What is hacking? It is not what you think it is.

T.F. Peterson provides a vivid account of the history of hacking at MIT, starting from the early 20th century and continuing to the present.

The narrative is filled with interesting anecdotes about the origin of hacking and its evolution over the decades among the students who have become part of the MIT hack subculture.

There is an ethos and a certain mystery surrounding "hacking" as it is generally understood, which is both known and unknown to the general public.

From the famous incident of the campus police car being placed on top of the MIT dome to the hacks carried out on the football field, there are numerous examples that demonstrate how MIT hack culture has influenced students, faculty, the administration, and even extended to the wider world of other educational institutions and cities.

This is a fascinating read that gives you a taste of the unique MIT hack culture.

This is one of the few books that I had to stop reading part of the way through.

The thing read like a dictionary (not even an encyclopedia!).

Given such an interesting topic, one would think it would be extremely difficult to write a boring book, but here it is!

The book claims to "detail" the visual pranks pulled at MIT over the years, yet it provides very little actual detail.

For example, it might say something like "and the dome got decorated like R2D2...", but there is very little information about how it was done, why it was done, or the reaction from the public, which is precisely what I expected and what would have made the story truly interesting.

Thanks to my husband's research (he's an MIT alumnus and didn't appreciate me badmouthing anything even remotely connected to the school), he discovered that this is just a subset of the material that the MIT museum has on the subject.

He also found that a far better book is "Journal of the Institute of Hacks, Tomfoolery, and Pranks" by Brian M Leibowitz.

If you're interested in a more entertaining book on this topic, I'd highly suggest that one, even though I haven't read it myself.

Surely, it can't be any worse than this one!

An entertaining look at the famous hacking (prancing) scene at MIT offers a plethora of photographs.

Many of these are quite humorous. While some involve rather complex pranks, others are simply funny ones that one can envision happening anywhere with intelligent students.

However, we must give them their due props because many of these could only occur at MIT.

I truly love and admire the more unusual and complicated pranks. They showcase the creativity and ingenuity of the students.

These pranks not only add an element of fun and excitement to the campus but also serve as a testament to the students' ability to think outside the box and come up with unique ideas.

The photographs capture the essence of these pranks and allow us to experience the humor and creativity from a distance.

It's fascinating to see how the students use their intelligence and skills to pull off these elaborate stunts.

Overall, the hacking (prancing) scene at MIT is a source of entertainment and inspiration.

This is truly great, and it is highly entertaining as well.

It has the power to capture our attention and keep us engaged from start to finish.

Whether it's a thrilling story, a hilarious comedy, or an exciting adventure, it never fails to bring a smile to our faces and make us forget about the stresses of the day.

The entertainment value is off the charts, and we can't help but be drawn in by its charm.

It provides a much-needed escape from reality and allows us to immerse ourselves in a world of fun and excitement.

We can't wait to see what else this wonderful thing has in store for us.

The author seems to have a knack for taking a truly fascinating history, one that involves quirky individuals and wild pranks, and transforming it into a rather dry recitation of mere dimensions, dates, and building materials. It's quite a disappointment, really.

I, for one, would have been overjoyed to read a book that delved deep into the personalities that lay behind pranks such as the audacious act of placing a campus police car on top of MIT’s Dome. Just imagine the minds and motives of those who came up with such a crazy idea and had the胆量 to carry it out.

Unfortunately, this particular book is filled with great stories that are simply poorly told. It's as if the author missed the opportunity to bring these tales to life and engage the reader on a more profound level.

One can only hope that in the future, there will be a better retelling of this captivating history, one that does justice to the amazing events and the people who made them happen.

An amusing survey of the best hacks carried out by M.I.T.'s student body over the past century (and perhaps even beyond). If the photography had been of slightly better quality, this would无疑 be the ultimate coffee table book for the geeky household. Of course, considering the short-lived nature of most of these hacks, it's understandable why some of the pictures are not perfectly framed.

I do wish this book had offered a bit more in-depth exploration of the school's hackerdom culture, rather than merely skimming the surface repeatedly (they're engineers, they're geeks, they're excited from cramming thermodynamics for sixty hours straight). This holds true for many students at numerous universities: why is it only at M.I.T. that students have elevated pranks to an art form? It would be interesting to draw the connection between hacking on top of the Great Dome and thinking outside the corporate box. If only Peterson, the Institute's historian, had enlisted a sociologist or anthropologist friend to enrich his text, because I really wanted there to be more discussion about the hackers' ethos and ideals.

The books was OK.

It provided a reasonable overview of the subject.

However, I also could have wished for greater illustrations or photographs.

Given the nature of the subject matter, perhaps it's not quite possible to have an abundance of such visual aids.

Nonetheless, the content itself was decent and covered the essential aspects of the topic.

It would have been nice to have more visual elements to enhance the understanding and make the reading experience more engaging.

But despite the lack of extensive illustrations or photographs, the book still managed to convey the necessary information in a relatively clear and understandable manner.

Overall, it was an acceptable read for those interested in getting a basic understanding of the subject.

