Must Read-Books To Start On With Early Career Of Software Development
Maximize your skills and productivity with these below 3 amazing books.
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Hi! I’m Rohith(With a ‘h’) , people call me Ro or Rohu ,a Senior Software Engineer. My interests include Machine learning , AI, Block chains and Full Stack Engineering.
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Just being a software engineer by knowing the programming languages is not enough these days, one has to know how to manage people, manage software , write clean code and increase your skills too.
These books though started late in my career after being 3 yrs newbie into Development after my undergrad , they helped me to plan, organize and be a better developer. The books came as recommendation from one of my senior mentor.
These books also inspired me to develop a better system in my life and changed my thinking.
I am hoping these would help you as well and as the saying goes “It’s never too late” , you can still get ahead of many others and make a better progress.
The books go with my own personal ranking but feel free to prioritize as per your own judgment and there are additional content of book mentions as well which are good to read as a bonus!
Thinking out of box and being creative is the necessity skill that has to be acquired by people and it doesn’t come as easily and has to be nurtured at every step of our lives.
Top 3. Being Geek by Michael Lopp
I know ! I know ! the title sounds like that for few of you, but trust me when saying “Geek” is not taken lightly and it shows that you have super powers ,your curiosity , enthusiasm and dedication to perceive your interests and work on what you like is more appropriate as per me.
In simple words “Making the complex look simple.”
In this first book, we can explore the unique culture and dynamics of the geek community in the tech industries. It provides and delves more into the personal and professional lives of the big community and how to develop to progress.
The elements and the concept of being a geek in modern times are framed as a positive and defining characteristic rather than the old and negative stereotype.
Though the concepts are simple , they are incredibly powerful in shaping your thinking and your view of the software industry.
So for this, the author introduces to :
> Part 1: Being Geek
> Part 2: Geek culture
> Part 3: The Geek Workplace
> Part 4: Personal Growth for Geeks
> Geek Challenges and Opportunities
Additionally , some of the questions that you can ask yourself and discuss among your peers are
- What emerging trends in technology could further influence your geekiness in you?
With the trending tech like Generative AI booming right now world wide and endless possibilities , you can question yourself.
2. How can I continue to Innovate and lead my career with the changing technologies?
3. How to bring humor and positive reinforcement to address the challenges I am facing ?
4. What are some effective methods for leveraging the traits mentioned in the book in achieving my personal and professional goals?
5. How to balance the curiosity and trust for knowledge?
6. What strategies from the book can I apply to enhance my communication and interpersonal skills?
7. What impact has this book bought upon on me ?
8. How different is the greek subcultures compared in terms of community dynamics and values at present modern times?
9. How was your understanding on the geek culture?
10. What challenges that you are facing right now are similar to the challenges mentioned in the book and how can they be addressed effectively?
It may seem like silly on why you have to read it , but it would change your perspective and improve your skills on a long run.
The book is available on amazon : Being Geek
You can also check out at your city’s local libraries if you can find it to rent and enjoy the read.
Top 2. The Pragmatic Programmer by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas
I realize, hearing the title it might sound cheesy and new to you but this book dives deep for programmers to enhance their skills, improve their style and succeed in their software development careers.
This term of “Pragmatic Approach” can be even applied to anything you do.
We do it but often don’t think about what this practical approach is all about and this is what this book delves more and gives you an approach to how to deal it in your career of software development.
There are tips with reasonings provided to help you understand and develop your skills on long run.
Key Sections and Concepts of this book:
- A Pragmatic Philosophy
- A Pragmatic Approach To Design
- The Pragmatic Programmer’s Toolbox
- The Pragmatic Programmer’s Practices
- Pragmatic Programming Techniques
- Working with Others
- Pragmatic Approaches To Career Development
- The Pragmatic Programmer’s Mindset
So ! now you know you have been doing and applying this approach all along but never knew the proper term for this. Neither did I until I went through this book and learned a new perspective and got insights.
Additionally, the following questions can pop up in your mind :
- How do I adapt this into my career now ?
- Am I too late to know these strategies or approaches?
- How to start developing the mindset step by step?
You don’t have to rush in to grasp everything , the way you learn is to go step by step and slowly until you relate them to your practical real life routines , it may or may not help in understanding.
The concepts are pretty simple and very approachable and help you along the way in developing and helping your thinking on how to approach.
The book is available on amazon : The Pragmatic Programmer
You can also check out at your city’s local libraries if you can find it to rent and enjoy the read.
Bonus Books:
Book 1 from my collection: Building A Second Brain By Tiago Forte
Amazon source link: Building a Second Brain
You can also check out at your city’s local libraries if you can find it to rent and enjoy the read.
