Richard Bown
@bownie.bsky.social
Author. Engineer. Brit in NL. "Human Software" is about burnout, AI, and the humans in tech. A dark "Unicorn Project”
“Freaked me out more than any Stephen King”
“Part thriller, part whodunnit and a fine dystopian parable”
https://linktr.ee/bown_richard
“Freaked me out more than any Stephen King”
“Part thriller, part whodunnit and a fine dystopian parable”
https://linktr.ee/bown_richard
Pinned
Richard Bown
@bownie.bsky.social
· Oct 22
Human Software is now available via Waterstones, Barnes and Noble, Amazon and many others including Kobo, Leanpub.
For all the ways to buy in paperback and e-book:
humansoftwarebook.com/how-to-purch...
#booksky #writingcommunity #selfpublished
For all the ways to buy in paperback and e-book:
humansoftwarebook.com/how-to-purch...
#booksky #writingcommunity #selfpublished
HUMAN SOFTWARE is back in the top ten on Amazon under "Social Aspects of the Internet" category. It's on sale for a few more hours so grab yourself a bargain. #booksky #writingcommunity #selfpublished humansoftwarebook.com/how-to-purch...
November 30, 2025 at 4:07 PM
HUMAN SOFTWARE is back in the top ten on Amazon under "Social Aspects of the Internet" category. It's on sale for a few more hours so grab yourself a bargain. #booksky #writingcommunity #selfpublished humansoftwarebook.com/how-to-purch...
Murakami loves the passive voice, is still writing about himself after all these years and doesn’t mind repeated words in consecutive sentences. So why are you sweating it? #writingcommunity #booksky
November 30, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Murakami loves the passive voice, is still writing about himself after all these years and doesn’t mind repeated words in consecutive sentences. So why are you sweating it? #writingcommunity #booksky
Human Software is a novel about the dark side of IT, corporate greed and AI. Now available wherever you buy your books for a special price until midnight tonight! Grab an early Christmas present for someone who is interested in the human side of tech humansoftwarebook.com/how-to-purch...
November 30, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Human Software is a novel about the dark side of IT, corporate greed and AI. Now available wherever you buy your books for a special price until midnight tonight! Grab an early Christmas present for someone who is interested in the human side of tech humansoftwarebook.com/how-to-purch...
I took this a year or so ago with my crappy Samsung phone through a bincoluar lens from L'Estaque looking across the Bay of Marseille to Île d'If. Just the right time of day. We spent a lot of time on that terrace.
November 30, 2025 at 10:36 AM
I took this a year or so ago with my crappy Samsung phone through a bincoluar lens from L'Estaque looking across the Bay of Marseille to Île d'If. Just the right time of day. We spent a lot of time on that terrace.
Listening to Kyren Wilson interviewing Judd Trump and watching Steve Davis wincing says it all #bbcsnooker
November 29, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Listening to Kyren Wilson interviewing Judd Trump and watching Steve Davis wincing says it all #bbcsnooker
HUMAN SOFTWARE is on sale until MONDAY. It's got a beautiful map, an authorised Peter Hammill quote and is a cracking corporate thriller set in a modern day Kent and Amsterdam. Grab a bargain and get your Christmas presents in early! humansoftwarebook.com/how-to-purch... #booksky #writingcommunity
November 29, 2025 at 4:18 PM
HUMAN SOFTWARE is on sale until MONDAY. It's got a beautiful map, an authorised Peter Hammill quote and is a cracking corporate thriller set in a modern day Kent and Amsterdam. Grab a bargain and get your Christmas presents in early! humansoftwarebook.com/how-to-purch... #booksky #writingcommunity
50 is not old, fucknuts. www.bbc.com/sport/snooke...
UK Championship 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams shining at 50
As Ronnie O'Sullivan prepares to turn 50 like Mark Williams and John Higgins, BBC Sport looks at why the Class of 92 are still at the top of snooker.
www.bbc.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:21 AM
50 is not old, fucknuts. www.bbc.com/sport/snooke...
