There's no silver bullet, but implement some of the ideas and you'll see measurable improvements in productivity. On second thought, save yourself 25 bucks and skip it. Peterson attempts to expose the perils of software, using only a handful of examples. Though Stoll professes not to be a Luddite, I was left with quite the opposite impression. Computers, and the Internet in particular, will alienate us from each other.
Snail mail is much more reliable and faster than email.
The computer screen is not reality. The book is full of such banalities and errors, and simply wasn't worth the time or money. Through the Past Electronics is very much a here and now industry. It's also fascinating. Take heart - most engineers find themselves in the same predicament.