How Not To Write a Technical Book, Epilogue

Jeff Atwood

20 Aug 2007 — 1 min read — Comments

I arrived at work today to find this package.

It’s from one “C. Petzold,” whoever the heck that is.

Inside was a copy of the book 3D Programming for Windows: Three-Dimensional Graphics Programming for the Windows Presentation Foundation.

It’s even inscribed:

book inscription: Jeff, Hope you enjoy this one! (And I hope I didn't make too many coding or literary horrors.)

This is, of course, a reference to my post How Not To Write a Technical Book, in which I rather harshly called Petzold’s previous book “a greyscale sea of endless text and interminable code,” and compared it very unfavorably with Adam Nathan’s book on the same topic.

I can’t speak for the quality of the book, as I haven’t had time to read it yet. But if nothing else, it tells us that Charles Petzold has a good sense of humor. (And, indirectly, it demonstrates the value of an “about me” page on your blog with your contact information.)

Thanks, Mr. Petzold.

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