Rating: 
Summary: If your geeky and you know it.... read this book
Review: As a programmer and an ubergeek I was really looking forward to this book, and in a lot of ways, it wasn't disapointing. This book is a fusion of several elements, Linus talking about his childhood, Linus talking about creating Linux, Linus + David Diamond talking about Linus's daily life, and finally, a few words of insight on the world of programming, and technologyThe first 50 pages or so describe Linus as a kid. I have never seen anyone describe what its like to grow up a geek so succinctly and humorously. An ubergeek reading this will have a fit of nostalgia when he/she reads about Linus's mom saying "I always worried how he was going to meet nice girls like that" or "Linus was a fairly easy kid to raise, just give him a dark room, and a computer, and throw in some dry pasta every now and then and he'll be happy". This section is also likely to appeal to people trying to UNDERSTAND us geeks. The next 100 or so pages are a description of the history of Linux. This section comes with an appropriate warning: moderately geeky language until page 130". The authors are correct in assuming that you may need to be a geek to understand and appreciate this part of the book. For programmers, this section is insightful, and even inspiring. By far the silliest part of the book comes next, as David Diamond describes his meetings with Linus. Linus is portrayed as eccentric, and here we learn of the programmer and the journalists frequent trips to the spa et al. Interesting but kinda dumb. Definitely the best part of this book is the end, where Linus begins to tell us his opinions on open-source, Intellectual Property, etc. Although I often disagreed with Linus, his opinions were well thought out and interesting. In conclusion this book is clever, funny, and informative, a must read for geeks, or geek-wannabe's. My only problem: Linus's writing is choppy and often grammatically incorrect, but I can't blame Linus for this one as English is a second language to him.
Rating:
Summary: The Sources of Linus Torvalds
Review: To put my review in the context: I am a 24 year-old Finn, played with computers since early 80's and moved recently to Bay Area. In smaller scale all what this book is about. Linus starts with shedding some light on his childhood. His first encounters with VIC-20 are interesting read. The second computer he had was a Sinclair QL. It was a very rare computer and didn't have many games or other applications. To use and learn its functions, Linus had to write new programs all by himself. At that time most programming books and magazines focused on games. So before reading this book I had wondered how an earth would some young guy get so interested in operating systems and system tools. I'd guess the experience with QL had a lot to do with it. The rest of the book is about how the Linux kernel was born and how it grew along with Linus to the popular operating system it is today. This story has been told many many times in different occasions. Here, we get some inside information on what has been Linus's role in the growth of the Linux community. It becomes somewhat clear that Linus is all but a "benevolent dictator" or an idealist. He is a one of the pragmatic and selfish moderators of a vast programming project called Linux. Though he owns the Linux trademark and is the project's public icon, in the end, Linus is just one hacker from Finland. Linus says there is not much sense to compare him to american business emperors like Bill Gates. Linus talks many times about Finland and how people live there in a non-competitive environment. He vaguely compares this picture to California and the United States with highly commercial and competitive spirit. I found these parts convincing. It makes the reader think what has been the role of the environment in the birth of Linux. In 1991 when Linux was started there were many competing operating systems at the same technical level. After reading this book, I'd guess one of the factors for Linux's success has been the character of Linus in the lead. Linus points many times that he has been the guy others have trusted. American journalist David Diamond has followed Linus in the making of the book. His notes all around it make undoubtedly the worst part -- excluding hype-quotes on the back cover. Fortunately about 90% of the text is neutral trustworhy stuff by Linus. In contrast, Diamond writes like any american high-tech journalist in a buzzy day. He is unable to put any analysis or interesting information out. Maybe american readers love it but I had to skip most of Diamond's contributions. And oh, there are parts in the book where Linus presents his interpretation on the meaning of life and stuff like that. Just for fun. In overall a very readable and interesting book.
Rating:
Summary: Good capuccino, excellent operating system
Review: I had the recent pleasure of meeting Linus Torvalds and he does indeed make a mean capuccino. In fact he's a pretty shy, unassuming host. Hard to get him to talk unless you ask him about some of the latest kernel bugs. Doesn't really understand or care too much about what's going on in "user space." You wouldn't think he's the guy who would lead an open source revolution. And that's precisely why he is able to do it. You're probably already familiar with his story: Nice guy Finnish college student works in his closet sized apartment for a few years, writes an operating system, gives it away free and in the process gets more market share than Unix, Macintosh and OS/2 combined. But make no mistakes, Linus is not some kind of rabid anti-commercial software communist. He's a just a very talented and diligent programmer who is doing this for fun. Not for money, not for fame. Ok, maybe a bit of fame. And a few stuffed penguins. And a BMW. Nonetheless, it's an interesting story and in many ways a nice contrast with the usual egotistical biographies of Silicon Valley technologists.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting reading for geeky (and not so geeky) folks
Review: Linus Torvalds, as most geeks and many non-geeks know, is the person behind Linux, the operating system. This book provides a soap box for Linus to talk about what has driven him (computers, programming) towards his goal. He did not intend to create a phenomenal operating system; rather, he was content adding features to his terminal emulator until the fine day that it started to grow into an operating system. In the early '90's I remember reading a posting from him on the MINIX bulletin board; the posting urged readers to download and install Linux, his new operating system based on Unix (I never quite got down to doing that, but I did follow his work including his visit to Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, where I worked during the early-mid 90's.) The book is an interesting read for me since I readily subscribe to the open/free software, extreme programming, open source movement. Reading about Linus' travails with Andrew Tannenbaum (an extremely well known Computer Science personality) and their exchange on the merits of micro-kernel vs. macro- kernel architectures is very interesting. I am not sure non-computer literate folks (non-geeks) would find this as interesting. What they will find interesting is Linus' philosophy that the world constantly moves towards entertainment with a short detour through survival and forming of societies. Case in point: industrial revolution started as a means for humans to survive in a dangerous planet, evolved into humans forming societies to channel it and has now morphed into a quest for entertainment. Computers are no different -- started off as few people depending on them for their survival (the 'anointed ones' behind glass windows), evolved into the formation of soceities (bulletin boards, newsgroups, chat rooms) and are now used for entertainment. Maybe he has something there.
