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I hate the dummies books too. People that consider themselves intelligent don't want to buy a book that forces you to call yourself a dummy. I'm saying there is
by xrd 7y ago
I hate the dummies books too. People that consider themselves intelligent don't want to buy a book that forces you to call yourself a dummy. I'm saying there is another space for people that feel they are intelligent and don't yet have the knowledge about programming and could do it given the right introductions.
O'Reilly speaks to me too, but I think there is entire population of people that aren't familiar with Tim O'Reilly and buy books from his publisher to join that community of thinkers. And that's a shame.
- eddieh 7y agoI think you're right about this. I'd much rather read LISP for Poets or LISP for Future Presidents than something with a title that is insulting or degrading. There's probably a considerable market for books that educate and respect the reader.
- xrd 7y agoThat's a great theme. Programmers have a different set of aspirations than most people, so making books that speak to both a different aspiration and teach tech seems like a winner of an idea for the rest of the people out there who don't identify as a nerd.
- p_l 7y agoThe old "For Dummies" books were very respectful if used self-deprecating humour on authors side often. The polish term used to translate "For Dummies" was a bit better IMO, though not exactly translateable.
- srean 7y agoOh I did not mean to say I hate the Dummies series. I had picked one up, something on personal finance if I remember correctly. I was quite pleasantly surprised that the author did not speak to me as if I am a dummy.
- commandlinefan 7y ago> call yourself a dummy I always put masking tape over the “dummies” part and write “geniuses” on it before I display it on my desk so nobody will know.