Nerdette Book Club discussion

What do you think of UNCANNY VALLEY so far? Any themes or discussion points you want to make sure we get to? Hope y'all are enjoying it as much as we are!

This book makes me want to throw out my phone and get off the grid! Down with the internet!

I just started reading this on my lunch break. Word of the day: chelonian! 🤣🤣🤣

loved this book. The authors ability to simultaneously analyze Silicon Valley from a high level perspective while weaving in her personal experience made for a compelling narrative.

i just finished it and while i think weiner is a great writer, this was not quite the book i thought it would be; my expectation for what silicon valley start ups look like was exactly confirmed!

12% in. I find myself reading with skepticism and maybe some annoyance with this writing style. Why does she use all the jargon but not name names?

I enjoyed reading Uncanny Valley. While I never lived in the Bay Area, I worked at a remote location for tech companies as a software developer and product architect and my daughter lived in Noe Valley for a while. However, this book covers a period mostly after I retired and she moved to Australia.

Weiner’s style works pretty well for the subject matter, though the long lists of relevant phrases becomes tiresome before the end. And the device of not directly naming companies starts out feeling cute and ends up just irritating.

I never was aware of parties or events like the parties and off-sites she describes, but the company I worked for was long post-startup, so maybe the wildness had ended before I was involved.

She does a great job rendering the interpersonal dynamics and interactions of the tech industry, as well as the built environment of the industry. I could recognize types I knew well, though I doubt I knew any of the people she mentions.

But I do wonder about writing a memoir based on such a short period - just a few years, though I’m also surprised that she lasted as long as she did in a non-developer role; people on Support teams tend to turn over pretty quickly or else develop skills that let them move across the aisle to building things.

If the references-by-description bother you, check out “A Complete Guide to the Handful of Proper Nouns Anna Weiner Uses in Uncanny Valley” (https://slate.com/culture/2020/01/unc...).

This book is an interesting portrait of such a specific slice of time and place. Almost too recent really to enjoy as a time capsule. I keep alternating between identifying with her existing in a male-dominated and unorthodox workplace and being very annoyed by the coy avoidance of proper nouns. It makes it seem like her editor was a lawyer. She talks about her loneliness and the entitlement of the culture but there is also an element of superiority throughout. The fact that she seemed embarrassed of the work she was part of despite her general sense of accomplishment and belonging, however toxic, made empathizing more difficult. At its heart this book feels like a memoir of the culture clash between the east coast and west coast. I’m very curious to hear everyone’s thoughts.

These takes are excellent!

Would anyone do us a HUGE favor? Speak your concise thought or two on the book into your smartphone voice memo app? Then send that audio file to us at nerdettepodcast@gmail.com?

We would reaaallly appreciate it and you'll be very likely to hear your voice on our upcoming episode! But we need it right now!! Thank you!

Sent a memo last week nerdette! :) I also really enjoyed the book, her writing is great and also enjoyed the audiobook a lot! I just thought maybe sometimes the topics were jumpy a bit and she didn't go into depth at places I felt like she could, for example marginalizing women or even the fact that in Silicon Valley people seem to have similar character traits..but why? Anyone else feel that?

Anne-Grete wrote: "Sent a memo last week nerdette! :) I also really enjoyed the book, her writing is great and also enjoyed the audiobook a lot! I just thought maybe sometimes the topics were jumpy a bit and she didn..."

Hey Anne-Grete! We can't find your memo! Where'd you send it?

Anne-Grete wrote: "Sent a memo last week nerdette! :) I also really enjoyed the book, her writing is great and also enjoyed the audiobook a lot! I just thought maybe sometimes the topics were jumpy a bit and she didn..."Hmmmm..that is weird, I will try forwarding it from another email, sent it to your gmail..maybe ended up in the spam?