Uncanny Valley

Changing careers from publishing to tech is a path not often traveled. Wiener made this jump from a world legendary for its light pay compensated by romanticism, to an industry best known for generous “perks that landed somewhere between the collegiate and the feudal.” Wiener’s experience makes for one of the most entertaining books I’ve read in years—she is a gifted writer and unafraid to call out the over-seriousness of the tech bro mentality as an ultimately “dreary” worldview. 

A beautifully written memoir about life and work in Silicon Valley in the 2010s and the culture built by our modern tech scions. Among other things the author explains, in clear down-to-earth language, just how much of our private information big data firms collect and process on a daily basis and how that collection can be used for nefarious purposes.

Anna’s memoir is about her time working in various high-tech companies in Silicon Valley. She does not name the companies she worked for, but they’re not necessary to understand her story, which is that of a wholly innocent newcomer to tech. How she managed to land a high-tech job is revealing, but anyone who’s spent any time in high-tech will have met people with “non-traditional backgrounds” (writers, musicians).

Her book is also a portrait of Silicon Valley and its environs. She writes about the nature of technical companies, their leaders, and whether their workers are happy and engaged. She presents… show more.