‘A Few Good Men from Univac’ by David E. Lundstrom
To understand Unisys, you must first understand its parents, Burroughs and Sperry. Sperry absorbed the legendary UNIVAC, which built the first commercial computer in the U.S. This book is an insider’s look at the engineering culture that defined the company.
Written by a 30-year veteran, it’s less of a dry corporate history and more of an in-the-trenches memoir about the people who designed the machines that changed the world. It’s a ground-level view of one of the key companies that would eventually merge to form Unisys, capturing the pride and genius of the mainframe era.
‘The Unisys Saga’ by Nancy Stern
This is the most direct account of the main event: the historic 1986 merger of Sperry and Burroughs that created Unisys. At the time, it was the largest merger in the history of the computer industry. This book tackles the immense challenge of integrating two distinct corporate cultures and product lines under one roof. While more of a business-school case study than a dramatic narrative, it’s essential for anyone who wants to understand the strategic thinking, the immense risks, and the immediate aftermath of the deal that gave birth to a new, but challenged, giant.
‘Barbarians at the Gate’ by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar
While not about Unisys, this iconic book perfectly captures the spirit of the 1980s corporate world in which Unisys was born. The story of the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco is the definitive tale of Wall Street ambition, hostile takeovers, and larger-than-life executive drama. The Unisys merger was a product of this same aggressive, deal-making environment. Reading 'Barbarians at the Gate' provides the thrilling financial and cultural context for the era, helping you understand the pressures and personalities that drove mega-deals across America.
‘Who Says Elephants Can't Dance?’ by Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.
The story of Unisys and its predecessors (known as the 'BUNCH' along with NCR, Control Data, and Honeywell) was always written in the shadow of one company: IBM. To understand the mountain Unisys had to climb, you need to understand IBM's own near-death experience and miraculous turnaround. This book, by the CEO who saved IBM, details how he pulled the ultimate mainframe giant back from the brink by forcing it to adapt to a new new world. It’s a masterclass in corporate transformation and a perfect counterpoint to the Unisys story.
‘The Innovators’ by Walter Isaacson
Finally, to see the big picture, you need a map of the entire digital revolution. Isaacson’s brilliant history explains how computing evolved from the 19th century to the present day. Most importantly, it clarifies the pivotal role of companies like UNIVAC and Burroughs, placing them in their proper context. You’ll see how their mainframe innovations laid the groundwork for the personal computers and internet that would eventually disrupt their entire business model. It frames the Unisys story not as a failure, but as a crucial and fascinating chapter in the relentless march of technology.
