Okay then, how about this one: Did you know that Steve Jobs and Steve

Wozniak tried to sell baby Apple in its infancy? You didn't know that

one either? All right, riddle me this one then: Do you know the reason

Ron Wayne walked away from Apple and lost millions? You didn't know

that one as well? Well, don't worry. I didn't know the answers to any of these

questions either, until I picked up this fantastic book by Owen W. Linzmayer

called "The Mac Bathroom Reader".

Even though the title of the book implies that you should read it in the bathroom, I read this book practically in any place I could find. In actuality, I read it while on a computer-less vacation. In fact, I stopped having computer withdrawal as soon as I started reading the first chapter (Thank you oh Great one up there :-).

On my first glance of this book, I expected something different. I expected it to be similar to one of those day-to-day box calenders. You know; the ones that give you daily trivia facts along with the month and day of the year. This however, was not the case. Instead, The Mac Bathroom Reader took this reader on an exciting journey into the history of Apple Computer, Inc. After reading this book, all I have to say is, "What a journey it was." It gave me all of Apple's trivial dirt (from soup to nuts) in a clear understandable way. Another noteworthy observation is the passionate way in which Linzmayer writes. That's the real beauty of this book. He educates you with information while entertaining you at the same time. This is mostly due to the author's easygoing writing style. His storytelling ability gives this book the feel of a good mystery novel (which I felt it was when I started reading it).

My only criticism (mostly minor) was towards the end of the book. I felt that the chapters "Stupid Mac Stories" and "What's in a Name" should go after the Scully and NeXT computer chapters. This switch (in my opinion) would have given the book better continuity with the chapters that preceded it. It was also disappointing that the book didn't go up to the present (it ends around 1994). This however, will hopefully be changing. I recently heard that Linzmayer hopes to find a publisher for an updated second edition sometime later this year. That means that the book will be updated with all new information. (Wow a sequel! This is even better than a Die Hard movie :-).

So, If you want to amaze your friends at your next Special Interest Group meeting; filled to the brim in Apple trivia, then go get this book. Trust me. You'll be glad that you did.

The Mac Bathroom Reader by Owen W. Linzmayer, SYBEX, U.S. $12.99.
Special deal! Order today by sending e-mail to: OWL@Bigfoot.com
web page: http://www.netcom.com/~owenink/home.html for international air postage details.
Or write to: Owen Ink, 2227 15th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94116-1824)
and receive a FREE copy of The Mac Joker which contains 33 harmless prank programs.
Send US$13 for Priority Mail shipping in the US and surface delivery everywhere else.

David B. Rosenthal (sparky@escape.com) is a teacher/musician who specializes in MIDI music for the Macintosh. He is also an administrator of the new SenseNet BBS.