5 Books Every Software Development Manager Should Read

One of the best and oldest sources of technical knowledge is reading. There is nothing more valuable than reading the experiences of experienced professionals in the area we are interested in. In this case, software development project management. That is why, in this article, we have compiled 5 books that every software development manager should read at least once in their life:

The Mythical Man-Month by Frederick Brooks

If you are involved in software development and project management, you may have heard of this book or, at least, of its author; this reading is considered a classic regarding software development and project management. The thesis presented by the author, Frederick Brooks, on this occasion focuses on the idea that "adding human resources to a delayed project makes it take even longer", which is known as "Brooks' law" and is presented together with the second-system effect and the defense of prototyping. It is also good to note that the writer's observations are based on his experience working at the American multinational technology company IBM, where he managed the development of the OS/360 operating system.

The Manager’s Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change by Camille Fournier

In this practical guide, author Camille Fournier takes you through each stage of the transformation an engineer experiences when becoming a technical manager. Camille is a great example of someone who combines strong technical skills and professional accomplishments with human capital management; I consider her a great advisor to help you find the answers that university may not have helped you formulate. This book is ideal for new managers, mentors, or even leaders with years of experience who are looking for new advice and to update themselves on the techniques managers use today.

Peopleware by Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister

I believe this book can already be considered a software development classic. The structure of this book revolves around dozens of different tips and practices that every professional dedicated to management should understand. The language of this book is also very casual and fun, which makes it very easy to understand, making the reading experience smoother. In addition, many of the statements are backed by scientific research and statistics.

Team Geek: A Software Developer's Guide to Working Well with Others by Brian W. Fitzpatrick

In this entertaining text, Brian Fitzpatrick and Ben Collins-Sussman teach you about human capital, which is often undervalued. The valuable information the authors offer you in this book will help you learn to get along in a team and invest time in acquiring the "soft skills" of software development. The goal of this reading is to help us make a much greater impact with the same amount of effort, and they also cover basic patterns and anti-patterns that will help you relate to other people in the workplace. In 2013, it was a finalist in the Jolt awards and the jury included it among the 5 books every developer should read.

High Output Management by Andy Grove

The last book on the list is one of the most famous in Silicon Valley. It is a crash course for middle managers written by the former CEO of Intel, Andrew S. Grove. In a simple guide format, this book helps you better understand Grove's art and science of management, whose recommendations are equally appropriate for development managers as well as for sales managers, accountants, consultants, teachers, and other professions that involve working in a group. Today, this reading has been praised by leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg, John Doerr, and Marc Andreessen, among other figures in the technology industry.