I just habe finished reading Petzold's Code after having it in my reading list for several years now. I expected something along the same lines as Code Complete

I just habe finished reading Petzold's Code after having it in my reading list for several years now. I expected something along the same lines as Code Complete and got something entirely different. And boy, I was in for a ride. I read it in two days straight. I think this book can offer an answer for us who were too late for the type of computer mentioned in the linked article. Has any of you experience in giving this book to people who don't have much to do with technology or even children?