Rating: 
Summary: Just because Linus wrote it..
Review: Well, the reason I read this book is because I try to read every book on Bill Gates, and I thought I should do the same for Torvalds. The book will not satisfy you. It has some personal details, and some interspersed pages by co-author David Diamond (atrocious, at best). The story is simple - and you know it by now. Nerd spends winter in room writing code, and the internet allows people to collaborate to make it grow. However, if you read the whole book, you will find some hints that will help you understand how a person who was thrust into a position of such prominence handled it all. To begin with, I think Linus has done a tremendous job of coordinating the work of a bunch of very talented folks (who may not have the best people skills) so that conflicts create progress without disruptions. It also highlights his pragmatic approach towards many things. Finally, his views on intellectual property are quite refreshing, if not actually new. I mean, after all he is not an abstract theorist, but the coordinator of somthing that actually works. Read the book, by all means. Read it because it was co-written by Linus. And read it because you like reading about such people and dreaming about being a revolutionary yourself!
Rating: 
Summary: Expecting much better
Review: First problem Mr. Torvalds co-wrote the book - should've left it to the professionals. Though one gets the impression from the book that he's such a control freak that wasn't an option. Considering his ego I'm suprised the book wasn't longer. A lot of drivel, negative comments about industry people he's met, ego stroking, self-important blather. He's cashed out, made his millions and good for him - think he'd acknowledge the Free Software Foundation/GNU etc. instead of critizing them. Nothing wrong with being a sell-out, just don't deny it and minimize the contributions others made to your success.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed reading it
Review: Nice reading, several good ideas.
Mr. Torvalds deserves what he got.
I just hope to use some day Fredix or Diannix OS.
Jag gör det!
Rating: 
Summary: interesting and annoying at the same time
Review: Frankly speaking, I'm usually too lazy for writing reviews.
Because I was so disappointed by the book, I write one now. The good aspect of the book is that one gets a glimpse of what kind of guy Linus Torvalds is. That's quite interesting - since his regarded as being a kind of superstar.
The bad aspect (for me) is that this guy's arrogance and overestimation of his merits is so annoying. The book delivers what you might expect in a biography about a 34 year old operating-system-programming-know-it-all ... but not more.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful!
Review: In Just for Fun, Linus Torvalds, the Finnish creator of the Linux operating system, mixes his personal story, told in both narrative and e-mail dispatches, with the saga of his development of the Linux operating system. Torvalds' personal account makes the book fascinating. He began as a self-proclaimed nerd (and even a jerk) who labored to create an operating system in his garage and eventually became the head of the world's largest open source project. By requiring buyers and licensees to keep the Linux source code open, Torvalds assures the continued technological evolution of his system. The episodic nature of the book makes it choppy, the technical descriptions are hard for the uninitiated to track and co-writer David Diamond's digressions are revealing about Torvalds' personal life, but a little disruptive. Even so, we recommend this entertaining, interesting book that may even lead you to consider using Linux on your computer, whether or not you are another self-proclaimed computer nerd.
Rating:
Summary: Great Subject, Average Book
Review: As a huge fan of Linus Torvalds and The Linux Revolution, I waited in great anticipation for this book. Although at face value the book is pretty good, I expected a lot more. We got to hear some things on Linus' world view and his background, but we would've been better rewarded with a more in depth analysis of the state of the wired and computer world, and how computing can be improved through deep proliferation of Linux. A case needs to be made for Linux on the desktop. Otherwise, Linux will be relegated to the server market too much, and The Revolution will never get televised for mass market appeal and conversion. I truly believe Linux is the best and most meaningful OS today for a variety of technical, conceptual, and professional reasons, and Torvalds would be well advised to step outside his comfort zone and be slightly more self promoting to the mass market. Indeed, some of Gates' success is based on shameless self promotion and some excellent books that educated and informed the public. You have to fight fire with fire beyond the silo of the Tech/IS crowd. If you want to read a great book on Open Source, read Eric Raymond's visionary The Cathedral and the Bazaar. Raymond isn't as wildly anti-establishment and eccentric as GNU and UNIX guru Richard Stallman, and he's not as self effacing as Torvalds.
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