Summary
These are the books I wish that I read upon accepting my first Engineering Manager position.
The Making of a Manager
What to Do When Everyone Looks to You
by Julie Zhuo, Design manager at Facebook
Recommended: 8 / 10
What a great book. Easy to read, practical, and inspirational. The Making of a Manager covers the basics of managing people from 1:1 meetings to interviewing and setting expectations.
Peopleware
Productive Projects and Teams
by Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister
Recommended: 10 / 10
Peopleware is a classic and for good reason. This book helps new managers avoid common mistakes that occur within software teams, mistakes that I’ve seen plenty of new engineering managers make (including myself at one point!).
Managing Humans
Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager
by Michael Lopp, Author of Rands in Repose
Recommended: 8 / 10
Managing Humans offers a somewhat snarky, but still valuable take on specific engineering management situations.
