FFF - to show my familiarity with said book, I believe that your IBM chappie was being "abstruse"!
For those of us with a Comprehensive education....
ab·struse [abstroos]
–adjective 1. hard to understand; recondite; esoteric: abstruse theories.
2. Obsolete. secret; hidden.
[Origin: 1590–1600; < L abstrūsus thrust away, concealed (ptp. of abstrūdere), equiv. to abs- abs- + trūd- thrust + -tus ptp. suffix]
—Related forms
ab·struse·ly, adverb
ab·struse·ness, noun
—Synonyms 1. incomprehensible, unfathomable, arcane.
—Antonyms 1. clear, uncomplicated, simple; obvious.