22 Comments
Aug 31Liked by Ryan Peterman

I've started reading, On Writing Well. Holy crap did I basically do everything wrong hahahaha

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Great list. I've read all of those already and I can agree that they are great books. This is a personal opinion but I would definitely switch Clean Code for The Pragmatic Programmer. That one is one of my favorite books and a must read IMO.

Clean code is also great but I would see it as something that can be read after the initial list, since it can be controversial or cause less experienced developers to not fully understand it and misuse some of the good advice in there.

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Thanks for the great post!

I'd add a book on negotiation skills to the list: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss.

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Ah Clean Code that takes me back. That and Mythical Man Month were the most impactful reads

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Awesome set of book recommendations Ryan! I hadn't heard of "On Writing Well" but I'm gonna pick it up

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Some great recommendations here. Need to be a bit cautious with the clean code recommendation though. A lot of junior programmers read clean code and end up caring more about style and adhering blindly to Uncle Bobs principles than doing what they’re supposed to do: build great products. Over abstraction is a hell of a drug.

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I absolutely love "On Writing Well" by Willian Zinsser. It completely changed how I write and edit my texts. The biggest a-ha moment was "clear writing is clear thinking". 🤯 so simple, yet so profound!

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Great recommendation of books.

Would also add "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" by Stephen King

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A great collection of books Ryan.

I too have gifted my copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People to my son!

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In my opinion, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People', despite its status as a self-help classic, seems to advocate insincere and manipulative tactics. To me, this mirrors the European stereotype of Americans being overtly friendly but lacking authenticity. I can't help but wonder if the book's popularity has played a role in shaping this perception.

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