Zen: Systems Analysis

I have just finished reading a book that I have been reading on and off for the last few months (it lived in my overnight bag and got read in hotel rooms when the bar was shut and the TV was shit, it’s been dragged around a few countries and is looking slightly worse for wear ... ). Its called Zen and the Art of Systems Analysis by Patrick McDermott.

If you fancy a light hearted and possibly spiritual look at what is a normally a very dry and logical subject then give this book a whirl. Some of the quotes are excellent. I have listed a few of these below:

Choose the Middle Way.
Embrace Contradiction.
There are many ways to the Mountaintop.
Over time, Unpleasant tasks become more unpleasant, but difficult tasks become less difficult.
To get to the root cause, ask “Why” five times.
Never base a Technical Decision on Political Issues and never base a Political Decision on Technical Issues.
Never let not knowing what you are doing stop you !
Try to walk in everyones shoes.
Always analyse from at least two angles.
Don’t let precision prevent clarity.
One who has never erred is dangerous.
The goal of brainstorming is quantity not quality.
If it is not recorded, it did not happen.
Windows XP is an abortion. (sorry, made that one up ☺ )

There’s plenty more quotes in the book and it’s a fascinating read. Try It !

"What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do." - Bob Dylan