This is my ultimate list of recommended readings that has undeniably given me some advantage in my career. Generally speaking, each book as triggered a “light-bulb” moment that have given me a subtle new perspective or reinforced an existing one. Accordingly, I’ve attempted to organize them into broad categories for my own reference and hopefully your benefit as well. This list is a constant work in progress. I will refine it constantly. I’ve also provided more detailed and notes on each book here.

Building Software

  • Clean Code. A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship, by Robert C. Martin
  • Cracking the Coding Interview, by Gayle Laakmann McDowell
  • My Job Went to India, by Chad Fowler
  • Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture, by Martin Fowler
  • Practices of an Agile Developer, By Venkat Subramaniam & Andy Hunt
  • The Best Software Writing, by Joel Spolsky
  • The Complete Software Developer’s Career Guide, by John Sonmez
  • The Pragmatic Programmer, by Andrew Hunt & David Thomas

Business Creation/Entrepreneurship

  • Failing Fast? The 10 Secrets to Succeed Faster, by Luv Tulsidas
  • Inspired, by Marty Cagan
  • The Lean Startup, by Eric Ries
  • Start with Why, by Simon Sinek

Communication & Influence

  • Emotional Intelligence 2.0, by Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves
  • How to Communicate with Confidence, Dr. Mike Bechtle
  • How to Listen with Intention, by Patrick King
  • Influence Science and Practice, by Robert B. Cialdini
  • On Writing Well, by William Zinsser
  • Pitch Anything, by Oren Klaff
  • Presence, by Amy Cuddy
  • Set Your Voice Free, by Roger Love
  • What Every Body is Saying, by Joe Navarro

Continuous Improvement / Lean Thinking

  • 2 Second Lean, by Paul Akers
  • The Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy
  • The Goal, Eliyahu M. Goldratt
  • The Spirit of Kaizen, by Robert Maurer
  • The Toyota Way, by Jeffrey Liker

Leadership

  • How Successful People Lead, by John C. Maxwell
  • How Successful People Think, by John C. Maxwell
  • How to Win Friends & Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
  • Measure What Matters, by John Doerr and Larry Page
  • Nine Lies About Work, by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall
  • Radical Candor, by Kim Scott
  • Turn the Ship Around!, by David Marquet
  • The Art of Clear Thinking, by Hasard Lee
  • The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni
  • The Tyranny of Metrics, by Jerry Z. Muller
  • Tribes, by Seth Godin

Learning & Productivity & Personal Development

  • 10 Days to Faster Reading, by Abby Marks Beale
  • Atomic Habits, by James Clear
  • Art & Fear, by David Bayles & Ted Orland
  • Brain Rules, by John J. Medina
  • Grit, by Angela Duckworth
  • Mindset, by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.
  • Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey
  • The 80/20 Principle, by Richard Koch
  • The Brain that Changes Itself, by Norman Doidge, M.D.
  • The Dip, by Seth Godin
  • The First 20 Hours, by Josh Kaufman
  • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, by Mark Manson

Personal Finance

  • Everyday Millionaires, by Chris Hogan
  • Stop Acting Rich, by Thomas Stanley
  • The Millionaire Next Door, by Thomas J. Stanley
  • The Millionaire Mind, by Thomas J. Stanley
  • Thou Shall Prosper, by Rabbi Daniel Lapin