The second half of the book does a good job of describing the software side of things and how data is encoded, in the general sense, to the point where someone unfamiliar would get the gist of how it all comes together. As a programmer the later chapters were already familiar and I found myself correctly anticipating each new piece of information being presented and appreciate the way it was all described.
Although by the end of the book the author may seem to have become a little fatigued by explaining the continually increasing complexity and layers of abstraction, it's completely understandable as the topics are by then at stages where entire books exist that cover each of those individual topics in detail. There's only so much one book can realistically cover before there's too much to discuss, and the author has appropriately covered these higher levels of abstraction so that readers are left with a sensible overview of what's happening at those levels without needing another thousand pages to unpack it all into the specifics. By then readers have a good idea of where to go if they wish to educate themselves in those areas more fully.
For me the first half of the book was the real gold as the electronics part of it were a total mystery to me. The author did a great job of taking the simple concept of NAND gates and piece by piece using understandable and logical steps built increasingly useful and complex components, until such point as you are now considering in your mind a workable and realistic computer. The map is fully there from a single NAND gate to a fully-functional computer, and every step makes sense and is without mystery or magic - the full journey is laid before you in easy-to-read language and diagrams.
It's a brilliant and educational book.
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![But How Do It Know? - The Basic Principles of Computers for Everyone by [J Clark Scott]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41pfs8eIRFL._SY346_.jpg)
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Product description
About the Author
J. Clark Scott has had a long and diverse career in the computer industry, starting at large companies such as IBM and Intel, and eventually becoming the author of four successful consumer software packages. Early in his career, he noticed how confused some of his friends were about computers and gave them lectures to teach them how simple the basics really were. It was at that time that the idea for this book was born. This is his first book, but one that has been in the works for decades.
--This text refers to the paperback edition.
Product details
- ASIN : B00F25LEVC
- Publisher : John C Scott; 1st edition (4 July 2009)
- Language : English
- File size : 2603 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Not Enabled
- Print length : 227 pages
-
Best Sellers Rank:
168,835 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 37 in Machine Theory
- 159,751 in Kindle eBooks
- Customer Reviews:
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479 global ratings
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Top reviews from Australia
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A great way to learn how small steps of increasing complexity can be built to create a computer
Reviewed in Australia on 25 July 2020Verified Purchase
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Reviewed in Australia on 30 November 2018
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An excellent introduction to how computers do what they do that seems magical to us but turns out to be quite mundane. Highly recommended for anyone who wants how computers work demystified. One small gripe is that when talking about gates, flowcharts may prove more instructional than the written explanation. I would also suggest providing examples of how input is operated on by the computer e.g. If I type the letter E on the keyboard what happens at each gate, in the stepper, the alu etc.
Reviewed in Australia on 25 June 2014
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I have read about 1/3rd and find it easy to read. The presentation is in a simple narrative style rather than a technical style. explanation of the workings of memory, addresses and registers are built from an initial explanation of a NAND logic gate but use analogies that anyone should be able to understand.
I am a little frustrated reading this book as an ebook on kindle because the diagrams are a little on the small side and don't seem to be expandable. Also the diagrams are not indexed so it is not so easy to quickly go back to refresh your memory.
This book seems suitable to people who don't want to understand the logic underpinning computer processes without reference to electronics.
I am a little frustrated reading this book as an ebook on kindle because the diagrams are a little on the small side and don't seem to be expandable. Also the diagrams are not indexed so it is not so easy to quickly go back to refresh your memory.
This book seems suitable to people who don't want to understand the logic underpinning computer processes without reference to electronics.
Reviewed in Australia on 21 January 2020
Verified Purchase
I've been writing software for decades and I feel this book is the best explanation I've read to date on how a computer works. It gracefully tells the story of how you go from a NAND gate to an 8 bit computer.
Reviewed in Australia on 14 March 2015
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I loved this book all the way through. I think Mr Scott explains all the concepts brilliantly. It is one of the most valuable book I have read so far as a programmer. And it was good fun!
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Reviewed in Australia on 6 December 2014
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Simple and easy to understand
Reviewed in Australia on 28 May 2019
The book explains how a computer works, and omg it is easy and fun to read!!! Scott's book removes the complexities and distils the essence of how a computer works. Scott describes every essential aspect before he abstracts it. Scott uses many clear, instructive circuit diagrams when words would be too verbose. When reading this book, you will likely find yourself actively working through the logic of the circuit diagrams, imagining the circuit in different states. I highly recommend this book :)
Top reviews from other countries

Philip
5.0 out of 5 stars
I bought this book after watching a video on youtube ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 December 2015Verified Purchase
I bought this book after watching a video on youtube called "How a CPU works" from a channel called InOneLesson, I suggest everyone interested in the book watch that 20 minute video for a flavour of the book, the CPU used in the video is the same used in the book.
This book begins simply with logic gates and goes on to show how connecting them in particular ways builds components of the computer (memory, adders, comparators), how these components fit together and how they interact with each other to preform an instruction cycle.
This book begins simply with logic gates and goes on to show how connecting them in particular ways builds components of the computer (memory, adders, comparators), how these components fit together and how they interact with each other to preform an instruction cycle.
8 people found this helpful
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David J James
5.0 out of 5 stars
Belongs in the toilet, in the nicest way possible...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 May 2018Verified Purchase
It is exactly what it says in the review, and well produced, cogent, insightful, enlightening, easy to read. A great toilet book made up of short chapters. I don't mean any disrespect by that, as others who like to read in the bathroom will know.
6 people found this helpful
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muoncrazy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely superb
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2018Verified Purchase
This book manages to make very complex concepts almost too easy. There are so many books which dont really explain it they just throw terms out but this book takes the time to explain every part, no matter how small a detail, so you understand it all inside and out. This is a truly educational book and if you are interested in the subject I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Ross Mcgowan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very pleased
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 February 2018Verified Purchase
I bought this book and it inspired me to build the computer in a software package called Logisim. I created some online videos showing how I built it. I had a great time. If you have ever wondered how a computer works then this is the book for you. The writing is very clear precise and fun and the design DOES work for real. Buy the book and go build it yourself and see, just like I did !
2 people found this helpful
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David Castrodale
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant clarity
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 March 2019Verified Purchase
This is the best book I have ever read on Computer Science. This gets said a lot by other reviewers, but it is truly head and shoulders above any other book on the basics of computing. Scott has a true gift for clarity, with a clean writing style that teaches through simple examples while leaving enough room for readers to play through the ideas on their own.
Without getting overly sentimental, I felt a genuine thrill reading this; it’s packed with those ‘A-ha!’ moments we all feel when we begin to understand something new that we had always thought would be some huge mystery.
Intellectually challenging while still being incredibly accessible, I would recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in the topic. There is nothing else like it out there.
Without getting overly sentimental, I felt a genuine thrill reading this; it’s packed with those ‘A-ha!’ moments we all feel when we begin to understand something new that we had always thought would be some huge mystery.
Intellectually challenging while still being incredibly accessible, I would recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in the topic. There is nothing else like it out there.