The UNIX-Hater's Handbook has a chapter on X Windows.
It's a good read.
Am I supposed to be able to get past the opening lines of that chapter?
X Windows is the Iran-Contra of graphical user interfaces: a tragedy of political compromises, entangled alliances, marketing hype, and just plain greed. X Windows is to memory as Ronald Reagan was to money.
Also, the chapter on C++ is full of complete nonsense (and I'm not a terribly big fan of C++, I just happen to know it very well)
Oh, I just realized that the book is copyright 1994, so ...
It's a good read.
No, its a complete waste of time.