Lee Devin

Robert Austin

What makes the Apple iPhone cool? Bang & Olufsen and Samsung's televisions beautiful? Any of a wide variety of products and services special? The answer is not simply functionality or technology, for competitors' products are often as good. The Soul of Design explores the uncanny power of some products to grab and hold attention—to create desire. To understand what sets a product apart in this way, authors Lee Devin and Robert Austin push past personal taste and individual response to adopt a more conceptual approach. They carefully explore the hypothesis that there is something within a "special" product that makes it—well, special. They argue that this je ne sais quoi arises from "plot"—the shape that emerges as a product or service arouses and then fulfills expectations. Marketing a special product is, then, a matter of helping its audience perceive its plot and comprehend its qualities. Devin and Austin provide keys to understanding why some products and services stand out in a crowd and how the companies that make them create these hits. Part One of the book introduces the authors' definition of plot in this context; Part Two breaks down the components needed to build a plot; Part Three describes what makes a plot coherent; Part Four takes on the challenges of making coherent products and services attractive to consumers. Part Four also presents detailed casework, which shows how innovators and makers have successfully brought special products to market. Readers will come away with a sensible and clear approach to conceiving of artful products and services. This book will help managers and designers think about engaging with plot, taking aesthetic factors into account to provide consumers with more special things.

Harnessing the Power of Plot to Create Extraordinary Products

The Soul of Design

Linux for Beginners: The Complete Guide to the Command Line, Shell Scripting, and System Administration By Robert Austin Unlock the power of Linux and take control of your system like a pro. Whether you're a total beginner, a computer science student, or an aspiring system administrator, this all-in-one guide will take you from zero to confident Linux user-without the overwhelm. This book is a comprehensive, hands-on introduction to Linux, covering everything from basic terminal commands to writing your first shell scripts and managing real-world systems. With clear explanations, practical examples, and structured tutorials, you'll learn how to navigate the Linux filesystem, manage users and permissions, install software, automate tasks, and even troubleshoot like a seasoned sysadmin. What You'll Learn Inside: How to install and configure a beginner-friendly Linux distribution Command line essentials: navigation, file management, and system structure Real-world shell scripting: variables, conditionals, loops, and functions User and group management, permissions, and sudo configuration Installing, updating, and managing packages using apt, dnf, pacman, snap, and more System administration fundamentals: services, processes, and logs Network configuration and secure remote access using SSH and file transfer tools Cron jobs and automation for repetitive task scheduling Real scripting projects to reinforce your understanding and boost your confidence Who This Book Is For: Beginners with zero Linux experience who want a solid foundation Students and tech learners preparing for IT, DevOps, or Cybersecurity careers Developers and software testers needing a working knowledge of Linux environments System administrators and IT professionals transitioning from GUI to CLI Anyone who wants to become truly comfortable with the Linux command line and shell scripting This is not just another theory-heavy manual. This is a complete learning roadmap with powerful, practical lessons designed for 2025 and beyond-optimized for Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Linux Mint, Arch, and other major distributions. Master the Linux terminal. Write shell scripts with confidence. Administer systems like a pro. Get your copy of Linux for Beginners today and start your journey into one of the most powerful and essential technologies in the world of computing.

Robert Austin

About

Books

Join the club