Cover of Uncanny Valley

Book · 2020 · nyt:combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction=2020-02-02

Uncanny Valley

by Anna Wiener, Suehyla El-Attar, Javier Calvo · Recommended by 3 people on 1 podcast

Why people recommend it

Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener is a sharp, revealing memoir that chronicles a young woman's journey leaving the publishing industry for the fast-paced, morally ambiguous world of Silicon Valley tech startups during the height of the digital boom. The book received strong praise on The Book Review podcast from multiple contributors. Guest Greg Coles recommended the memoir to listeners, describing it as an engaging account of a young woman navigating the tech culture of Silicon Valley and positioning it as a companion to other contemporary reads. Jennifer Szalai also discussed the work, noting that she had recently reviewed the memoir for publication. Later in the year, Gilbert Cruz brought the book back into the conversation when introducing the top non-fiction selections on the podcast, prompting Lauren Christensen to lead a discussion on its cultural merits. Across these appearances, the memoir was recognized for its astute, insider observations about the tech industry's culture, corporate ethos, and societal impact. The commentary highlighted why the book resonated so deeply with critics and readers trying to understand the rapid digital transformation of modern work and life through a deeply personal, observant, and critically minded lens.

Who recommended it

Greg Coles — 2 mentions
Recommended
“and so sort of as a followup to that I'm in the middle of a memoir called uncanny valley by Anna weiner also about a young woman in Silicon Valley”
Recommended
“so it's uncanny valley by Anna weiner”
Jennifer Szalai — 1 mention
Recommended
“yeah so this week I reviewed a book called uncanny valley by Anna Weiner”
Gilbert Cruz — 1 mention
Discussed
“the fourth book on the non-fiction side is uncanny valley by Anna weiner Lauren over to you”

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