This book starts with, but ultimately reaches far beyond, the invention of Jacquard’s mechanical loom. I have always loved the idea that the first kind of “programming”, with punched cards, came from the world of textiles, and was only later adopted and extended with the invention of digital computers. This book does a great job of relating the history in a very personable fashion; the key characters are so life-like that I came away wishing I could sit in a room with Babbage or Lady Ada or any of their cohort, even just to listen in if not to converse!