To your last point, it's an interesting read, and ya something else to start with might be a good call.

I found it in sort an alternative book shop (think MIT Press publications that veer more radical, types of books you're stoked can still get published) in a major coastal metro. I was super interested to find a technical-ish book in that setting, so I picked up as I was having trouble finding anyone talking about tech in the way I thought it warranted and hoped this could be it (that aforementioned void).

The book's approach to language and arguments (reads like a Camus book, not sure what this style of writing is called though, "academic" doesn't do it justice I think) paired with really clear takes on tech is striking. Maybe intense for a first read though, to your point. Also I'm only halfway through so TBD on what shows up in the second half of it; I might have recommended a wild read haha.