The Soul of A New Machine
by Tracy Kidder
"The Soul of a New Machine" by Tracy Kidder chronicles the intense development process of a revolutionary computer at Data General in the late 1970s. The book focuses on the engineers' struggles, creativity, and dedication as they race against time to build a powerful machine, highlighting the human aspect of technological innovation. Through detailed storytelling, Kidder captures the passion and complexities involved in pioneering work in the computer industry.
30 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from The Soul of A New Machine, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
The machine is not a mere collection of parts; it is an organism.
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
People are always asking, 'What is the best way to do this?' The answer is: There is no best way.
Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.
A team is not a group of people who work together; it is a group of people who trust each other.
You can’t get to the top of the mountain without going up the mountain.
In order to be a great engineer, you must understand the human condition.
Every great achievement is the result of many great thoughts.
Failure is an opportunity to begin again more intelligently.
The most important thing is to keep the most important thing the most important thing.
We were building a machine, not just a computer.
In the world of computers, the first is often the worst.
Machines have an infinite capacity for boredom.
People are more important than machines.
The most important part of engineering is the human factor.
You can’t make a great product without a great team.
Development is a process of trial and error.
Every machine is a reflection of the people who build it.
The joy of discovery is a vital part of the human experience.
The machine does not isolate man from the great problems of nature but plunges him more deeply into them.
It is the people who make a machine work, not the machine itself.
The only thing that matters is the end result of a project.
You can’t just be an engineer; you have to be a good problem solver.
In a world of constant change, the only constant is human ingenuity.
Success is not just about having the right ideas, but about executing them.
To understand a machine is to understand a part of ourselves.
Collaboration often leads to breakthroughs that solitary work cannot achieve.
The design of a system reflects the values of its creators.
Engineering is not just a profession; it’s an art that requires passion.