I honestly can't work out if this is a parody or something happened overnight or what? www.businessinsider.com/quit-tech-jo...
I quit my $700k Big Tech job. I didn't need that much money, but I was still scared to give it up.
Jay Gengelbach took a risk when he quit his $700k job at Verily, an Alphabet-owned company. Now it's starting to pay off: He's happier and more fulfilled.
www.businessinsider.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:52 AM
I honestly can't work out if this is a parody or something happened overnight or what? www.businessinsider.com/quit-tech-jo...
Awake early on a Saturday but already riled by a tone-deaf LinkedIn post which says how much better they are feeling about themselves having quit their $700k a year job at Google for one that pays half that. The class system still seemingly alive and well in tech land. #humansoftware
November 29, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Awake early on a Saturday but already riled by a tone-deaf LinkedIn post which says how much better they are feeling about themselves having quit their $700k a year job at Google for one that pays half that. The class system still seemingly alive and well in tech land. #humansoftware
I've learnt that book promotion can become all encompassing to the point that you forget to write. It's the end of November and I'm going to give myself a break and get some energy back for writing... however I'm conscious I said that to myself at the end of October... #writingcommunty #booksky
November 28, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I've learnt that book promotion can become all encompassing to the point that you forget to write. It's the end of November and I'm going to give myself a break and get some energy back for writing... however I'm conscious I said that to myself at the end of October... #writingcommunty #booksky
Fascinating discussion in this thread. I happen to agree that obvious uses of AI detracts from the credibility of the presenter - I think the same seeing posts using it on LinkedIn. I also thought very hard before using AI myself very selectively for my book art.
I don’t know if anyone else notices or cares, but when I see a presentation in which the speaker uses obviously generated-AI images to illustrate their slides, it makes me immediately less confident in whatever other content they’re presenting.
November 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Fascinating discussion in this thread. I happen to agree that obvious uses of AI detracts from the credibility of the presenter - I think the same seeing posts using it on LinkedIn. I also thought very hard before using AI myself very selectively for my book art.
Reposted by Richard Bown
If a British person responds to your opinion with a jaunty 'Fair enough!' then the conversation is over and they think you're a prick.
November 28, 2025 at 9:55 AM
If a British person responds to your opinion with a jaunty 'Fair enough!' then the conversation is over and they think you're a prick.
Reposted by Richard Bown
It still feels surreal that people connected with the first book, and I'd love to give something back.
If this post hits 500 shares, I'll make the Beyond The Mark eBook free for all of December.
No catch, just a thank you for the support and a push to keep me writing.
#Booksky #Author
If this post hits 500 shares, I'll make the Beyond The Mark eBook free for all of December.
No catch, just a thank you for the support and a push to keep me writing.
#Booksky #Author
November 21, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've seen
Neil Young
Low
Nirvana
Pere Ubu
Tiny Ruins
Neil Young
Low
Nirvana
Pere Ubu
Tiny Ruins
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've seen
Meredith Monk
Sonic Youth/Wolf Eyes/Hair Police
Bob Dylan
The Ex
John Fahey
Meredith Monk
Sonic Youth/Wolf Eyes/Hair Police
Bob Dylan
The Ex
John Fahey
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen
- The Dictators
- David Bowie
- Bad Religion
- Cheap Trick
- Fleetwood Mac
- The Dictators
- David Bowie
- Bad Religion
- Cheap Trick
- Fleetwood Mac
November 28, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've seen
Neil Young
Low
Nirvana
Pere Ubu
Tiny Ruins
Neil Young
Low
Nirvana
Pere Ubu
Tiny Ruins
Dear fellow writers! How should I go about pitching a publication, news org or journalist to review my book? Any tips? #writingcommunity #booksky
November 28, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Dear fellow writers! How should I go about pitching a publication, news org or journalist to review my book? Any tips? #writingcommunity #booksky
Another incredible Backlisted not least for the difference between a writer and an author! (I am learning that for myself right now) I’ll be reading “Last and First Men” very soon
New episode up now. Last and First Men (1930) by Olaf Stapledon, with guest Matthew De Abaitua in conversation with Andy Miller and Una McCormack. @mdeabaitua.bsky.social @unamccormack.bsky.social @iammilliam.bsky.social www.backlisted.fm/episodes/253...
253. Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon — Backlisted
Writer and critic Matthew De Abaitua joins Andy, Una and Nicky to discuss Last and First Men: A Story of the Near and Far Future (1930), the astounding first novel by Olaf Stapledon. The...
www.backlisted.fm
November 28, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Another incredible Backlisted not least for the difference between a writer and an author! (I am learning that for myself right now) I’ll be reading “Last and First Men” very soon
The superb Arjen Lubach taking down the Myers Brigg test, "Surrounded by Idiots" and all personality testing, why though do organisations still do it and we still believe it?
In Dutch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHWd...
In Dutch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHWd...
Kleurentesten & persoonlijkheidstypen | LUBACH
YouTube video by LUBACH
www.youtube.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:57 AM
The superb Arjen Lubach taking down the Myers Brigg test, "Surrounded by Idiots" and all personality testing, why though do organisations still do it and we still believe it?
In Dutch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHWd...
In Dutch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHWd...
Perhaps I should just import the Thanksgiving tradition to our British/Dutch family because I love turkey and Christmas is too long to wait for it...
November 28, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Perhaps I should just import the Thanksgiving tradition to our British/Dutch family because I love turkey and Christmas is too long to wait for it...
Reposted by Richard Bown
Another zinger from John Naughton's newsletter this morning.
November 28, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Another zinger from John Naughton's newsletter this morning.
I’m listening to New Order “Technique”. I bought it on vinyl in Deal Woolies when it came out, left it in my brother’s car while we went for a walk along the front and it warped. Still got it, it still plays and it’s still magnificent.
November 27, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I’m listening to New Order “Technique”. I bought it on vinyl in Deal Woolies when it came out, left it in my brother’s car while we went for a walk along the front and it warped. Still got it, it still plays and it’s still magnificent.
Pitched a bookshop today and the guy on the front desk loved my book but the buyer was a bit snobby, meh, when I said it was a thriller. I mean, you want to sell books, right? People love thrillers? AMIRITE? #selfpublishedauthor #booksky #writingcommunity
November 27, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Pitched a bookshop today and the guy on the front desk loved my book but the buyer was a bit snobby, meh, when I said it was a thriller. I mean, you want to sell books, right? People love thrillers? AMIRITE? #selfpublishedauthor #booksky #writingcommunity
Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it. I was out in about in the American Book Center in Amsterdam earlier today and it was BUSY. Question from an ignorant Brit: do people buy gifts for Thanksgiving?
November 27, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it. I was out in about in the American Book Center in Amsterdam earlier today and it was BUSY. Question from an ignorant Brit: do people buy gifts for Thanksgiving?
HUMAN SOFTWARE is set in modern-day Kent, but a Kent where the Isle of Thanet is still an island, and Sandwich has morphed into Sandport, a mini-Rotterdam. Lots of Dutch/Kentish crossover in the book (Amsterdam gets a chapter) to reflect my journey #booksky #writingcommunity
November 27, 2025 at 7:22 AM
HUMAN SOFTWARE is set in modern-day Kent, but a Kent where the Isle of Thanet is still an island, and Sandwich has morphed into Sandport, a mini-Rotterdam. Lots of Dutch/Kentish crossover in the book (Amsterdam gets a chapter) to reflect my journey #booksky #writingcommunity
Did this last night. This morning I'm heading into Amsterdam to hit a couple more bookshops #writingcommunity #booksky #indieauthor
Popped into the local bookshop with not much expectation and left with no books except the new Murakami (over which we bonded) #booksky #selfpublished #amstelveen
November 27, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Did this last night. This morning I'm heading into Amsterdam to hit a couple more bookshops #writingcommunity #booksky #indieauthor