Not knowing what to expect, I cautiously opened this book and prepared to read at a slow to medium pace. It turned out that I could not put it down. This book is without a doubt a significant contribution to the foundations of human-computer interaction. From Aristotle’s Poetics to virtual reality, Laurel makes the case for a design philosophy that is based on representing action with human participants. As Laurel says, “theatre suggests the basis for a model of human-computer activity that is familiar, comprehensible, and evocative.” Completing a task should be satisfying and bring a sense of closure. The chapter titles describe the direction of the book and are an indication of the careful thought and preparation that went into making an effective vehicle for changing our way of looking at the fit between the computer and the human:

• The Nature of the Beast

• Dramatic Foundations, Part I: Elements of Qualitative Structure

• Dramatic Foundations, Part II: Orchestrating Action

• Dramatic Techniques for Orchestrating Human Response

• Design Principles for Human-Computer Activity

• New Directions in Human-Computer Activity

Many computer professionals may well react negatively to some of the ideas expressed, but the open-minded will find a special meal of intellectual food prepared by a master chef of human-computer cuisine. I recommend this book strongly for anyone with an interest in human-computer interaction. The reference list at the end of the book serves as a bridge between the arts and computer technology. The times are changing, and the future will belong to those who are guided by principles that transcend the practices that constrain unnecessarily and inhumanely.