Netiquette is a book that explores the essential guidelines for navigating cyberspace: how to handle flame wars or troll posts, what is appropriate to send in emails, copyright considerations, children's use of the Internet, electronic writing styles, and the consequences of violating these rules.

My favorite chapter was Netiquette at School, because I grew up online and could relate to the concerns mentioned, such as adults worrying that children might encounter inappropriate content, or novices bombarding experts with basic questions. It was interesting to reflect on how I was fortunate to avoid such encounters, yet I still evolved to the person I am today.

I was impressed by the book because the author emphasizes simple matters, especially the first golden rule: "Remember to be human!" At the same time, the author inserts humor into the text, as shown in the Anatomy of an email message chapter, with lines like:

• "Don't cc Steve Jobs on your analysis of the war in Bosnia."

• "We still had to meet in person once in a while, though. You can't have everything."

Even though the book is somewhat old, many pieces of advice remain relevant today. For example: "Be careful about posting late at night or any time you're tired, sick, or having a terrible day. Your judgment may not be at its best. When in doubt, hold off until you feel better."

A minor problem is that the book may not resonate with everyone, especially since many people now mainly use social media or chat apps that follow their own "unwritten rules." For instance, Rule 2, "Adhere to the same standards of behavior online," might be met with negative connotations for those who prefer informal interactions (like me). Similarly, Rule 4, "Respect other people's time and bandwidth," feels less highlighted today due to high-speed internet.

Despite some small outdated elements, Netiquette remains a landmark. It offers advice for navigating online interactions with respect, often lacked in the real world.

The Hacker Ethic and the Spirit of the Information Age is a homage to the culture of hacking and the philosophy behind the digital revolution. It features the mind of how hackers think while weaving a captivating narrative about what's right and wrong — from the Kosovo crisis of 1999 to the routines of typical office work. The book touches on key aspects of modern society, from ideas about money to the passion for realizing the greater good.

I chose this book because I highly respect Linus Torvalds, and ethical hacking is something I'm still interested in reading about or watching in practice. It feels like solving a Rubik's cube in a James Bond movie. But, more broadly, it's the idolization of certain figures that draws you to explore their world, and that was my reason.

I loved this book because it reminded me of Emilian Galaicu-Păun, a Moldovan author who embraces unconventional thinking as a path to innovation. While Păun focuses more on metaphors, wordplay, and postmodern themes rather than technology, he similarly combines different literary sources and references to showcase creative "play" and add depth to storytelling.

Himanen highlights many strong points in this work, and one of the most striking is the ending with the "Protestant Genesis." It emphasizes attitudes toward work and human engagement. Hackers don't see work as labor — they view it as an intellectually engaging activity, where the satisfaction of solving problems often matters more than profit. The act of creating, the book suggests, is central to human identity.

Another great point is Linus' prologue, which I absolutely adore, because he doesn't care about formality and expresses himself exactly as he does in the real world: brutal, shocking, unapologetic, and realistic. This honesty gives the book a unique personality. It sets the tone for the entire book and makes the hacker ethic feel alive, not just theoretical.

A weak point of this book might come from its philosophical part, because I might agree with the points made, but others would disagree. In the present, the EU proposed "Chat Control." From a user's standpoint, this feels like an invasion of privacy. While the hacker ethic values freedom, rules like this show that in the real world, governments sometimes argue that we should prioritize safety or law enforcement over complete digital freedom. This shows that the book's philosophy isn't always easy to apply in practice.

In the end, The Hacker Ethic and the Spirit of the Information Age highlights the tension between ideals and real-world constraints while denoting creativity and passion.