Discover new selections
Buy new:
-10% $17.96
FREE delivery Sunday, May 4 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$17.96 with 10 percent savings
List Price: $19.95
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Sunday, May 4 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Friday, May 2
In Stock
$$17.96 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$17.96
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$16.16
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Sunday, May 4 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$17.96 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$17.96
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

J. Clark Scott
Follow
J Clark Scott
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

But How Do It Know? - The Basic Principles of Computers for Everyone Paperback – July 4, 2009

by J Clark Scott (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 1,075 ratings
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$17.96","priceAmount":17.96,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"17","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"96","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"IMEpvA8S7q72TNM%2FI2UlttHKBY9sQLYBXYmfLKqaX8HWoMNbSG%2B4a0su6zYn9O2Yumu%2BO27YMxOopCgvjIL7IhqcXGRoiyfInkTGDaD4Mku603fvSw9fZt7RMMMDzcywP8nGm%2F9DUUs%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$16.16","priceAmount":16.16,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"16","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"16","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"IMEpvA8S7q72TNM%2FI2UlttHKBY9sQLYBcnEfRvg74UFfjBdlmCWOSxNNYQpU8PLURRw5LZFvuCpBEi5QHju2OUJdYnFA2WT6J9PKDpEXyj68VIPFAqz0KpfJLtkkQGs47vqrQEDW6akoUOWnx%2FVy%2B%2FID%2BMjTjSJ8vGeNa1z7bd3e7OH64vflNwwAi4yyNGFv","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Finally, this brand new book exposes the secrets of computers for everyone to see. Its humorous title begins with the punch line of a classic joke about someone who is baffled by technology.It was written by a 40-year computer veteran who wants to take the mystery out of computers and allow everyone to gain a true understanding of exactly what computers are, and also what they are not.Years of writing, diagramming, piloting and editing have culminated in one easy to read volume that contains all of the basic principles of computers written so that everyone can understand them.There used to be only two types of book that delved into the insides of computers. The simple ones point out the major parts and describe their functions in broad general terms. Computer Science textbooks eventually tell the whole story, but along the way, they include every detail that an engineer could conceivably ever need to know.Like Baby Bear's porridge, But How Do It Know? is just right, but it is much more than just a happy medium. For the first time, this book thoroughly demonstrates each of the basic principles that have been used in every computer ever built, while at the same time showing the integral role that codes play in everything that computers are able to do.It cuts through all of the electronics and mathematics, and gets right to practical matters. Here is a simple part, see what it does. Connect a few of these together and you get a new part that does another simple thing. After just a few iterations of connecting up simple parts - voilà! - it's a computer. And it is much simpler than anyone ever imagined.But How Do It Know? really explains how computers work. They are far simpler than anyone has ever permitted you to believe. It contains everything you need to know, and nothing you don't need to know. No technical background of any kind is required.The basic principles of computers have not changed one iota since they were invented in the mid 20th century. "Since the day I learned how computers work, it always felt like I knew a giant secret, but couldn't tell anyone," says the author. Now he's taken the time to explain it in such a manner that anyone can have that same moment of enlightenment and thereafter see computers in an entirely new light.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    222 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    July 4, 2009
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0615303765
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0615303765
Next slide of product details

Frequently bought together

But How Do It Know? - The Basic Principles of Computers for Everyone
This item: But How Do It Know? - The Basic Principles of Computers for Everyone
$17.96
Get it as soon as Sunday, May 4
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software
$28.19
Get it as soon as Sunday, May 4
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces
$28.27
Get it as soon as Sunday, May 4
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

J. Clark Scott has had a long and diverse career in the computer industry, starting at large companies such as IBM and Intel, and eventually becoming the author of four successful consumer software packages. Early in his career, he noticed how confused some of his friends were about computers and gave them lectures to teach them how simple the basics really were. It was at that time that the idea for this book was born. This is his first book, but one that has been in the works for decades.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ John C Scott; First Edition (July 4, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 222 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0615303765
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0615303765
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 1,075 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Previous page
  1. J. Clark Scott

    J. Clark Scott

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

    See more on the author's page
  2. J Clark Scott

    J Clark Scott

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

    See more on the author's page
Next page

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
1,075 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book's explanations clear and well-structured, with one review noting how it breaks complex subjects into understandable bits. Moreover, they appreciate its knowledge content, with one customer highlighting how it provides insight into computer inner workings. Additionally, customers find the book entertaining to read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

101 customers mention "Explanation quality"86 positive15 negative

Customers find the book's explanations clear and thorough, with each step well-explained, and one customer notes how it guides readers from simple notions of binary arithmetic.

"...It helped me develop my understanding of computer hardware, which has now lead to me studying computer engineering in college...." Read more

"...This book is the happy medium between the two, not too technical to be overwhelming and not so basic that its unhelpful...." Read more

"...It is short, and explains how to make an admittedly primitive toy CPU out of individual logic gates...." Read more

"...This gives a very solid foundation for understanding the bits that make up the bytes that flow down the bus, and on and on...." Read more

26 customers mention "Knowledge"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides good information, with one customer noting it offers an insightful look into computer inner workings, while another mentions it covers digital electronics basics.

