Underground: Hacking, madness and obsession on the electronic frontier

"Underground: Hacking, madness and obsession on the electronic frontier" by Suelette Dreyfus is a non-fiction book from the late 20th century, that pulls back the curtain on the world of computer hackers. It studies the reasons why these people hack, sharing their experiences in a digital world full of both imagination and disorder. The book investigates the thinking of hackers, touching on ideas like going against the rules, being intensely focused, and the strong desire to learn. The beginning of the book prepares the reader for a detailed look into the hacker group and the tricky ethical questions that come with this secret society. Dreyfus talks about what made her want to write the book, comparing her great aunt's ocean explorations to her own trip into the digital shadows. She shows readers what hackers think, explaining that each one has a special story influenced by their own experiences, mental health, and a difficult relationship with those in charge. The start of the book emphasizes how important personal stories are, especially the hackers' online names, which show who they are in the digital world, setting the scene for understanding the many sides of hacking and getting readers ready to understand these mysterious characters.