Mythical Man-Month, The: Essays on Software Engineering, Anniversary Edition, 2nd Edition

Chapter 19. The Mythical Man-Month after 20 Years

I know no way of judging the future but by the past.—PATRICK HENRYYou can never plan the future by the past.^[1]—EDMUND BURKE

Why Is There a Twentieth Anniversary Edition?

The plane droned through the night toward LaGuardia. Clouds and darkness veiled all interesting sights. The document I was studying was pedestrian. I was not, however, bored. The stranger sitting next to me was reading The Mythical Man-Month, and I was waiting to see if by word or sign he would react. Finally as we taxied toward the gate, I could wait no longer:

"How is that book? Do you recommend it?"

"Hmph! Nothing in it ...