The Software Conspiracy: Why Companies Put Out Faulty Software, How They Can Hurt You and What You Can Do About It

The Software Conspiracy makes the point that software, shrink-wrapped software in particular, has more bugs than it should have, and that fact is costing us lives and money. Minasi illustrates this point with examples, which are very engaging, interesting, and often quite saddening. In the Gulf War, for instance, 28 soldiers died because Patriot guidance software stopped working properly after 14 hours of continuous use. A "Software and the Law" section gives an excellent and informed, if American-focused, view of the UCITA and how this could destroy the American software industry. Minasi also explains how the decline of the software industry could affect the U.S.'s trade deficit.

At times the author seems to be struggling for material--as when he devotes several pages to explaining what a trade deficit is and needlessly repeats the book's main point over and over. Still, while some may disagree with Minasi's argument, it's an important one to consider. Everyone uses software--whether in clocks, calculators, or PCs--and the future of the software industry affects us all. --Josh Smith, Amazon.co.uk