When comparing Refactoring vs Rationality: From AI to Zombies, the Slant community recommends Refactoring for most people. In the question“What are the most influential books every programmer should read?” Refactoring is ranked 12th while Rationality: From AI to Zombies is ranked 22nd. The most important reason people chose Refactoring is:
It is focused on probably the most important skill in the software developer's toolset.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Core fundamental book to learn from
It is focused on probably the most important skill in the software developer's toolset.
Pro Will make you smarter
Your intelligence is being used to defeat itself. Learn how to stop that.
Pro Mindblowing ideas
From (friendly) AI to (philosophical) zombies. Also Pebblesorters. And why humans are insane.
Pro Fictional interludes
These are quality science fiction short stories in their own right.
Pro Funny
Pro Engaging
Cons
Con Not enough citations
Just Google it.
Con Has some highly technical references in places
Things like physics (relativity, quantum mechanics), mathematics and computer programming. Scared? Didn't think so.
Con Long
The chapters are relatively short and digestible essays and short stories. The problem: there are 333 of them. On paper, this would take volumes, but this is an ebook. You'll get a lot out of it long before you finish though.