Behind the Silicon Curtain: The Seductions of Work in a Lonely Era

This book is a worthy read for anyone working and living in Silicon Valley. You won't see anything about the booming Web economy because Hayes published before the advent of the Web. Nevertheless, his book accurately describes what I see around me today, working in a "Top 100 corporations to work for": modularity of projects without any coherent vision, a taboo on discussing projects or salaries, an overwhelming reliance on contract workers (who get no, nada, none of our perks), universal loneliness as we all toil away at our machines, and the frightening intensity with which Silicon Valley inhabitants approach shopping, fitness, and drugs. And. . . a resounding lack of any kind of political community. Dennis, write another book--we need you, updated!

Dennis Hayes highlights the micro-activity that is present within Silicon Valley which has proved to be the dominant economic model for regional economic development throughout the world. He exposes the inner world of the workers experience through the 'clean rooms' to the wider pollution around the Santa Clara Valley area. The mobility of work and its mundane nature are complimented with the experiences of the programmers who cannot escape the procedural nature of work. With assembly work being sourced abroad and the influx of foreign investment and intellectual capital Hayes book shines a bright intellectual torch to expose the dark inner workings of an area that is held up as the pantheon of all that is great in America. No place on the world symbolises 'progress' like Silicon Valley and after working there for several years and writing for a local newspaper Hayes has crafted an expose of the micro-culture where shopping, drugs and addiction are seemingly par for the course. An excellent book for those interested in this area.