I am a technical writer. Over the years I have written for websites, contributed to and authored books, and written magazine articles. This site collects a sample of that work: my books, a set of writing samples, and a blog I have kept since 2007.
Away from the keyboard I play guitar and bass — in a local band, and in the studio for other musicians. I read constantly and speak several languages. I have consulted on culture, language, religion, and computing, and I spent several years running a small business in North Africa.
You can email me at matthew@matthewhelmke.com. To see what I am working on now, find me on LinkedIn; my books are also listed on Amazon.
Recent posts
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The Insider’s Guide to Technical Writing, 2nd Edition
It was ten years ago that I read and reviewed the first edition of this book. At that time I said, “The book is a resounding success. Everything I love is …
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Racket Programming the Fun Way
This is the second programming book that uses Racket that I have reviewed. I reviewed Realm of Racket back in 2013. I also reviewed a book about Racket’s …
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Monitoring my UPS with Grafana Cloud
A while back I bought an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) from CyberPower. I have a Linux workstation here at home that I need to keep safe from power …
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Ubuntu Linux Unleashed 2021
I was the sole editor and contributor of new content for Ubuntu Linux Unleashed 2021 Edition. This is the 14th edition of this book and is intended for …
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Thoughts on Turning 50
I’m writing this post during the COVID-19 era. Officially, society is starting to open up. Unofficially, I think we are about to cause a second, larger …
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The Game is Rigged
The game is rigged. We all know it. So what? The art is learning how to navigate within the structure for your own benefit. All it takes is a change in your …
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The Cartoon Introduction to Calculus
How did calculus come to be? Why? Who was involved? What does this have to do with pineapples (page 84)? These and other questions are integral to this book, …
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Amazing Decisions: The Illustrated Guide to Improving Business Deals and Family Meals
How do you make decisions? Do you know? Some of us use market norms while some use social norms. These and other topics are covered in today’s review. …
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Moonbound: Apollo 11 and the Dream of Spaceflight
On July 20, 1969, humans first walked on the moon. It was an amazing achievement, even by today’s standards 50 years later. Moonbound: Apollo 11 and the …
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Astronomy for Kids
I have an eight year old who knows more about the solar system than most adults I know. He is fascinated by stars, planets, asteroids, comets, and anything else …