Life in Code: A Personal History of Technology by Ellen Ullman is a reflective blend of personal insight and cultural analysis that delves into the human impact of technology. Drawing from her two-decade career as a programmer, Ullman reflects on the rapid evolution of the tech industry, highlighting the ethical dilemmas, cultural shifts, and personal impacts of technological progress.
Using engaging essays, she examines themes such as the rise of algorithms, the influence of technology on democracy and privacy, and the dehumanising aspects of coding. Ullman also shares her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field, offering a unique perspective on the industry’s culture.
Balancing technical insight with emotional depth, Life in Code is a compelling read for anyone seeking to understand the societal and personal costs of the digital revolution, written with clarity and a deeply humanistic lens.
About the Author
Ellen Ullman is a celebrated author and computer programmer whose work bridges the worlds of technology and literature. She began her programming career in 1978, becoming one of the few women in the male-dominated tech industry of that era. Her experiences navigating this world form the backbone of her memoirs, including Life in Code: A Personal History of Technology and Close to the Machine: Technophilia and Its Discontents. These works provide a deeply personal yet analytical view of the evolving digital landscape and its human implications.
Born in the mid-20th century, Ellen Ullman grew up before computers became commonplace and pursued liberal arts studies before entering the tech field, drawn by the intellectual challenges of coding. She founded her own consulting firm while balancing technical expertise with a passion for storytelling. Her novel The Bug, inspired by her professional experiences, was a PEN/Hemingway finalist. Now living in San Francisco, Ullman is also known for her reflective essays and contributions to NPR’s All Things Considered, exploring themes of gender, identity, and technology’s societal impact, making her a vital voice in chronicling the human side of technological transformation.
