The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder

The Soul of a New Machine, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder and published in 1981, chronicles the dramatic struggle of designing and building Data General's 32-bit computer, codenamed Eagle. A detailed glimpse of Eagle's development and the people that devised it, The Soul of a New Machine represents a landmark moment in the history of computers and the dawn of modern technology.

The book begins in 1978 when Data General Corporation's marketing division decides to create Eagle, a 32-bit computer intended to challenge their competitor Digital Equipment Corporation's top-selling products. To do this they hire Tom West, a brilliant engineer coming off a string of successes with DEC, to lead the project. West quickly assembles a dedicated and passionate team of engineers and developers to work on Eagle. Through Kidder's writing, the team is quickly fleshed out and made memorable to the reader. We learn about Tom West's ambitions and fears, the mentor-mentee relationship between West and FO Kay, the doggedness of Ed Rasala, the energy of Lisa Brown, and the others.

For the next two and a half years, we follow the team as they tirelessly and passionately try to build Eagle. Kidder’s rich detail not only places you directly in the environment with the engineers but also conveys their exhaustion. Through the pressures and setbacks, the team pushes through, breaking through layer after layer of hardware and software designs. While the team works exceptionally hard, they do so in an informal atmosphere that facilitates friendship and camaraderie between them.

Throughout the book, readers are provided a behind the scenes look into the development of Eagle. This includes an in-depth understanding of the tasks needed, the struggles the engineers face, the highs and lows, and how the work fits into the even larger world of computing. Just as importantly, Kidder’s writing provides a glimpse of the changing culture of computing. Computers that were once created by solitary individuals were now built in teams and required a new type of leadership from their engineers.

The engineering journey at Data General culminates with a brilliantly executed, if somewhat anti-climatic, unveiling of Eagle at a hotel in Boston. For a time, Eagle is a success, with Data General becoming a contender among the larger computer companies. But success would be short-lived, as Data General soon finds itself unable to compete with the emerging IBM PC.

The Soul of a New Machine is not only a fitting tribute to Data General and its engineers, but it is also an important document of computer history. The journey that Kidder chronicles in the book is remarkable, yet it speaks to the timeless cycle of innovation and the continuous creativity of individuals working together to push technology forward. In the decades since its release, The Soul of a New Machine has drawn much acclaim and it continues to be a popular work for those interested in computers and technology.