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Title: You need to understand a tool to use it effectively
Review: I've always thought that, if you don't understand how a tool works, and where it came from, it is impossible to use it effectively. It doesn't matter whether the tool is a power saw, a bulldozer, or a computer. The Philosophical Programmer provides just that kind of background for computers. The book's cover calls it "a programming book for English majors," but it's considerably more than that. Even if you have absolutely no desire to know the evolution of memory chips and programming languages, you should still read the rest of this book. If you're already neck-deep in geek, read it for the insights about the computer as a tool and an extension of a person.
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