I also read _Soul_ about the same time, and bought many copies (in paperback) to give to friends who would ask me "what is it that you techies do? and why?". I particularly thought his exposition of "signing up" for a project was the most valuable part of the book. Kidder either used to live here in San Diego, or still does. Anyway, I had never met him (odd, since I am a major collector of books as well as of all sorts of computers) until last year when he was giving a talk at the Central Library about _Mountains Beyond Mountains_ (a very affecting book in itself). I pulled out my last remaining copy of _Soul_ (paperback, someone walked off with the hardback) and took it down to have him sign it. He barely recalled the book that won him the National Book Award and the Pulitzer (OK, it HAS been 30 odd years) and told me that he had changed his approach to research and writing. But he kindly inscribed the book to me and went on to give a great talk about Dr. Paul Farmer (the subject of _Mountains_). It was a Very pleasant evening. Vern Wright