A very interesting profile on a tech giant. Parts of me wonder if all he told Kidder was true, or if it was all a manic episode in hindsight.

I am a big fan of Kidder's work, and this book is one of his better efforts. His storytelling is first-rate, the personalities interesting and full of conflicts, and their escapades and issues are worthy of his scrutiny. If you haven't read anything recently since "Soul of a New Machine" this is the book to dive back into his oeuvre and enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Tracy Kidder writes compelling non-fiction, often a challenge for fiction addicts like myself. I was super interested in Paul English, who grew up under tough conditions in Boston, and rose to epic heights as a genius in his field. I wasn't very surprised to hear that he suffers from bipolar disorder, as I recognized the signs early on in the book, having decades of personal experience in a former marriage. What I was really looking for, and found, was the way English was able to be hugely successful, realize he had a serious mental illness, address that illness and still find a healthy balance for life. I also got a huge kick from the "cast of characters," the folks that worked with and for English. The book had a very Billions-esque feel; those who like this book should definitely watch the show, and vice versa.

Full disclosure - I'm a huge Tracy Kidder fan. From Soul of a New Machine, mandatory reading at my first-out-of-grad-school job to House, which was perfectly timed for my first house purchase to Mountains Beyond Mountains - his work has always allowed me to become an insider in whatever he was writing about. This book doesn't appoint. I'm humbled by the openness of Paul English about his mental health issues and impressed even further with his accomplishments. A great story, told by a great storyteller.