The book that immediately comes to mind is "The Day the Phones Stopped" by Leonard Lee. isbn 1-55611-264-5. 1991. I believe it is out of print. In 12 chapters it covers the most spectacular computer & technology failures in history, including but not limited to the aforementioned Therac-25 during 1986, the Air Canada Flight 143 incident, fly-by-wire systems, the legendary AT&T switching disaster of Jan 15, 1990, several air controller disasters, and others. The book doesn't solely focus on software per se, but technology in general, and complexity in particular. If you can get past the sensationalist style, it can be a very humbling reminder that failure is a weed grown best on a bed of complexity.
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The book that immediately comes to mind is "The Day the Phones Stopped" by Leonard Lee. isbn 1-55611-264-5. 1991. I believe it is out of print.
In 12 chapters it covers the most spectacular computer & technology failures in history, including but not limited to the aforementioned Therac-25 during 1986, the Air Canada Flight 143 incident, fly-by-wire systems, the legendary AT&T switching disaster of Jan 15, 1990, several air controller disasters, and others.
The book doesn't solely focus on software per se, but technology in general, and complexity in particular. If you can get past the sensationalist style, it can be a very humbling reminder that failure is a weed grown best on a bed of complexity.