Rating: 
Summary: It's OK, but nothing new
Review: I read the excellent "Rebel Code" and thought that reading "Just for Fun" would be a nice idea, to know more about Linux and its author through his own words. The problem is that Linus and the journalist who helped him failed to make the book interesting, so it becomes a sequence of chapters like "yeah I needed a new driver for my modem, so...well I did it"In one page he's doing Linux version 0.01 alone in his bedroom in Helsinki, 15 pages later he's talking about having 10 million users, and leaves no clue HOW it happened, or who was involved (guys like Dave Miller and Alan Cox, so important to the Linux community, didn't get one single mention) So if you want to really understand not only WHAT happened but HOW it happened, I recommend "Rebel Code" instead. And it covers not only Linux, but the whole open-source movement.
Rating: 
Summary: sophomoric self indulgence
Review: I certainly hope that Linus Torvalds and David Diamond had fun writing Just for Fun. They did such a poor job of it that I was not able to enjoy reading it. The first thing that bothered me about the book was the poor proofreading and editing. The book switches between second person and first person. There does not seem to be any reason for this in the narrative. I think it is just sloppiness. There are also a number of fairly obvious typos. You would think they could have hired a proof reader who knew that ls is a UNIX command. Another problem with the book is that it really offers little new information about Torvalds or Linux. Linus has given many interviews over the last few years as Linux has become popular. Anyone who has read a few of those interviews will know most everything in this book. Linus has accomplished something quite remarkable with the creation of his operating system kernel, and with the popularity he has brought to the open source movement. Unfortunately Just for Fun offers no insight into why Torvalds was the person who was able to do this. What makes Linus Torvalds so special? After reading this book that question remains unanswered. This book would be of value to a reader who is interested in Linux and the open source movement, but some how had not read anything about it up to now. For any one other than that reader this exercise in sophomoric self indulgence is a waste of time.
Rating: 
Summary: From another paradigm
Review: Imagine a "computer upbringing" that did not begin with utilizing MS DOS, Windows, or any type of Apple Machine. Living in Finland with a hand-me-down Commodore Vic 20, a Timex Sinclair, and ultimately a bare bone 386. A freezing cold reality, spending day and night learning code, reading computer newsgroups, and making the most of the hardware that you have. Imagine not upgrading your computer every two weeks, but instead learning how to take your computers hardware to its potential.
These conditions led Linus Torvald to create Linux.
"Just for Fun" gives us just a glance of the excitement and enthusiasm that Linus felt as he created Linux from a simple Mimix clone to that of a full-fledged and internationally accepted OS.
Rating:
Summary: A Book About Life
Review: When I first picked up this book, I thought it would just be about the startup and growth of the Linux operating system. Well it was all of that, AND more! This book not only speaks about the making of the greatest open source project ever, it talks about life. It goes into an in depth history of Linus Torvalds from child to present. In between some chapters there are details about some parts of the interview process for the book which somewhat detract from the main point. I would have liked it better if there was another chapter with this devoted entirely to it. The writing style is very easy to understand. I don't know if thats because I am a nerd or what? But before the talk about the beginnings of Linux there is a page warning you of intermediate geek language, so I suppose non-tech savy people should stay clear. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in computers or wanting to learn more about Linux.
Rating: 
Summary: From One of the Horse's Mouths
Review: This is one of the most impressive "autobiographies" I've read in some time. While other reviewers here found David Diamond's sections in the book distracting, I did not. Having said that, though, easily the best part of the book was Linus himself. Linus is apparently a good talker and I think Diamond is good at taking stream-of-consciousness interviews and making them read well. Linus's sections read like well edited, informal speeches, almost like "fireside chats" and this is a style that worked out very well for me. There is very little in the book that won't be known by any follower of Linux or the Open Source Movement, but hearing it from Linus himself gives it an interesting spin. Linus doesn't pull any punches with his opinions on Gates, Jobs, the Macintosh, Mach Kernals, etc. but his opinions seemed to come off well even when the opinion is contrary. Possible improvements? Well, although there are a good many pictures of Linus on the web (including the shirtless Linus drinking a beer while at University - a picture he hates and he mentions this), I would have liked some photos with the book. In the end this book is perfect as a light read for those of us who are involved in the movement, and a good book to give to those "laymen friends" who might wonder what all the fuss is about and who one of the big players is. I didn't even find the "technical section" all that technical.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST!
Review: This is the best book ever,
i did a school report on Linus and that book did it all for me.
The onley book i dont hate! and i hate books!,
Linus you rock! go linux!
- Jeff Johnson
Rating:
Summary: Fun to read! Great to know!
Review: Linus has really put on his Linus law on many books including this one. Wanna know what it is? Get the book! It was a fun read on this one, you get to go on a trip with the author and Linus (and his family) from nothing, to coding, to everything on Linux. A good "history" book but no boring at all, spent a whole weekend finishing this, and ignoring my Linux box...:)
Rating:
Summary: For nerds and curious alike
Review: This book should be a welcome departure from technical books to "hackers" and a easy to read view of this very special world for more "normal" people wondering what all this Linux fuzz is really about.
Linus T. has a very interesting personal history, starting from a reclused gray-looking life and going all the way to some sort of world hero's one. His personality is attaching, his story touching, his deeds impressive.
I am glad I read it and recommend it to you. It shouldn't take you more than 2 or 3 days to read it: give it a shot.
Rating:
Summary: Fun to read.
Review: ... I found this book fun/easy to read. I put myself in Linus's shoes. It was a fun walk. Yes, I used to program a vic 20. But then thousands of us programmed these things. Yes, I used to have a big nose. Yes, yes, yes, fun stuff. Of course, programming all night long is a drag. It is nice to see that this guy made a job of it. Not a bad book on Linux too from a philosophy point of view. It is already helping me to write about law and voluntary regulation of the net and to learn a little bit more about Linux. Unionise the high tech sector now! I don't know why people think this is a business book though it is more like sci-fi entertainment, I think. It is easy to read that's for sure.
Rating:
Summary: broke my expectations.
Review: I expected to enjoy this book, but I did not know I would
be unable to put it down. I didn't expect it to be
_funny_ (which the first third or so was), nor did I
expect it to talk about the meaning of life, or the
way money changes people -- but somehow manages to
do so without getting boring, which I think is a
significant achievement. If you're looking for insight
into Linux, or technical information, you won't find
much here -- get an O'Reilly book instead, or something.
You also won't find a lot of software licensing
evangelism. This book is neither of those things --
it is, however, a very entertaining read.
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