The Magic of Code

"His hit rate is high enough, and his insights rewarding enough, that we’re carried along with ease. By the end, we’re inclined to agree ... computers should spark wonder and delight."—The Wall Street Journal

“A challenging but rewarding history of code, and a glimpse of a future beyond it.”—Kirkus

“In his thoughtful and immensely creative new book, Samuel Arbesman injects a much-needed sense of wonder back into the ever-more powerful world of computers and algorithms. You’ll never think about computation the same way again—and this is a good thing!”—Cal Newport, New York Times bestselling author of Slow Productivity and Deep Work

“What an incredible joy it is to be on a journey of intellectual curiosity with such an enchanting polymath. Arbesman has convinced me that the most wondrous and awe-inspiring feature of our modern world might very well be the complex, invisible universe of digital code that keeps it all running.”—Joshua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein

“A delight. About so much more than ‘just’ code, this book should be required reading for how to be human—and make decisions wisely—in a future suffused with computation.”—Annie Duke, author of Thinking in Bets

“This book is a lot of fun! It explores all the ways the idea of computation can be fruitfully wrapped around nearly everything. It will stretch your mind.”—Kevin Kelly, Senior Maverick, Wired

“Expansive and absorbing, The Magic of Code reveals code as a universal force—swirling through disciplines, absorbing ideas, and connecting worlds. Arbesman helps us see that computation is far bigger and more unifying than we ever imagined.”—Linda Liukas, author of Hello Ruby