This is the second edition of Merrill R. Chapman’s highly successful book, In Search of Stupidity: Over 20 Years of High-Tech Marketing Disasters. In the book, he chronicles the history of the high-tech industry during the last few decades, highlighting the stupid mistakes made by the so called ‘excellent’ companies and how they perished because of their on foolish decisions and actions.

As in the first edition, Chapman’s extensive knowledge of the industry and familiarity with the companies he is mentioning in the book makes the narrative gripping, engaging and funny. His familiarity with the topics and experience with the companies give the readers details and insights that one will never find in any other book.

The foreword of the second edition is written by another veteran of the software industry—Eric Sink. The new edition contains 14 chapters, a glossary, selected bibliography and an index in addition to the foreword, preface and Afterword.

The only new additions to this edition are the 3 chapters—12, 13, and 14. Chapter 12 (The Strange Case of Dr. Open and Mr. Proprietary) deals with the various issues of proprietary software, open source, GNU and other various forms of licensing and how each affected the industry. The thirteenth chapter (On Avoiding Stupidity) gives very useful pointers and advice on how to avoid the stupid mistakes, how to learn from the past and how to prevent making the mistakes others have already made. The final chapter, Stupid Analyses, explains the lessons to be learned form each chapter. The last two chapters, which form the major portion of the revision, are really worth reading and would making the purchase of the second edition a good decision; i.e., if you already have one.

Like the first edition, this also is an excellent book to all who are interested in the history of the computer industry. It describes the early days and how the industry developed and why most of the original players are nowhere to be seen. It explains, with examples, how large organizations with intelligent people could make the same mistakes again and again thereby killing their organizations. The new chapters add more value to the book. A great book on what should be avoided to succeed.

Book Details:

• Author: Merrill R. Chapman
• Publisher: Apress
• Year: 2006
• ISBN: 1590597214
• Cover & Page Count: Paperback, 408 Pages

You can order online at Amazon.