Extra Life: Coming Of Age In Cyberspace

by David S. Bennahum

Today’s digital culture traces its roots to the 1980s, when the first computer generation came of age. These original techno-kids grew up with home-brew programs, secret computer access codes, and arcades where dedicated video gamers fought to extend their play by earning “extra life.” In that era of gleeful discovery, driven by a sense of adventure and a surge of power, kids found a world they could master, one few grownups could understand.In this fast-paced, real-life tale set in the bedrooms, computer rooms, and video arcades of the ’80s, popular media chronicler David S. Bennahum takes readers back to his initiation into this electronic universe, to his discovery of PONG at age five. We follow him from video game addiction—his Bar Mitzvah gift was an Atari 800 with 48K of RAM—to his ascent to master programmer with the coveted title of “Super User” in his high school’s computer room. Bennahum reflects on how computers empowered him and his friends to create a world of their own.We see how their geekiness, grounded in roleplaying, iterative thinking, and systems analysis led to a productive, social existence—the “extra life” they found on the other side of the screen. Hilarious, poignant, and packed with little-known computer lore, Extra Life is a grand digital adventure set against the background of the emerging information age.

Genres: Computers, Memoir, Cultural, Biography

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 1998

Reviews

[CodeTaino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not think this book is for everyone. Having said that, in my case, it was great. Being around 10 years younger than the author but having experience technology very early in life with older tech for my time (basic, pascal, dos, cobol, 14.4kbps dial up modems, Tandy 1000RL, early internet) it took me on a trip down memory lane and nostalgia. I also learned from the descriptions of the tech I did not experience myself. Pick this book if you have a similar background as described, you will love it.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect when I started this book; especially with the opening chapters about France, I almost didn't become fully immersed. But I stuck in, and was tremendously rewarded for my patience. Even though I am ten years younger than the author, most of the same experiences reminded me of why I was a computer nerd through middle and high school and why the computing world used to be a much more interesting space, at least for the geeks rather than the consumers.

This is the story of David's computing life up until the mid to late 90's. From discovering electronic gizmos in his father's office (what would have been $1000 then would sell in a dollar store now) to interviewing with Microsoft just before they reclaimed their dominance in their industry a few years later.

You can see how one generation is connected to the next. Page 67, as the author lays out the "commandants" followed subconsciously by his fellow peers, echo loudly those in Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution, followed by the PDP hackers of the 60's.

If the book has any flaws, it is that a lot of side stories didn't feel wrapped up to me; the author would mention things going on with his sister, for example, from time to time in the book, and then would leave the subject alone for a half-dozen chapters. Some of the information written about the secondary players in the Epilogue, and how their time was spent between high school and the book writing, might have been better placed within the chapters.

It is a shame, however, that this book wasn't written ten years later, as it would be very likely that the author would have been able to find and reconnect with all the players in the story, thanks to social networking. I imagine he has tried to find Misha since writing the book?

[Wadepalmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good light read of what it was like during the beginning age of the personal computer revolution. Born in 1960 my coming of age bridges the gap between the Altair and the Atari. It was a pleasure to be reminded of a time when computers and programming were fun. All of us worked together and did exchange software patches to better the entire community. Too bad that time of innocence could not last due to the business potential of computer software. Good job David! Thank you for the walk down memory lane.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable, light, autobiographical tale of what it was like to grow up and learn about computers at the dawn of the rise of the PC over timeshared mainframes. I've read this book twice, once when newly published and now again some 17 years later. It gives me a nostalgia for a world I just missed - being a few years younger than the author, my computer education started with the Apple ][. Like the author, I too had an 8-bit Atari computer to explore BBSes and hack code at home. While reading, I had to dig up my Atari 8ooXL and fire up the old Rana 1ooo disk drive once again.

[Inggita · Rating 3 out of 5]

a first-hand look into how format of medium (in this case, the PC and programming) has an effect on the way we think. it's a required reading in Media & Children.

[Jan Geerling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes me back to a time when I wrote little programs on my Commodore VIC20.

[Rubén · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really evocates how we grew up alongside computers, but 10 years later for me. It’s a quick nostalgic read that I would recommend to any 80’s kid