What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Soul of a New Machine
Tracy Kidder · Book · 1982
If you loved The Soul of a New Machine, start with Triumph of the Nerds (1996) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Soul of a New Machine across media.
If you loved The Soul of a New Machine, you will be drawn to these stories where obsessive ambition meets the high-stakes reality of technological creation.
Films on the same thread
The Social Network
David Fincher · Film · 2010
Explores: Ambition, Betrayal, Friendship.
Much like the corporate maneuvering in The Soul of a New Machine, this film captures the volatile intersection of brilliant personalities, legal friction, and the relentless pursuit of innovation.
Ex Machina
Alex Garland · Film · 2015
Explores: Artificial intelligence ethics, Existentialism, The nature of consciousness.
This story echoes the intense, isolated engineering focus found in The Soul of a New Machine, shifting the lens from building hardware to the chilling implications of artificial consciousness.
The Terminator
James Cameron · Film · 1984
Explores: Man vs. Machine, Artificial Intelligence, Fate vs. Free Will.
While The Soul of a New Machine explores the birth of a computer, this film examines the terrifying potential of that same technology when it operates beyond human control.
Tron
Steven Lisberger · Film · 1982
Explores: Man vs. Machine, Digital Dystopia, Corporate Conspiracy.
Fans of The Soul of a New Machine will recognize the classic struggle of the individual creator fighting against the constraints of a rigid, cold corporate entity.
Series on the same thread
Halt and Catch Fire
Christopher Cantwell · Series · 2014
Explores: Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Personal ambition.
This series is the spiritual successor to The Soul of a New Machine, perfectly mirroring the personal stakes, professional burnout, and the frantic race to build revolutionary hardware.
All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace
Adam Curtis · Series · 2011
Explores: Technology and Society, Artificial Intelligence, Social Control.
Where The Soul of a New Machine chronicles the act of building machines, this series provides the critical, historical counterpoint regarding how those machines ultimately redefine our society.
Triumph of the Nerds
Series · 1996
Shares a thread with The Soul of a New Machine: Innovation.
If you appreciated the gritty, true-to-life history captured in The Soul of a New Machine, you will value this documentary's candid look at the accidental rise of computing.
Connections
James Burke · Series · 1978
Shares a thread with The Soul of a New Machine: Innovation.
This series shares the intellectual curiosity of The Soul of a New Machine, tracing the unexpected, non-linear threads of innovation that define our technological and scientific history.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
The Soul of a New Machine succeeds because it focuses on the human condition; this show mirrors that approach by finding deep, narrative meaning in everyday technical stories.
Acquired
Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal · Podcast · 2026
Explores: entrepreneurial growth, market disruption, strategic decision-making.
Those drawn to the business history within The Soul of a New Machine will appreciate this deep dive into the strategic decisions and market forces shaping modern companies.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the subject of The Soul of a New Machine?
The Soul of a New Machine chronicles the development of a new mini-supercomputer at the Data General company. The book details the ingenuity and personal sacrifices of the inventors who created this technology during the early computer age.
Did The Soul of a New Machine win any major awards?
Yes, The Soul of a New Machine is a Pulitzer Prize-winning book. Upon its publication in 1982, the work was recognized as an instant classic for its compelling account of the inventors behind the new mini-supercomputer at Data General.
When was The Soul of a New Machine published?
The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder was published in 1982. It provides a detailed account of the engineers at Data General as they worked to build a new mini-supercomputer, capturing the intensity of the early computer age.
Is The Soul of a New Machine considered a classic?
Yes, The Soul of a New Machine became an instant classic upon its 1982 publication. It is widely regarded as the best chronicle of the computer age, focusing on the extraordinary people and the individual sacrifices involved in creating a new mini-supercomputer.