I enjoyed reading this and also often listen to it in the Audible app , this improved my thinking and how to remember things when the knowledge is vast and overwhelming at times that you have to store a lot of information.
The brain is like a space with a vast space and interlinked. At the same time, its very complex.
A lot of information is stored and need to be retrieved at the same time when in need. But, we do have a weakness of not able to remember everything and often tend to forget even though we have been in continuous touch with them.
Tiago’s argument was that we spend countless hours to consume and retain information and often forget them while trying to bring back the topic in a conversation or calls or any other form of communication to convincely support our point of view . We consume more books, audio podcasts and other things that we how often struggle to put across our point and we are flooded with more advice than ever which promise to make us more smarter, healthier and happier. We do struggle to all the great ideas , which never strike at the right moment when we need them.
This book is dedicated to change that view and enable us to have full attention , grasp and remember them and called whenever we need them.
All these things as per the Author happen with a simple act on when you start writing down and more delved into the concept of PKMs (Personal Knowledge Management)
Book 2 from my collection: Ultra Learning By Scott H.Young
Amazon source link : Ultra Learning
You can also check out at your city’s local libraries if you can find it to rent and enjoy the read.
So far, we just focused on thinking on approaches how build our personal and professional careers at the same time. Now we should also enhance our learning abilities in a way to outdo ourselves and shine.
Scott Young , introduces an innovative method which involves immersing yourself deeply and intensively in a subject and focus along.
He gives a brief view of Accelerated Mastery, Career Advancement and Personal Growth.
You might now starting to wonder, this is insane and is it even possible? , but through his words in the book he gives you the complete outline and approaches you can apply for achieving this.
Top 1. Managing Humans by Michael Lopp
OK! Now this is the last book and the top most rated book in my rating. This focus on how to manage humans
Why Manage Humans ?
Well everything in our world starts with communication and without it , we won’t understand what’s going in the mind of other person, the communication can be key aspect to understand that be it in a real world or in the corporate world.
As you grow your career, you often have to go through a steps in order to have your idea put across the table and manage your team when there are a lot of complexities involved.
To make this simple and easily understandable , the author offers the readers a candid look at the challenges and the rewards of managing teams in the software industry.
Through out the book , the author goes with the series of scenarios which are humor based and make the audience wanting to know more.
Its not too late to have this skill and know the key techniques and shouldn’t try to skip this book assuming that you have time to still go to the level of top management or becoming a manager in near future , as you start early it will build up your confidence and help you in tackling things much easier on the long run.
Key Takeaways from this book:
> Humor and Humanity content kept in mind
> Practical Wisdom
> Focus on “People”
> Navigating The Office Politics
> Balancing Roles
> Conflict Resolution
The contents are as follows:
- Introduction : Setting the stage for its readers
Chapter 1: The Loppian World
- An Overview of Michael Lopp’s Management Philosophy
- Understanding the Human Element in Technology
Chapter 2: In the Trenches
- Real-World Challenges of Managing a Software Team
- Aligning Efforts with Organizational Goals
Chapter 3: The Tenure of the Technical Manager
- Balancing Technical Expertise with Managerial Responsibilities
- The Role of the Technical Manager
Chapter 4: The Magic of Hiring
- Effective Hiring Practices
- Identifying and Attracting the Right Talent
- The Impact of Hiring Decisions on Team Dynamics
Chapter 5: Conflict and Resolution
- Strategies for Managing Conflicts Within a Team
- Techniques for Mediation and Resolution
- Creating a Positive Work Environment
Chapter 6: The Myth of the Perfect Team
- The Unrealistic Expectation of a Perfect Team
- Embracing Diversity and Imperfection
Chapter 7: Feedback and Growth
- The Importance of Providing Constructive Feedback
- Fostering Professional Development
- Helping Team Members Grow
Chapter 8: The Reality of Change
- Managing Change and Adaptation
- Leading Teams Through Transition
- Navigating Evolving Technologies and Business Needs
Chapter 9: The Balance of Power
- Understanding Power Dynamics in Management
- Balancing Authority with Empathy
- Effective Leadership in Navigating Power Structures
Chapter 10: The Culture of the Team
- Building and Nurturing a Positive Team Culture
- Aligning Team Values with Organizational Goals
- Fostering Collaboration and Innovation
Chapter 11: The Future of Management
- Emerging Trends in Management
- Evolving Roles of Leaders in Technology-Driven Environments
- Preparing for Future Challenges and Opportunities
Conclusion: The Road Ahead
- Summarizing Key Insights
- Final Thoughts on the Journey of Managing Humans
Thanks for reading!
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Regards,
Ro
