Ellen Ullman is an engaging American writer known primarily for fiction and memoir about technology and computing culture. Her notable works include Close to the Machine and The Bug, which thoughtfully explore human experiences within the tech industry.
If you enjoy reading books by Ellen Ullman then you might also like the following authors:
Douglas Coupland writes sharp, witty stories about modern life and technology's impact on humans. His novels often explore isolation, the search for identity, and the absurdities of consumer culture.
Readers of Ellen Ullman might appreciate his novel Microserfs, an insightful and humorous depiction of programmers and their daily lives in the early tech industry.
Neal Stephenson creates thought-provoking stories full of rich ideas about technology, culture, and human nature. He examines complex themes related to innovation, privacy, and power dynamics.
If you enjoyed Ellen Ullman's critiques of technology, you might like Stephenson's Snow Crash, an engaging cyberpunk novel exploring virtual reality and corporate power.
William Gibson skillfully blends technology with social commentary, often exploring the consequences of digital culture and corporate influence on society. He is known for vividly building dark and immersive worlds.
Fans of Ullman's insightful looks at technology's consequences might enjoy Gibson's groundbreaking novel Neuromancer.
Tracy Kidder brings a thoughtful, deeply human approach to his nonfiction accounts of people working with technology.
Readers who enjoy Ellen Ullman's realistic portrayals of those involved in computer-based industries may like Kidder's detailed study, The Soul of a New Machine, following the personal stories and struggles of a team designing a new computer.
Anna Wiener offers sharp observations about Silicon Valley's culture and its effect on society. Like Ullman, Wiener tackles themes of gender, professional identity, and the ethical issues surrounding tech industries.
Her memoir, Uncanny Valley, provides a clear-eyed and thoughtful account of her transition into the tech world, revealing its hype, hopes, and disappointments.
James Gleick offers an engaging exploration of science and technology, blending insightful storytelling with accessible explanations. His style is thoughtful yet approachable, perfect for readers curious about how ideas shape our world.
In The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood, Gleick traces how we communicate and process information, connecting innovations across eras to today's digital universe.
Po Bronson writes with wit and empathy about how people navigate the challenges of modern life, technology, and ambition. His narratives often highlight personal decisions, work dilemmas, and the subtle ways technology influences our choices.
The Nudist on the Late Shift paints an amusing and thoughtful portrait of Silicon Valley, capturing the human side of innovation and business culture.
Robin Sloan weaves technology and storytelling together in whimsical, imaginative narratives. His novels mix quirky characters and innovative ideas, exploring how technology intersects with human creativity and community.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore blends mystery, bookstores, and secret societies, exploring themes of digital culture, technology, and the enduring power of books.
Dave Eggers writes thoughtful, engaging stories examining contemporary issues, culture, and ethics, often critiquing technology's impact on society. His accessible yet powerful prose helps readers reflect on relationships and technology in modern life.
In The Circle, Eggers depicts a tech company's influence on privacy and personal freedom, provoking deep thought about technology's place in our lives.
Jaron Lanier combines tech expertise with philosophical insights, questioning how our digital lives shape our humanity. His writing is clear and conversational, providing fresh perspectives on the cultural implications of technology.
In You Are Not a Gadget, Lanier challenges conventional views about digital culture, reminding readers to reflect carefully on our relationship with technology.
Clifford Stoll explores the human side of technology, combining fast-paced storytelling with thoughtful commentary. His book, The Cuckoo's Egg, describes his pursuit of a hacker breaking into military networks.
It's suspenseful but grounded in detailed insights about computer security, ethics, and human curiosity—qualities that readers who appreciate Ellen Ullman's approach will enjoy.
Evgeny Morozov writes critically about technology, questioning common assumptions about its role and effects on society. His work, The Net Delusion, examines how the internet, often seen as a tool for freedom, can also foster surveillance and control.
If you like Ellen Ullman's thoughtful skepticism, you should check out Morozov's honest critiques of digital utopianism.
Julian Assange is known primarily as the founder of WikiLeaks, highlighting transparency, privacy, and freedom of information. His book, Cypherpunks: Freedom and the Future of the Internet, examines how digital technology shapes privacy and democracy.
People drawn to Ullman's reflections on technology's impact on society might appreciate Assange's exploration of internet-era freedoms and threats.
Thomas Pynchon writes complex novels blending dense narratives, absurd humor, and commentary on technology and society. His book, Bleeding Edge, unfolds in New York around the time of the dot-com bubble, exploring paranoia, technology, and capitalist excess.
If you like Ullman's fiction's thoughtful exploration of tech culture and society, Pynchon's work will resonate with you.
Jeff Goodell looks at modern issues through clear, informative journalism with concern for the environmental and social cost of human actions.
His book, The Water Will Come, addresses climate change threats and rising sea levels, directly engaging how technology intersects with humanity's future. Readers appreciating Ullman's sharp awareness of technology's human consequences will value Goodell's clear approach.