10 Must-read Engineering Management Books by non-EMs
Source: https://newsletter.manager.dev/p/10-must-reads-for-engineering-leaders
| Title | Author(s) | Year | Key Idea | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turn the Ship Around | L. David Marquet | 2013 | Build a team that doesn’t depend on you; empower decision-making. |
| 2 | No Rules Rules | Erin Meyer & Reed Hastings | 2020 | Remove controls and bureaucracy through high talent, candor, and trust. |
| 3 | Extreme Ownership | Jocko Willink & Leif Babin | 2015 | Take full responsibility; YOU are the organization. |
| 4 | High Output Management | Andy Grove | 1983 | Focus on leader leverage to maximize team output. |
| 5 | From Worst to First | Gordon M. Bethune & Scott Huler | 1998 | Connect your team to the business to improve results. |
| 6 | The Making of a Manager | Julie Zhuo | 2019 | Understand how you are measured as a manager and focus on team health. |
| 7 | The Manager’s Path | Camille Fournier | 2017 | Understand the skill of being managed effectively. |
| 8 | The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team | Patrick Lencioni | 2002 | Learn how to build a great team by overcoming common dysfunctions. |
| 9 | The Ride of a Lifetime | Robert Iger | 2019 | Recognize the advantages of persevering through tough times. |
| 10 | Dare to Lead | Brené Brown | 2018 | Embrace vulnerability as a strength in the workplace. |
7 Must-read Engineering Management books by EMs
Source: https://newsletter.manager.dev/p/the-7-best-engineering-management
| Title | Author(s) | Year | Goodreads Rating | Ideal Audience | Key Lesson | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Become an Effective Software Engineering Manager | James Stanier | 2020 | 4.4 | First-level Engineering Managers | Understand and leverage the Zone of Proximal Development to help engineers grow their skills and careers. |
| 2 | Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams | Tom DeMarco & Timothy Lister | 1987 | 4.1 | Experienced hands-on EMs | Recognize and foster the conditions for a “jelled team” – a highly cohesive and productive group that enjoys their work and has low turnover. |
| 3 | Leading Snowflakes: The New Engineering Manager’s Handbook | Oren Ellenbogen | 2013 | 3.9 | Newly promoted EMs | Optimize for business learning by ensuring the team’s work aligns with business goals and making trade-offs visible, utilizing frameworks like Pirate Metrics (AARRR). |
| 4 | An Elegant Puzzle: Systems of Engineering Management | Will Larson | 2019 | 4.1 | Experienced managers (also valuable for beginners) | Be aware of common pitfalls for engineering managers, such as only managing up or down, neglecting relationships, or defining their role too narrowly. |
| 5 | The Manager’s Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change | Camille Fournier | 2017 | 4.3 | Early-career managers (and aspiring ones) | Understand the importance of being actively managed – expect regular one-on-ones, prepare agendas, give your manager a break, and choose your manager wisely. |
| 6 | The Art of Leadership: Small Things, Done Well | Michael Lopp | 2020 | 4.2 | All levels | Embrace delegation, even when it feels like it might result in a less-than-perfect outcome initially, as it builds trust and fosters growth within the team. |
| 7 | Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change | Kent Beck & Cynthia Andres | 1999 | 4.1 | Technical leaders (managers and ICs) | Understand and apply the values, principles, and practices of Extreme Programming to produce higher-quality software more productively. Recognize the importance of bridging the gap between values and situated practices with domain-specific principles. |