Reading List

Current

  • JavaScript: The Definitive Guide – Programming
  • Beautiful Code – Software Development
  • The E-Myth Contractor – Business
  • Micro-ISV – Business
  • Book Yourself Solid – Business
  • Revelation Space – Fiction

Next

  • Adding Ajax – Programming
  • Introduction to Algorithms – Programming
  • The Design of Everyday Things – Business
  • Good to Great – Business
  • Growing a Business – Business
  • How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling – Business

Completed

  • Addison-Wesley Professional Ruby Series Writing Efficient Ruby Code – Programming
  • Ajax on Rails – Programming
  • Agile Web Development With Rails v2 – Programming
  • Deploying Rails Applications – Programming
  • The Rails Way – Programming
  • Practices of an Agile Developer – Software Development
  • Extreme Programming Pocket Reference – Software Development
  • The Pragmatic Programmer – Software Development
  • The Dip – Business
  • The Business of Software – Business
  • How to be a Freelance Rockstar – Business
  • Million Dollar Consulting – Business
  • The 10 Day MBA – Business
  • The IT Consultant – Business
  • E-Myth – Business
  • Getting Started in Consulting – Business
  • Get Clients Now – Business
  • A Writer’s Coach – Writing

I try to read 3-4 books at a time. I’ve found that reading different subjects let me retain them better. I think it’s because I can take a break from one type and let its ideas sink in deeper. My main subjects are:

  1. Programming – nitty gritty details of programming. These are read to improve my programming skills in the short term.

    Examples: Ruby Cookbook, Programming Ruby, and PHP Phrasebook

  2. Software Development – larger issue of creating software. These are more along the lines of looking at software as a process and how to manage and improve it. These lessons will slowly improve my overall development skills over time, no matter what direction software heads in.

    Examples: Pragmatic Programmer, The Art of Project Management, and Refactoring.

  3. Business – dealing with running and starting a small business.

    Examples: Book Yourself Solid, the 10 Day MBA.

  4. Personal Development – improving myself and how I work and play.

    Examples: Getting Things Done, The Now Habit.

  5. Fiction – allows me to enjoy an imaginative story about people. I also find that after reading a SciFi novel, I really want to write software for NASA.

    Examples: Hitchhikers Guide, Foundation Series, Ringworld.