I really enjoyed "Software and Mind", which I first read about on HN, though the discussion was short and people didn't seem to like the author's angle much. I

I really enjoyed "Software and Mind", which I first read about on HN, though the discussion was short and people didn't seem to like the author's angle much. It's largely about how "mechanistic theories of software" hold us back, how programmers aren't getting to exercise their brains, and how most people are giving more and more control of their life up to others in order to avoid having to program. Avoiding programming becomes more of a goal than expanding the mind. The author is very passionate about all this - and I think most people would find the intensity off-putting. He manages to fill ~800 pages. I am not sure I agree with everything. While it resonated strongly, I'm also not that bummed out about the ability to launch a website from scratch in 5 minutes. But, in much the same way I feel about the writing of Nassim Taleb, despite having many statements that are incendiary and possibly wrong, it approaches a topic from an angle that you probably haven't been getting elsewhere. I immediately thought of this book when I read the question because I've never met anyone who has read it or who has any interest in reading it after hearing about it.