about ethics and whether computers can be considered intelligent, this is not a book which constantly evokes spiritual issues. It is not the same as "Tao of Physics" or "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." There is no attempt to find parallels with eastern mysticism.

However, it does seem to touch on the many basic principles of computers and so is tao-like in that sense.