Great books I've read.

Great books about leadership, management, software engineering and other complementary topics that I've read and recommend.

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

David Epstein

Range speaks to the value of a generalist mindset in complex and messy fields(Like startups), trumping specialization. Provocative, rigorous, and engrossing, Range makes a compelling case for actively cultivating inefficiency. Failing a test is highlighted as the best way to learn, and frequent quitters often end up with the most fulfilling careers. The most impactful inventors are those who cross domains rather than deepening their knowledge in a single area. It’s a real eye-opener for career growth and organizational design.

Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making

Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making

Tony Fadell

Build is a standout book for creators and innovators. It challenges traditional views on success, advocating for resilience, creativity, and authenticity in our projects. This guide is more than a manual; it's a deep dive into making impactful work that lasts. It's changed how I approach my creations, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to make something truly significant.

Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams

Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams

Tom DeMarco, Timothy Lister

Peopleware is an oldie, but essential read for engineering managers who want to get the human side of software development right. It’s all about creating a productive environment and understanding that it's the people who make projects succeed. Also it will probably make you realize how your workspace is not optimized for productivity.

Scaling People

Scaling People

Claire Hughes Johnson

Scaling People is approachable, entertaining, and exceptionally useful, with lots of heart and humor. Claire leverages her years of unparalleled experience to provide a deeply helpful resource to read and revisit again and again.

Turn the Ship Around

Turn the Ship Around

L. David Marquet

This book is a game-changer for managers who want to step up their leadership game. It's about giving more control to your team and seeing them shine.

Managing Humans

Managing Humans

Michael Lopp

Managing Humans is a no-BS guide to navigating the weird world of engineering management. It's like having a coffee chat with a mentor who's seen it all.

Thinking in Systems

Thinking in Systems

Donella H. Meadows

Thinking in Systems is great read for anyone looking to decompose problems and better thinking. Learning how to think in systems is now part of change-agent literacy. And this is the best book of its kind

Principles of Product Development Flow

Principles of Product Development Flow

Donald G. Reinertsen

If you're struggling with product development and team workflow, this is your go-to book. It's packed with insights to make your process smoother and less of a headache.

Show Your Work

Show Your Work

Austin Kleon

This book is all about sharing what you do and how you do it. It's perfect for engineering managers who want to build a transparent and collaborative culture in their team.

Let My People Go Surfing

Let My People Go Surfing

Yvon Chouinard

A cool read for managers who want to blend work and play the right way. It’s about creating a workplace where people are free to be themselves and do great work.

Zen in the Art of Archery

Zen in the Art of Archery

Eugen Herrigel

This book isn’t just about archery; it’s about mastering any skill. A great metaphorical read for engineering managers focusing on skill development and mindfulness.

The Making of a Manager

The Making of a Manager

Julie Zhuo

Perfect for new managers. It’s like a roadmap to finding your way in the chaos of managing people for the first time.

Radical Candor

Radical Candor

Kim Scott

Radical Candor is all about being a kickass boss without losing your humanity. It's great for engineering managers who want to get the best out of their team without turning into a robot.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Patrick Lencioni

This book is a lifesaver if you're dealing with team issues. It breaks down common problems and gives practical solutions.

Domain Driven Design

Domain Driven Design

Eric Evans

A bit technical but a must-read for engineering managers who want to dive deep into the complexities of software design and development.

The Hard Things About Hard Things

The Hard Things About Hard Things

Ben Horowitz

No sugar-coating here, just real talk about the tough parts of being a manager. It’s full of stories and advice that are gold for any engineering leader.

Accelerate

Accelerate

Nicole Forsgren, Jez Humble, Gene Kim

If you lead platform teams or you want to speed things up without burning out their team. It’s full of research-backed insights on building high-performing tech organizations.

Drive

Drive

Daniel H. Pink

Drive dives into what really motivates us at work. It’s a great read if you’re looking to inspire and motivate your engineering team in more meaningful ways.

Deep Work

Deep Work

Cal Newport

Perfect for managers and teams looking to cut through the noise and focus on what matters. This book is all about getting into the zone and doing great work.

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

Jocko Willink, Leif Babin

This one's about leadership lessons from Navy SEALs. It’s a tough-love kind of book that’s perfect for engineering managers who want to take their leadership skills to the next level.

Debugging Teams

Debugging Teams

Brian W. Fitzpatrick, Ben Collins-Sussman

Just like debugging code, this book is about fixing team problems. Great for engineering managers who want practical tips on making their teams work better together.

High Output Manager

High Output Manager

Andrew S. Grove

A classic read that’s still super relevant. It’s about getting more out of your team without working them to the bone.

Work Rules

Work Rules

Laszlo Bock

This book gives you a peek inside Google’s management style. It’s packed with insights on building a creative and satisfied team.

Team Topologies

Team Topologies

Matthew Skelton, Manuel Pais

A must-read for engineering managers looking to design effective team structures. It’s about creating teams that can deliver faster and more reliably.

Working Backwards

Working Backwards

Colin Bryar, Bill Carr

Inspired by Amazon’s approach, this book is about working from the customer back to the product. It's great for managers who want to build customer-centric products and teams.