Well, I truly wish that GoodReads had a more advanced and refined review system. This is because I would definitely make full use of such a system for this particular review.

The subject matter of this book is truly fantastic. I have always had a great passion for reading about and even participating in pranks and hacks. Therefore, a book that focuses on this kind of thing at MIT is almost certain to be good. When I was growing up, "Real Genius" was one of my all-time favorite movies. I was extremely excited about going to college, imagining that it would consist of half high-tech classes and half hilarious hi jinks. Little did I know at that time...

Anyway, although the subject matter is delightful, its treatment in this book is somewhat lacking. The photos of the hacks, which are an essential element when discussing this sort of stuff, are of very poor quality and are only in black and white. Additionally, there are no photo captions (!), although the adjoining text usually attempts to explain them.

The organization of the book also leaves a lot to be desired. The hacks are divided up by type and then the highlights are presented, but there are frequent repetitions and no real sense of progression.

Scattered throughout all of this are "essays" by various students, alumni, and staff members about hacks and hacking. They seem to be just randomly thrown in there.

Anyway, it is a short but generally enjoyable read. However, this is in spite of, and not because of, the construction of the book. I guess it goes to show that good subject matter can often save the day.

Exactly what is says on the tin. This simple phrase holds a lot of meaning. It implies that something is exactly as it appears or is described. There is no hidden agenda or false pretenses.

For example, if a product claims to be a "natural remedy for headaches," we expect it to contain only natural ingredients and actually relieve headaches. If it doesn't, then it's not living up to what is says on the tin.

In a world where there is often a lot of misinformation and deception, it's refreshing to come across something that is exactly what it says it is. It gives us a sense of trust and reliability.

Whether it's a product, a service, or a person, being true to what is says on the tin is an important quality. It helps build strong relationships and a good reputation. So, the next time you see something that claims to be exactly what it says on the tin, take a closer look and see if it lives up to that promise.

"Good waiting room fare" is a rather concise and perhaps somewhat cryptic phrase.

It could refer to something that is suitable or enjoyable to pass the time while waiting in a room.

For example, it might be a good book, a magazine, some light music, or even a small snack.

These things can help to make the waiting experience more pleasant and less tedious.

Waiting rooms can often be dull and uninteresting places, but having some good fare to occupy oneself can make a big difference.

It can help to relax, distract, and even provide some entertainment.

So, next time you find yourself in a waiting room, make sure to bring along some good waiting room fare to make the time pass more quickly and enjoyably.

I started off with great enthusiasm for this particular activity or event. However, as it progressed, I gradually found myself losing interest near the end.

Maybe it was due to the repetitive nature of certain aspects or perhaps my initial expectations were not fully met. Nevertheless, despite this waning of interest, it was still a unique experience.

I was exposed to new ideas, met different people, and had opportunities that I might not have had otherwise.

It made me realize that not every experience has to be perfect or hold my attention throughout. Sometimes, the value lies in the fact that it is something different and out of the ordinary.

Even with the slight dip in interest towards the end, I am glad that I took part and will cherish the memories and lessons learned from this unique encounter.

Hacking, in the common digital vernacular, has come a long way. It started with teenagers in basements rudely altering websites. Then, it evolved into nefarious gangs in Eastern Europe and North Asia hijacking databases. Now, it has reached a stage where countries are spying on just about everyone and everything.

In the simpler times of the past, hacks were more like analog pranks. They were carried out in the darkness, only to be revealed in the morning daylight. At MIT, hacks were elevated to a high art form. They were humorous satires of campus life and sometimes even extended off-campus to places like Harvard and Cal Tech.

My personal favorite (being an MIT alum of '73) was the weather balloon incident at the Harvard Stadium. A weather balloon was planted under the turf and remotely expanded during a Harvard-Yale game. The resulting pictures of people with "H's" on their sweaters and "O's" on their mouths were truly priceless.

These weather balloons were quite popular back then as they were cheap government surplus. Another example of a hack involved a fraternity brother who unneighborly locked his room with a clasp and combination lock when he went on vacation. It took some time, but the combination was opened, all the furniture and personal items were removed, a weather balloon was inserted, and the room was locked up again with the combination changed. When the brother finally regained entrance and punctured the balloon, all that was left was torn rubber and talcum powder.

Another brother, a non-smoker, filled several balloons with gas from the house stove, attached them to a beach chair, and took off on a moonlit flight across campus. This stunt attracted the attention of fire engines and police cars, which were hauled up onto the Great Dome and routinely caught the eye of morning traffic reporters in helicopters flying by.

Units of measurement were also a popular theme for hacks. The most famous of these was "one smoot". As a pledging hack, 5'7" Lambda Chi freshman Oliver Smoot was repeatedly laid end-to-end along the Harvard Bridge. The length of the bridge was eventually measured at 364.4 smoots plus one ear. Interestingly, Mr. Smoot went on to become the Chairman of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization of Standards (ISO).

Many of these MIT hacks are on display at the MIT Museum, which is a must-visit on campus. They are also chronicled in this book, which is a must-read for all those who are nerds at heart.