MicroserfsMicroserfs
Score Modern
What it's about
Told through the diary entries of Daniel, a programmer, it captures the tech industry of the early 1990s, before Windows 95, and anticipates the dot-com bubble. It grew out of a 1994 Wired magazine cover story.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a funny, prescient snapshot of tech culture.
You'll love it if you liked
Girlfriend in a Coma
Cryptonomicon
A Confederacy of DuncesGood to know
Its diary format reads a lot like a blog.
By the numbers
- Readers50 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller17 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #194 of the 333 science fiction books we rank
- #1051 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #2005 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Funny, Thought-provoking, Uplifting
More by Douglas Coupland
If you like this, read next
Infinite Jest
Good Omens
Making Money
Breakfast of Champions
Dungeon Crawler Carl
Night WatchExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Microserfs worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,005 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Microserfs about?
Told through the diary entries of Daniel, a programmer, it captures the tech industry of the early 1990s, before Windows 95, and anticipates the dot-com bubble. It grew out of a 1994 Wired magazine cover story.
How long does it take to read Microserfs?
About 10 hours (404 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Microserfs?
If you liked it, try Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland, Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson or A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.