Review of From metallic grey to Big Blue

Clauson Justin · Post by **Clauson Justin** » 02 Dec 2023, 12:05

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "From metallic grey to Big Blue" by Serge Ciregna.]

3 out of 5 stars

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The author, Serge Ciregna, writes about how the company, IBM, popularly known as Big Blue, came to be. He uses the book as a way of enlightening the younger generation about how the company came to be through his work experience there. He talks about the age and advancement of computers since then, the computers that were produced then, their capacity and capability, and the part he played in all these as a worker at IBM. However, he doesn’t just bore his readers with the electrics and electronics of IBM; he also talks about his real-life experiences, such as immigrating from France to the USA in 1955 and how that went for him.

While reading this book, there were a lot of things that stood out for me positively, which I admired and appreciated the writer for. I loved how the writer added snippets of his life to the book, not centering it only around IBM. Despite the fact that this is what the book is about, this added life and color to the book. Also, it was a delight to see the notable events that the author witnessed and added to the book, like the relationship between Eisenhower and Khrushchev during the Cold War, the building of the George Washington Bridge, the September 11th attacks, the Cuban missile crisis, and many others too numerous to mention. Reading what he had to say about all these was like going back in time. Most of all, it was really brilliant how he was able to recount the things that happened as far back as the ‘60s: the computers used, the makeup of the computers, and the evolution of these computers.

However, it is pertinent to note that some demerits were evident in different aspects of this book. The first were the errors. There were so many errors in the book, ranging from grammatical to punctuation errors. After reading the book, I have come to the conclusion that it was not properly edited. Another negative aspect of the book was that the pictures placed in it were not arranged; they were placed in the middle of sentences, disrupting the reading flow and making the book look a bit tacky. Another negative aspect of the book that is worth noting is the way the titles of the chapters were placed repeatedly and haphazardly in between paragraphs and, in some cases, in between sentences, which didn’t look nice at all.

I rate this book, From Metallic Grey to Big Blue by Serge Ciregna, 3 out of 5 stars. My reasons for this are that I enjoyed reading the book and the story the author cared to share with the public. The only thing prompting my deduction of two stars is the editing of the book and the errors.

I would recommend this book to non-fiction readers, science non-fiction readers, and book lovers interested in the technology genre. This book will also do a lot of good for people curious about the early life of the IBM company; all they need to know may be found in this book.

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From metallic grey to Big Blue
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Samuel Falle · Post by **Samuel Falle** » 05 Dec 2023, 16:13

This review appreciated the book and applauded the author for doing a great job in creating it. Based on the pleasant impression the author's writing created, the reviewer also did well in making me want to include the book on my bookshelf.

Samuel Falle · Post by **Samuel Falle** » 05 Dec 2023, 17:32

This review appreciated the book and applauded the author for doing a great job in creating it. Based on the pleasant impression the author's writing created, the reviewer also did well in making me want to include the book on my bookshelf.

Samuel Falle · Post by **Samuel Falle** » 06 Dec 2023, 01:29

This review appreciated the book and applauded the author for doing a great job in creating it. Based on the pleasant impression the author's writing created, the reviewer also did well in making me want to include the book on my bookshelf.

Lisa P Cowling · Post by **Lisa P Cowling** » 05 Jan 2024, 03:30

While the book had its shortcomings, from what is obtainable in the review, it is a superb read. The inclusion of real-life experiences will make this book an even better read.

Post by **Lucy Vera** » 05 Jan 2024, 03:59

A lot of research must have gone into this book to enable the author write it with so much detail. I can’t wait to read it. You wrote a wonderful review.

Post by **Aaron Joseph Maupin** » 15 Jan 2024, 21:50

This review provides a helpful overview of the book "From Metallic Grey to Big Blue" by Serge Ciregna. It highlights the author's personal experiences, historical events, and technological advancements discussed in the book. The positive aspects of the review include the addition of real-life experiences and the author's ability to recount past events. However, it mentions several drawbacks such as numerous errors, poor picture arrangement, and messy placement of chapter titles. Overall, the review rates the book 3 out of 5 stars due to these shortcomings. It may be motivating to non-fiction and technology genre readers, but the mentioned drawbacks should be considered before purchasing.

Donaking · Post by **Donaking** » 25 Jan 2024, 23:09

Overall, the review provides a mixed perspective on the book "From Metallic Grey to Big Blue" by Serge Ciregna. The reviewer appreciates the author's inclusion of personal experiences and notable events, which adds life and color to the book. The historical context and evolution of computers discussed are also commendable. However, the book suffers from numerous errors and poor editing, along with placement issues of pictures and chapter titles. As a result, the reviewer rates it 3 out of 5 stars. Despite its flaws, the book may appeal to non-fiction and technology genre enthusiasts interested in IBM's early days.