Book: Digital Deli, The Comprehensive, User-Lovable Menu of Computer Lore, Culture, Lifestyles and Fancy

Digital Deli, a 1984 anthology edited by Steve Ditlea, is a fascinating time capsule of the early microcomputer era. Structured like a menu—Appetizers, Soup and Crackers, and more—the book gathers perspectives from computing pioneers including Steve Wozniak, Robert Frankston, Bill Gates, and Timothy Leary, alongside journalists covering everything from software piracy to computer culture. What makes it valuable today, per Adafruit, is that it captures an unfiltered moment when nobody knew how personal computing would reshape the world. You'll find Les Solomon's account of the first DIY personal computer, family computer diaries, and yes, even computer horoscopes—some now pure curiosities, but all authentic windows into how people actually thought about machines. The whole book is hosted free online at atariarchives.org/deli, with pre-owned printed copies available if you prefer paper.

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