I just snagged a copy of In Search of Stupidity this afternoon and I can’t put it down. It’s an articulate and funny overview of the bonehead marketing and corporate decisions behind the most spectacular flamouts in PC history from dBASE, Borland, the PC Jr and OS/2 to Novell and Netscape: stuff before my time and stuff I’ve suffered through myself. With any luck, I will be finished sometime tonight (I’m a speed-reader and an insomniac).  :mrgreen:

I really wish I was a speed reader.  I have such a backlog of books to get through.

I like the look of that Jennifer Government you sneakily linked to in a previous post.  Do you recommend?

Although I’ve not read it, it looks like an interesting book. There is also a web site that has some sample chapters, videos, etc. at:

Back in 1986-87, I used to work for Ashton-Tate supporting their signature database product called dBASE II. They had a very large headquarters building in Torrance, CA. The one thing I remember vividly is Ed Esber who was then the CEO, addressing a company meeting of about 200 employees in the building’s courtyard. We were summoned to the meeting to hear how we were going to compete with Lotus. He strolled into the crowd in full military dress like General George Patton (chrome helmet, riding crop and all).

Perhaps the book may reveal a taste of some of this kind of corporate silliness and waste that led to Ashton-Tate’s eventual demise.

The Ashton-Tate chapter is great. I think you’d appreciate it. dBASE II, III and it’s eventual death at the hands of Borland are fully cataloged and Esber is roasted over an open flame. It concentrated more on the marketing aspect than anything, but was still entertaining.

LiteYear: I heard about it from a friend. I love the concept, but I’ve heard mixed things about it. I might just wait for the movie (which was optioned before the book was published).