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