Customer Reviews
Awesome read - By: Flupstar, 15 Dec 2006 
If you're interestedin reading all about the genesis of the FPS genre, this is the book for you. As well as being a thoroughly entertaining & well-researched read thanks to the talented author, it takes you on a rollercoaster 'warts & all' ride from the childhood of the two Johns, through the creation of ID Software, Wolfenstein, Doom, Quake & more. Lots of great behind the scenes info about the team, especially about the Doom days. I couldn't put this down & have since ordered copies for friends!
Mmmmm - By: , 09 Mar 2006 A very interesting book about a slice of popular culture that tends not to be covered too wellin mainstream media.
Of the charactersin the book, few of them come over as being particularly pleasant. I guess being nice to people is only something us non geniuses require.
The most influential book I ever read - By: Marcos Papadakis, 02 Sep 2005 If you are a developer, a programmer, someone who likes using his computer for creating games, or even 'casual' applications, you MUST read this book. It will make you want to code night & day. I have read it 4 times & still I get the same feeling when I go through it. John Carmack is a genius.
Yep, great read - By: mingo, 14 Feb 2005 I spent sooooo many hours, like soooo many other people, playing these games. The story of the Two Johns has been touched uponin the computer press but the story more than bears tellingin a full length book. I picked it up just to read about what the background was to these incredible games that dominated weeks / months of my adult, slacker life, & sure enough the account given of how Wolfenstein & onwards were written was at turns exhilerating & bittersweet. I then started moving back through the book to the earliest days of the two johns & it held my attention throughout. Great story, great characters, & the author has a great eye for his subjects & the allure of the story of how geeks became rockstars. Gaming isnt going to disappear, & Carmack & Romero are like two Neil Armstrongsin terms of their acheivements. THis is a good history bookin the making if nothing else, & it is surprising how much you end up feeling for both Carmack & Romero, two lost boysin a gold mine. Carmackin particular is an odd & mysterious character. My rating? Five stars. mmmm.
A Fantastic Book - By: mikeG, 26 Dec 2004 This book really is fantastic. From the moment I picked it up I couldn't put it down, it's compulsive reading. I found it incredibly interesting both from a gamers point of view, & as someone starting a technology business myself. There are some real lessons to be learned from the book, & I would suggest all new business owners read it, along with "Boo Hoo" as a counterpoint.
