by Andrew Smith
Grove, 2024
This review was first published by Booklist in August 2024.
**STARRED REVIEW** Many of us have a sense that modern technology, especially social media, is damaging human society and relationships. Smith was curious to understand if that’s true and, if so, why. Here, he takes a deep dive into the culture of computer coders: he learned to code, attended coding conferences, and interviewed some of the most eminent persons of the coding world. Along the way, he offers a course in the history of the creation and development of computers and code, a necessary context to understand how we got to where we are today. He explores the nature of coding itself: is it more math or language, science or art, and how do human brains process it? He also calls our attention to the divisive, often counterintuitive history of diversity in tech. Smith believes modern technology is doing harm to society and ultimately suggests a well-reasoned argument for why, with suggestions to address the damage. But technology also offers tremendous potential to do good, and much of the culture around tech is deep with creativity, imagination, and hope. Devil in the Stack is a humane, nuanced, humorous, insightful work and a much-needed call for greater due diligence around some of the most impactful innovations in human history.
John the Librarian 