"...It is a fully functional computer and, from other research I have done, it actually works a lot like the computers we use every day...." Read more

"...By the last page, you have a fully functional 8-bit CPU, and at no point does the prose rise above a level perfectly understandable to an average..." Read more

"...down - from the simplicity of a register, to the building blocks of the RAM and CPU...." Read more

"...engineering major and this book has given me a better background understanding of hardware than any of my classes..." Read more

7 customers mention "Interest"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and entertaining to read.

"...I found this subject to be very interesting and decided to research further into how computers use simple gates to do such complex functions...." Read more

"...It is fun and educational. There is even humor and very detailed descriptions. A good read for anyone wanting to know more!" Read more

"...So I had to buy the book. I read 43% of it so far and it is very interesting and easy to understand...." Read more

"It was interesting and game me a new perspective on computers...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Charles
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to how computers work
    Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I got this book when I was a teenager and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It helped me develop my understanding of computer hardware, which has now lead to me studying computer engineering in college. If you know someone who is interested in computer design, this is a great introductory book!
    Helpful
     Report
  • B
    5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, Clarity on a Complex Subject
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I have always been intimidated by computers. They seem ridiculously complex and overwhelming to understand. I wasn't happy having this feeling about something I used every day so I decided to try to learn a little more about them. I didn't realize it at the time, but computers are evidently very difficult to explain. Part of the reason for this I think is that there are so many areas of specialization in computers that no one seems able or willing to sit down and try to give a beginner a good overview of the subject that is simple yet detailed enough to allow them to walk away feeling like they learned what they wanted to know.

    I think that may be why Mr Scott wrote this book. He genuinely wants you to understand how a computer works. He evidently spent a LOT of time designing the computer in this book. It is a fully functional computer and, from other research I have done, it actually works a lot like the computers we use every day. That is rare to find. There are many books out there that talk about the grand theories of computing but never get down into the hardware and what the wires and transistors are actually doing to make things work. Other books will try to build a very very basic computer with you but since it is just a teaching tool, you learn a lot of concepts about computing that don't really work well in reality. This book is the happy medium between the two, not too technical to be overwhelming and not so basic that its unhelpful.

    If you are looking for a book that will help you understand how your computer works, this is it. There is no other book that I have found that can explain this subject in such a way that you walk away feeling like you finally have clarity on a subject that has been so fuzzy for so long. Its a good feeling, and I highly recommend this book to you if you are looking for that kind of clarity about computers as well.
    18 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • John R. Gregg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best explanation of a CPU I've ever seen
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I had always wanted a book like this. It is short, and explains how to make an admittedly primitive toy CPU out of individual logic gates. By the last page, you have a fully functional 8-bit CPU, and at no point does the prose rise above a level perfectly understandable to an average high schooler.

    shameless plug: This would be a super companion to my own book, "Ones And Zeros" by John Gregg: Ones and Zeros: Understanding Boolean Algebra, Digital Circuits, and the Logic of Sets. Both Scott and I seem to be trying to use the same sort of voice, trying to hook the same sort of audience. My book talks more about the history and mathematical logic than Scott's, and thus does not go as far up the complexity ladder as the entire CPU. Read mine first, then Scott's. OK, plug over.

    As I said, this book was a revelation. I had never seen a CPU laid out so clearly and simply. I would, however, have liked to have seen more gestures in the direction of how "real" CPUs work, at least a mention here or there. I don't think it would have been too big a digression to give a little more detail about how you might expand the address bus to 16 or 32 bits to make the whole thing actually useful. It might also have been nice to explain, briefly, in general terms, about pipelining, or microcode, or the idea behind finite state machines. I emphasize, I'd like just a hint of things like that, without a full, rigorous exploration, just to let the reader know the sorts of directions the real world takes using Scott's toy CPU as a starting point.

    Quibbles though. Buy this book.
    8 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • stringbox
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good foundation
    Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I've read this before jumping into NAND to Tetris. This gives a very solid foundation for understanding the bits that make up the bytes that flow down the bus, and on and on. The author does explain everything thoroughly which is both good and in some cases a bit tedious. I say that because I read this on the iPad and there were several times when it would have been best for me to have had a copy of the diagrams to follow along more closely what was being described as all the little switches are turning off and on. They are in the iPad/Kindle version, of course, I just should have had them on the side as I read I mean.

    Still, this is a great book. And I feel much more confident already in grasping what exactly is and isn't going on in a computer and how the bytes being moved around can at some point be considered software.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Alex
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Everything I learned from this book was absolutely necessary for my first steps to learning computers. I have more advanced books that will summarize this entire book within 30 pages- it was overwhelmingly to fast. This book has got me past that chapter and many more. My only complaint about this book was the first couple of chapters - of which were to basic for me, but if I didn't read "code" by Charles Petzold than these chapters would have been less repetitive for me and absolutely necessary. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. If you need help understanding this book, read the green book in the recommended list or code. All three of those books will give you a confident grasp on computers. "But - How do it know" helped me start on my fourth book inside the machine (more advanced; on 16, 32, and 64 bit computers).

