How Buildings Learn
#1272 of 2,654 all-time
How Buildings Learn
Stewart Brand
5 people recommended it in 5 threads, 2014–2017.
What people on Hacker News said
How Buildings Learn, by Stewart Brand. This isn't about programming. It's about architecture, in the build-a-building sense. It studies what happens to buildings over the course of their lives, as opposed to just when they're first built.
I was a voracious reader of programming books prior to reading Stewart Brand's "How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built." However, it was this book that made me (finally) realize that some of the best programming books are not about programming at all.
"How Buildings Learn", by Stewart Brand. It's about architecture over time - how buildings change and evolve (and eventually die), to suit the needs of their owners and occupants, and how they deal with the three enemies of al buildings (time, money, and water).
Non-code books for programmers? I always recommend How Buildings Learn, by Stewart Brand. It's a well-written and elegant study of the lifecycle of buildings, and holds many lessons for anyone who realizes their software continues to exist and change.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: What language-agnostic programming books should I read? 2017 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why? 2017 · 1 recommendation
- Alan Kay's reading list 2016 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What book changed your life in 2014? 2014 · 1 recommendation
- Best development book I've read, has no code in it 2014 · 1 recommendation