Hackers vs Karel the Robot: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Electronic digital computers, Programmation, Programming
Hackers
Today, technology is cool. Owning the most powerful computer, the latest high-tech gadget, and the whizziest website is a status symbol on a par with having a flashy car or a designer suit. And a media obsessed with the…
vs
Karel the Robot
“Karel lives in a world that is unexciting by present-day standards (there are no volcanoes, Chinese restaurants, or symphony orchestras), but it does include enough variety to allow the robot to perform simply stated, yet interesting, tasks.”
KAREL The Robot teaches students the fundamental concepts and skills of programming, quickly and easily. By emphasizing logic and structure over calculation, it provides a nonthreatening introduction to the central…
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- Karel the Robot is the quickest read — about 2 hours vs 8 for Hackers.
- Hackers has the widest readership — 93 ratings behind its score.
Scores by source
| Hackers | Karel the Robot | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | — | 3.8 (18) |
| Hardcover | 4.0 (93) | — |
| Google Books | 4.0 (19) | — |
| Apple Books | 4.0 (38) | — |
Reception
| Hackers | Karel the Robot | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 93 | 18 |
| Editions | 15 | 9 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | — |
| Want to read | — | 37 |
| Reading it now | — | 2 |
| Written reviews | — | 2 |
| Wikipedia attention | 35013 | — |
| Pages | 457 | 122 |