Enterprise Server Strategies for the CIOAs much as you love all our tips on Windows Server management, security and troubleshooting, sometimes you need a little break. Our geeky summer reading list is perfect for those sunny days when you just need to get out of the data center. Whether you're into history, mystery or something else, one of these 10 titles is sure to feed your tech obsession. Did we miss a real page-turner? Let us know on Twitter @WindowsTT. And don't forget the sunscreen!
Turing's
Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe by George Dyson
How did we get here? Dyson helps answer that tough question by telling the story of the people
who built one of the world's first computers in the 1930s, and tracing how that contributed to the
explosion of the digital world that we now know.
Recommended for: History buffs, dreamers, tinkerers
Superliminal
by Andy Kaiser
The first book in the "Dev Manny, Information Technology Private Investigator" series spins a
noir-ish tale about a missing insane software designer and how technology might help crack the
case.
Recommended for: Humphrey Bogart aficionados with a weakness for a geeky joke
Murph, the Friendly IT
Gal by Murph Murphy
Murph seems to be a model colleague – but behind the scenes, she's deviously turning corporate
employees' sins against them, one email at a time. Is she an anti-hero, or just doing what every IT
pro wishes he could? There's only one way to find out.
Recommended for: Fans of "The Avengers," overworked helpdesk staff
Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted
Hacker by Kevin Mitnick
Mitnick's tales of how he hacked companies like Motorola and Sun Microsystems while evading the law
will keep you turning the pages. They'll also have you running to lock
down your systems as soon as you get back from vacation.
Recommended for: Security pros – and skeptics
Cloud
Crash by Phil Edwards
How's this for a timely premise? A bomber attempts to bring down cloud computing by any means necessary, while a team
of professionals chases him through tech landmarks from Silicon Valley to Area 51. The future of
the internet hangs in the balance…
Recommended for: Anyone who's a little tired of the "cloud" craze (which is everyone)
Outsourcing
Murder by Maddi Davidson
A 20-something IT consultant in California becomes a suspect in a murder case, and must use all the
resources at her disposal to clear her name. Tacos, surfing, and probably hilarity ensue.
Recommended for: Pale admins in need of some fun in the sun
Physics of the
Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100 by Michio
Kaku
If you're angry that we don't have flying cars yet, this book is for you. Kaku, a theoretical
physicist, predicts how technology will push the world forward over the next century, and who the
winners and losers might be.
Recommended for: Fans of Arthur C. Clarke and Tarot cards
Reamde by Neal
Stephenson
Going on a long vacation? This 980-page epic from the master of thrillers covers the creation and
corruption of T'Rain, a multiplayer online role-playing game that's seduced millions and leads to
real war when a virus enters its systems. It's a fast-paced, stirring reminder of how virtual
activities affect the offline world.
Recommended for: Gamers, dystopians
PowerShell
in Depth by Don Jones, Jeff
Hicks, Richard Siddaway
You know you're going to have to learn
PowerShell eventually. As in his articles, Don Jones offers engaging, to-the-point tips on
using this powerful scripting tool in his latest book. By the time September comes, you'll be a pro
at Powershell v3 – and you can take another vacation with all the time you save.
Recommended for: GUI-lovers everywhere
The VDI
Delusion: Why Desktop Virtualization Failed to Live Up to the Hype, and What the Future Enterprise
Desktop Will Really Look Like by Brian Madden
With renowned wise-cracker (and virtualization expert) Brian
Madden at the helm, this guide won't feel like a lecture. After digging through the 15 promises
of VDI, you'll be able to stand up to even the strongest vendor come-on.
Recommended for: Virtualization pros with a sense of humor
This was first published in June 2012
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