[azangru]

Does anyone else get frustrated when they see, in blogs, articles, or books, introductions such as this:

> Computers are common in today's world, as they are able to perform a wide variety of tasks quickly and accurately. They are used in many different industries, such as business, healthcare, education, and entertainment, and have become an essential part of daily life for many people. Besides this, they are also used to perform complex scientific and mathematical calculations, to store and process large amounts of data, and to communicate with people around the world.

Anyone who would open this book must already know all this. Is there anyone who does not know that computers are everywhere? Does any prospective reader of a book on programming feel that computers are not essential? Does anyone doubt that complex scientific and mathematical calculations are made on computers? Who is this paragraph for? Who has taught us not to proceed straight to business?

[Swizec]

"In the beginning there were computers. Many have argued that this was a bad idea but here we are. If you want to program a computer, ..."

[pseudostem]

May I steal that line?

I find introductions to books too boring, whether Maths, Programming or just about anything. I hope to document my Programming learning progress and document it in a small book. And I totally wish to steal that line.

[yesseri]

It sounds similar to another quote.

“In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.”

Hitchikers guide to the galaxy

[Swizec]

Go for it. As another commenter mentioned, it’s a riff on Hitchhiker’s Guide

[rzzzt]

The book has to start somehow. Would it be better if it featured cartoon foxes? Chunky bacon?

[azangru]

Much better! I miss _why.

[layman51]

You have a point. But I think as a layman I would have appreciated a little more about what kind of reader the book is appropriate for. And possibly have that appear within the first three paragraphs of the intro. I like how this book does give you an idea of how you should expect to work through the examples though.

[rambojohnson]

the point is that it should start without pointing out obvious banalities.

[pdntspa]

A thousand times yes!

[xtiansimon]

You can say a writer is writing for someone. When I read an intro like this in a book, that’s says to me the writer is targeting a community of go getters who might otherwise be driving for Uber.

But when I read this in a blog, I’m really turned off. Now I think the writer has no friends, doesn’t know how to make friends.

If this was a book about mechanical engineering, I’d say fine. What I know about ME I can stick in my eye and still see good.

If I find this picking up yet another book on a programming that I’m trying to brush up on… grr I’d have to read it non-linearly.

[hammyhavoc]

It has the same lecturing tone as typical ChatGPT output.

[userbinator]

That was exactly what I thought when I read that. Before ChatGPT, I would've thought of typical SEO spam.