I liked the parts about the railway signaling, and suffered through all the multi-page anti-regulatory rants in the middle of lovemaking. Looking for recommendations for entertaining tales of signal networks. :P

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett has my favorite entertaining read about signaling networks.

In addition to the invention of a working mail system, you’ll read descriptions of semaphore towers working in a way that is similar to the Telegraph, except with light rather than pulsed waves over wire. It’s also hilariously funny and deeply philosophical at times.

I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Pratchett wrote some amazing books. And if you're into animation (especially older animation), you can find the old discworld animated movies on YouTube.

The first discworld book I read was Thief of Time, and I've been hooked ever since

Thanks! From the blurb, this looks perfect, and I've been meaning to read some Terry Pratchett. I really enjoyed being a substitute postal worker in Yoku's Island Express.

Every book is unique, but they all share his unique philosophy and wit. Highly recommend any of his works. The more you read of discworld the more of a world it will build, but none are so highly coupled that they can't be read independently.

I love how all the replies are focusing on how this is supposedly their favorite book and not the bit about "it changed my life"