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4.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Addition to any Professional's Library, Jan 19 2010
This review is from: The Gift of Time (Paperback)
Fiona Charles has masterfully crafted a selection of essays from various authors and professionals who represent a sampling of Jerry Weinberg's "lineage" (to use a term I learned from an essay in this book) - a lineage that spans generations! I have collected and learned from many of Jerry's books over the years as various opportunities presented themselves. I have even met him a few times and heard him speak on various topics - e.g. computer technology, quality, personal development, problem solving, writing, sci fi, family therapy, consulting, and others. And yet, through this book I learned more new things about him, the work he has done, and the impact he has made on various professionals in different fields. This book was different from similar books that I've read. The essays were written in a personal way that almost gave the book a kind of documentary feel to me. I liked that because it made it easier to digest the essays compared to similar, more technical essays that I have read in other books. Having said that, I still learned many new things from many of the stories within these pages and have made a list of more books I want to pick up, people I want to meet, and things I want to learn more about. The Gift of Time will make a good addition to any software professional's library. Like most of "Gerald M. Weinberg's" collected works, there's a little something for everyone in this book. I can see myself re-reading it. I'm glad to have a copy.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent collection of short essays, Dec 22 2009
This review is from: The Gift of Time (Paperback)
I enjoyed reading "A Gift of Time". I normally have a hard time making it all the way through a non-fiction book, but having a number of short essays by different authors kept my interest and made it hard to put the book down. There were some of the chapters that were more enjoyable than others, but my preferences would not likely match other readers. This book has chapters that almost anyone would enjoy. I have met Jerry Weinberg a couple of times and I was very impressed with his insight and wisdom. It was nice to see essays from so many people from different areas of Jerry's past writing tributes to him. I learned many interesting concepts from the book and something from almost every chapter. There were a few references to Jerry's words of wisdom but also many new personal insights from the authors that were inspired by Jerry. There was a nice blend of personal stories of interactions with Jerry, stories of experiences that had been influenced by Jerry and stories of Jerry's history - again helping keep my interest and increase my enjoyment of the book. I would recommend this book simply because of the variety of stories but mainly because it allowed me to learn more about Gerald Weinberg - one of the most interesting people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read from wonderful writers ..., Dec 16 2009
This review is from: The Gift of Time (Paperback)
The Gift of Time is a series of short essays from a variety of authors celebrating the life and work of Gerald M. Weinberg. Each author covers a different aspect, from a different perspective on how Gerald Weinberg has affected their personal and professional lives. The selection and arrangement of the essays ensure you move to a different aspect of the influence Gerald has had. Although each essay is well written, each reader will undoubtedly end up with their favourite that speaks to them more clearly. For me, this favourtie essay is by Johanna Rothman on how to avoid writer's block. As a person who loves to write this essay covers many of the problems I encounter as I write and offers up pointers and hints on how to overcome them. Another essay by James Bach entitled 'The Prince of Testers' is a close second. Starting with Gerald Weinberg's early career and moving forward, James covers how Gerald Weinberg has helped him become a better tester and keep looking for better ways to test beyond the existing practices. Each essay is a quick read, and you can read one and put the it down and return to the book days later as needed. I found myself returning to the book again and again, sometimes reading the same essay over and over again. Anyone who is interested in a pioneer in the computer, testing, consulting and teaching field will want to read this to be introduced to Gerald and inspire them to delve into one of the dozens of books Gerald Weinberg has read himself.
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