One of my goals this year was to read more. I am not very disciplined in how I read. I may skip around the book or not finish it. Sometimes the first chapter is the best one. Sometimes the book is a disappointment and I can use my time better to just move on to the next one on my reading list.
On the other hand, some books are worth reading twice.
I surveyed my bookshelves for books I want to read again. Perhaps you will find something interesting on this list. The topics include leadership, communication, and software development.
These are all Amazon affiliate links. I do shop there a lot and may earn money if you purchase anything through these links. You may also find these books at your local library or local bookstore.
Designing Data-Intensive Applications
by Martin Kleppmann
Published April, 2017
I bought this book in 2017 when it was first released. Recently, I kept seeing it mentioned in forums around the web. Then I read a quote about how your data will outlive your code, and had an aha moment. Then I started looking at this book again. It has an impressive amount of information and while thinking about this blog post, I started reading it, and sure enough, it’s worth a second read. It covers a range of information. You’ll learn about the different ways databases store data and the challenges of distributed systems.
I’ve gained a lot of experience in software development since 2017. I am now more than 5 years into my career at Alley where I’m a software developer and product owner. Now as I read this book, I am able to make new connections between the book’s content and projects I’ve worked on or dreamed about building. For instance, I now understand the difference between a data warehouse and a database.
The Art of Leadership: Small Things, Done Well
by Michael Loop
Published June, 2020
I bought a half dozen books on leadership recently, and this is the book that resonated with me the most. It has real and practical insights. As I read it, I kept thinking, “WOW! The challenges I face are not unique.” This book is full of wisdom. I read most of this book very fast because it resonated with me so much. I want to return to this book and slow down. I am sure I will find more that I can apply to my life.
Grokking Algorithms: An illustrated guide for programmers and other curious people
by Aditya Bhargava
Published May, 2016
At one point, this book was on the “most gifted” book list for technology books. It is full of drawings. It is a good beginner book for people who want to learn about the most common algorithms. I also have another algorithms book that has no illustrations and 5x the pages. This is the one I may return to for fun and insights.
I remember having an insight while reading this book. I’m thinking that I may gain some others if I return to it now.
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It
by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz
Published May, 2016
I remember liking this book a lot when I read it, but I don’t remember the content. Time to re-read it. This book was suggested to me when I asked for book recommendations on communication. It has 20,000 reviews on Amazon with a glowing 5 stars.
Data Science of Business: What you need to know about Data Mining and Data-Analytic Thinking
by Foster Provost and Tom Fawcett
September, 2013
Most business don’t need artificial intelligence (AI). Sure, there is a place for AI, but most businesses could benefit from cleaning and analyzing their data, applying statistics, and running predictive analysis.
This is a non-technical book that is a relatively easy read, and packed full of information. Describing a book as an easy read and in-depth may sound like an oxymoron, but it’s not in this case. However, I actually never read this book to completion, so that’s my main reason for wanting to return to it. I still got a lot of value out of the first half of the book when I read it several years ago.
I once considered becoming a data scientist instead of a software developer. If you are also curious about data science, I’d recommend this book as a general overview of real world applications.
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
by Robert B Cialdini PhD
2021 new and expanded edition
This is the only book on this list that is a current bestseller. Over 5 million copies sold! It’s #1 in Marketing and Consumer Behavior right now.
If you have a background in psychology, some of the concepts in this book may not be new to you. However, the stories that exemplify the concepts are quite amazing. I started re-reading this book as a form of procrastination in writing this blog post. I was not let down. I found myself re-telling the stories at the dinner table.