Reading is a great way to spend your time. You expand your knowledge while stimulating your creativity. This can improve both your personal and professional life. Medium and dev.to are great sources of quality articles. Additionally, books and audiobooks can offer you tons of information about technical or soft skills.
So here are the 7 most interesting books that I can genuinely recommend to make you a better Software Engineer.
Algorithms to Live By
Algorithms to Live By explains computer science algorithms in plain language and points out how relevant they are to our lives by solving problems we all encounter every day. It explains why their relevancy isn’t limited to the digital world and how you can make better decisions by strategically using the right algorithm at the right time, for example in dating, at home or in the office. You can feel getting smarter with every page of this book.
Digital Minimalism
Digital Minimalism shows us where to draw the line with technology and how taking time off our digital devices is the key to living a focused life in a noisy world. The book is all about how we use technology in our lives and how society has been transformed as a result of the latest technological development. It questions the benefits social media bring into your life and if these benefits outweigh the costs.
Deep Work
Another one from the same author and similar vibes. Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It’s a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. This book will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfilment that comes from craftsmanship.
Remote — Office not Required
This book published in 2013, years before the new remote work reality happened, but it’s now more relevant than ever. It’s a great resource from a company that has been working fully remotely since day one and can give you great insights on what to expect and how to handle remotely working efficiently.
The 10x Rule
The 10x Rule is based on the idea that people underestimate their abilities in the long term and that we should make our goals and dreams 10 times bigger. This, combined with massive action towards completing them, will make you stand out and do extraordinary things in your life.
Extreme Programming Explained
Extreme Programming (XP) is successful because it stresses customer satisfaction. Instead of delivering everything you could possibly want on some date far in the future, this process delivers the software you need as you need it. Extreme Programming empowers software engineers to confidently respond to changing customer requirements, even late in the life cycle.
Goodreads, Full review about XP methodology
The Phoenix Project
The Phoenix Project is different. It’s a novel about IT and DevOps, but it's full will valuable stories and lessons. The book’s characters reveal through their actions why it’s so important for organizations to put security first and tear down the silos that have traditionally existed between development and operations teams.
I hope you enjoyed this list, and apologies if I missed your favourite one. I will really appreciate any recommendations in the comments below.
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