I first read this book in the early 80's as a teenager - it was handed to me by a slightly older guru pal, who had indeed been retooling his Norton for a trip a

I first read this book in the early 80's as a teenager - it was handed to me by a slightly older guru pal, who had indeed been retooling his Norton for a trip around the country, and with whom I had been hacking on the computers we found we both had purchased. He gave it to me in response to one rambanctious outburst or other I'd had, over the subject of different cultures around different systems we were both hacking on. I'd said something like "man I hate those mainframe guys" or something. I'll never forget him looking at me, sagely, across the desk and saying "man, I've got a book you should read". I guess he'd sensed some formative intolerance budding in my teenage mind, and intended to head it off. Well, this book definitely set me on a path of peace and tranquility, and most of all, confidence in my own competence in the face of adversity, purely for the sake of adventure. I devoured the book in a weekend, and he and I became better friends and hackers for the fact that he dared to suggest I might ought to improve myself, just a little, through a bit of reading.. I've since seen this book recommended in many similar contexts over the decades. I believe its one of those books which, if you care enough about it, will give you a few tools for humility and confidence.