Wow, I didn't realize exactly how prolific Jerry had been. There's some really interesting stuff there that I didn't know about before. Glad you shared that.
Oh no. Just last week there was an article on the front page of HN (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17660011) which was plagiarized from a section of his excellent book The Psychology of Computer Programming. It reminded me of discovering his book in the library a couple of years and loving it, and thinking I ought to read what else he's written. Seems I never got around to doing that and thanking him. :-(
Why? because he was a teacher or friend to someone who is a moderator on HN? Because he wrote some books? Lots of famous people, scientists (computer scientists and otherwise), who wrote books and died didn't get a black bar.
Every time a black bar is put for someone, his importance is immediately compared to the importance of other great people who died. Frankly I think it does a disservice not only to those who don't get a black-bar, but also to those who do.
I've had a habit over the last 10 years of gifting (I've learned to never 'loan' books to people anymore) used hardback 1971 editions of The Psychology of Computer Programming (some bought as cheap as $0.13 + $3.99 S&H on Amazon). Probably given away away at least a dozen to friends & co-workers. For the handful who did more than skim it, it enriched their understanding about programming as a social activity. He left a great mark on the world, even if only a few of us truly appreciate it.
I was lucky enough to have met him in person several times, and to have corresponded with him in various online venues. He was generous with his time, and he both taught and practiced only giving advice when asked. His books are among my most read, most quoted, and most given to others. He was a giant. RIP.
This hit me hard. I’ve read several of his books and it’s strange how you can feel like you know a person from that. But his writing was excellent and his personality was very evident.
If anything, I feel like now I want to read a few more of his books as a mark of respect.
So much of The Psychology of Computer Programming is still relevant, and still worth reading. The title might put you off ... but this is really a great book that covers some practical topics regarding the human side of programming.
A very fine person of wisdom and an effective teacher because of his great skill as a storyteller. His stories delivered his wisdom with both efficiency and grace.
His book, The Secrets of Consulting, was the first to help me get my head screwed on straight. I can't tell you how often his "Orange Juice Rule" helped me make a better decision.
That's an interesting rule, and it reminds me of the story of Van Halen: For their concerts, they have asked (ask?) for a bowl of M&M's, but no brown ones.
I didn't get much out of his later work, but The Psychology of Computer Programming has changed my thinking and my career more than any other single book.
I am very sorry to hear that. I bought his book The Psychology of Computer Programming in the 70s when I was just getting started in my career. That book and some of his more recent work really had a positive influence on my life. Jerry, you will be missed.
The Psychology of Computer Programming (and its Japanese translation, プログラミングの心理学) is one of my favorite books and a must-read if you're interested in computer programming AND human being. It's the only computer-related book that makes me emotional and urges me to be a better programmer AND a better person. I'm sorry to hear this.
RIP Jerry, Learned a lot from your books. Those are very practical guidelines. We will miss your wisdom. It is a loos to the technological world. And I proudly posses your quite a few books, which change my life and thinking too about a specific thing. Thank you.
Thanks. Mentioning this might be contrary to HN's ethos, however I felt like upvoting his one and only comment - which was very thoughtful and seemed lovingly in response to his grandson's mention.
There is no easy way to say this, and certainly no easy way to hear it. I am writing this on the evening of August 7th, 2018. Jerry died last night.
He's been in poor health, but this wasn't expected and Dani is coping with all of the things that need to be done. I told her that I would announce it to his friends and colleagues on Facebook, since she doesn't use social media.
I've been using the things he taught me a lot this summer, with some challenging personal and professional situations. I'm so glad I managed to tell him that while he could still hear it.
Knowing him made me a better person. His life goal was to empower Smart People to Be Happy. He succeeded.
There is no easy way to say this, and certainly no easy way to hear it. I am writing this on the evening of August 7th, 2018. Jerry died last night.
He's been in poor health, but this wasn't expected and Dani is coping with all of the things that need to be done. I told her that I would announce it to his friends and colleagues on Facebook, since she doesn't use social media.
I've been using the things he taught me a lot this summer, with some challenging personal and professional situations. I'm so glad I managed to tell him that while he could still hear it.
Knowing him made me a better person. His life goal was to empower Smart People to Be Happy. He succeeded.
67 comments
[ 2.7 ms ] story [ 114 ms ] threadJerry's blog: http://secretsofconsulting.blogspot.com/
Jerry's books: https://leanpub.com/u/jerryweinberg
Wow, I didn't realize exactly how prolific Jerry had been. There's some really interesting stuff there that I didn't know about before. Glad you shared that.
Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Weinberg
Every time a black bar is put for someone, his importance is immediately compared to the importance of other great people who died. Frankly I think it does a disservice not only to those who don't get a black-bar, but also to those who do.
He truly did make the world a better place.
If anything, I feel like now I want to read a few more of his books as a mark of respect.
And, you know, because they were excellent
His book, The Secrets of Consulting, was the first to help me get my head screwed on straight. I can't tell you how often his "Orange Juice Rule" helped me make a better decision.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1813443
It's always sad when the good ones go. RIP Jerry.
He's been in poor health, but this wasn't expected and Dani is coping with all of the things that need to be done. I told her that I would announce it to his friends and colleagues on Facebook, since she doesn't use social media.
I've been using the things he taught me a lot this summer, with some challenging personal and professional situations. I'm so glad I managed to tell him that while he could still hear it.
Knowing him made me a better person. His life goal was to empower Smart People to Be Happy. He succeeded.
Requiescat in pace, Jerry.
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Sue Petersen > Gerald M Weinberg
There is no easy way to say this, and certainly no easy way to hear it. I am writing this on the evening of August 7th, 2018. Jerry died last night.
He's been in poor health, but this wasn't expected and Dani is coping with all of the things that need to be done. I told her that I would announce it to his friends and colleagues on Facebook, since she doesn't use social media.
I've been using the things he taught me a lot this summer, with some challenging personal and professional situations. I'm so glad I managed to tell him that while he could still hear it.
Knowing him made me a better person. His life goal was to empower Smart People to Be Happy. He succeeded.
Requiescat in pace, Jerry.
As if his death was not depressing enough, there are still places that do this...