But how Do it Know?: The Basic Principles of Computers for Everyone

J. Clark Scott

Jan 2009 · John C Scott

About this ebook

This book thoroughly explains how computers work. It starts by fully examining a NAND gate, then goes on to build every piece and part of a small, fully operational computer. The necessity and use of codes is presented in parallel with the apprioriate pieces of hardware. The book can be easily understood by anyone whether they have a technical background or not. It could be used as a textbook.

Ratings and reviews

I was interested in subject from that perspective, because I, as many others, using laptop & smartphone every day, even can say, on a level slightly above "mediocre user", but still understanding programming on a basic level. And so, I definitely recommend this book (maybe, except one or two parts from the end of it) to those, who just wants to know basics, while understanding (dealing) with complex things, based on it. It's pretty simple to dive in and I think, that book as such, must be teached in school for everybody, maybe, with some hints from today's tech as a conclusion. The trend to oversimplify computer tech so everybody can use it, is good for business, but I bet, that society will work better, if more people get basics.

This book is the BEST book to understand computers. I had a good understanding of software down to Assembly code, but I had no idea how instructions actually translated into electronic circuits. This book explained it all. Once you read this book it will provide the groundwork to understand how ANYTHING in computers work. This book does not contain abstract concepts about hardware, instead it will show you how everything translates to electric signals. It will not say RAM is temporary memory and stop. It will show you how exactly each bit of data is held in place in the RAM. All in a simple and easy to understand manner. Best money I ever spent in my life.

Great read for a software engineer who always thinks of hardware as a mystical black box. This book takes the reader into the depths of the integrated circuit (stopping just shy of the silicon transistor) at the logic gate level, and masterfully zooms back out to to a high enough level to view the entire "motherboard" in one comprehensible schematic diagram. Don't let the quirky title fool you - this book is as sophisticated as it needs to be, without cluttering the discussion with tangential information. Should be required reading for any Systems course in college.

About the author

 J. Clark Scott has had a long and diverse career in the computer industry, starting with building computers and their parts at companies such as Intel and IBM. Eventually he graduated to writing consumer software, with four nationally marketed titles to his credit. He noticed how confused some of his friends were about computers and gave them lectures to teach them how simple the basics really are. It was at that time that the idea for this book was born.