This is the one book about Ruby that makes you go “So that’s how it works” over and over again, as concepts such as the object model, DSLs, and blocks fall into place with that satisfying “Click!” sound. It’s a great guide to what happens under the hood of a language that seems to involve a kind of magic deep inside. I highly recommend it.

The previous edition of Metaprogramming Ruby changed my life and my code, and helped me get my first programming job. You would think there would be no way to improve on a book that good, but Paolo Perrotta has done it. Learn to unlock the hidden potential of this beautiful language, and fall in love with Ruby again.

For gem authors and application developers alike, this book lays down the foundation everyone needs to harness the full power of Ruby. Paolo describes metaprogramming in a fun and approachable way for all skill levels. The knowledge garnered from reading this book will help you write cleaner code and work more effectively with legacy codebases.

If you want to follow the path of Ruby metaprogramming mastery, then this book is the best companion you can think of, no matter what your level is. I had struggled with Ruby metaprogramming for years until I read this book; now it all makes sense.

This is a book that everyone who wants to have a deeper understanding of the inner workings of Ruby and Ruby on Rails should read. The “spells” described in this book are invaluable tools to understand and use Ruby to its full extent. This is not only about metaprogramming, but also about taking your Ruby programming to a different level.

I’m a huge Python fan, so I was supposed to disregard Ruby. Paolo made me appreciate it. Not only is Metaprogramming Ruby the book that allowed me to wrap my head around this esoteric and fascinating topic, but it also made me rethink the way I write code in other languages.

This book uncovers all the ins and outs of the art of metaprogramming in Ruby, with a no-nonsense approach and an irony that transpires from vibrant prose, never boring, without compromising any of its insightfulness. Metaprogramming Ruby is one of those books that any serious Rubyist (and even the pros) will want to revisit from time to time.

Metaprogramming Ruby has been a hugely influential book for me, especially during a time when I wanted to learn about the inner workings of Ruby. Paolo “Nusco” Perrotta made what is normally a complex topic fun, enjoyable, and very approachable.