    If you want to make sure you understand everything, the order I read all four of these books started with the "green one"(Rodger young), "Code" (Charles Petzold), "But How do it know" (Clark Scott), and Inside The Machine (John Stokes)- not entirely finished with this one but is easy now. I understand everything %100 I have read in all of these books- but I believe the order I read the books helped me understand it all within a short amount of time. I am hoping to understand my fifth book "Elements on Computer Systems" (Noam Nissan) which a while back I thought looked like gibberish on paper. lol
    9 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Amazon Kunde
    1.0 out of 5 stars Not for the layman
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on January 30, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I dont recommend the kindle version. Hard to read diagrams etc. Futhermore, book is not suitable if you do not already have some knowledge on how computers work. Recommend watching online videos first if you are a layman. I bought this book due to many positive reviews but realised afterwards that most of these seem to come from people who appear to have some skills in computer science already. I gave it one star because of the authors claim that book is comprehensible for anyone. That is simply not true.
    Report
  • Martin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enthüllung der Computerarchitektur
    Reviewed in Germany on August 23, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    **Gesamt Fazit:** Ein zugängliches Buch, das die Grundlagen der Computerarchitektur verständlich erklärt und den Leser mit einem tieferen Verständnis für CPUs und deren Funktion zurücklässt.

    Ich möchte Ihnen meine Eindrücke von "But How Do It Know? - The Basic Principles of Computers for Everyone" teilen, einem Buch, das in erstaunlich verständlicher Weise die komplexen Grundlagen der Computerarchitektur beleuchtet.

    **Gesamt Fazit:** Dieses Buch schafft es, auf faszinierende Weise die Welt der Computerarchitektur zu erklären. Es ist wie eine Tür, die selbst für Laien geöffnet ist, um die essentiellen Bausteine von CPUs zu verstehen und sogar zu simulieren.

    **Bewertung: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐**

    Das Buch hebt sich dadurch hervor, dass es ohne mathematische Vorkenntnisse auskommt. Es fordert lediglich logisches Denken und ein Gefühl für Zusammenhänge. Das ermöglicht es jedem Leser, die Entwicklung von grundlegenden logischen Schaltungen bis hin zu einer universell programmierbaren CPU nachzuvollziehen.

    **Bewertung: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐**

    Die Autoren vermitteln nicht nur trockenes Fachwissen, sondern führen den Leser auf eine Reise, bei der auch die nötigen Erfindungen und Entwicklungen zur Sprache kommen, um eine programmierbare CPU zu gestalten. Diese Konzepte sind geschickt in die Erklärungen integriert, was zu einem tieferen Verständnis führt.

    **Bewertung: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐**

    Die klare Struktur des Buches ermöglicht es, selbst komplexere Themen zu erfassen. Angefangen bei logischen Verknüpfungen bis hin zur Integration anderer Komponenten wie Tastatur und Monitor in das System, bietet das Buch eine kohärente und leicht verständliche Darstellung.

    **Bewertung: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐**

    Die verständlichen Abbildungen und präzisen Erklärungen machen das Buch auch für diejenigen zugänglich, die nicht fließend Englisch sprechen. Es ist möglich, den Inhalt anhand der Illustrationen und Schaubilder zu verstehen, was die Hürde der Fremdsprache mindert.

    **Bewertung: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐**

    Abschließend kann ich "But How Do It Know?" jedem empfehlen, der tiefer in die Funktionsweise von Computern eintauchen möchte. Die Art und Weise, wie das Buch selbst komplizierte Konzepte zugänglich macht, verdient höchste Anerkennung. Es ist ein Must-Read für Hobbyelektroniker, Schüler, Studenten und alle, die mehr über die innere Welt von Computern erfahren möchten.
    Report
  • Gianluca Riggio
    5.0 out of 5 stars Università
    Reviewed in Italy on March 23, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Studio Ingegneria Informatica e mi è stato consigliato dal professore stesso.
    Spiega bene a livello tecnico i fondamenti di informatica.
    Customer image
    Gianluca Riggio
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Università

    Reviewed in Italy on March 23, 2020
    Studio Ingegneria Informatica e mi è stato consigliato dal professore stesso.
    Spiega bene a livello tecnico i fondamenti di informatica.
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer image
    Report
  • Daniel Chávez Hernández
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book explain exactly how computers work
    Reviewed in Mexico on November 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Good book, maybe it does not have a lot of technical stuff but you will definitively learn new and important things about computers. It really focus in answer the question of its tittle.
    Report
  • Zishan Amin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for self learners looking to understand how computers work
    Reviewed in Canada on January 7, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Exceptional book to be used as a primer to understand how computers work. For self-learners who are trying to maybe learn how to code, you might have questions on how a computer can remember and store information, how is it able to calculate complex problems at lighting speed or even how does a computer produce pictures/videos on a monitor. Basically, How Do It Know?? The author does a great job simplifying these concepts in an effort to help you better understand the black box that is your computer. After reading this, I feel more confident (hopefully not misplaced) in tackling more traditional textbooks on the subject matter contained herein in hopes to further expand my knowledge on computing.
    Report