This year i aim to read at least 10-15 books. This is a big goal for me but i aim to read one book each month to make it happen. Wish me luck ☘️

I will also try to add summary of the book so that it is easier for reader to decide whether to commit reading the book or just read the key takeaways.

📌 Books by timeline

2024

  • “Stolen Time” by Danielle Rollins - Dec - ( currently reading )

    This book is abit different than my normal readings. However falls on the genere of sci-fi which i enjoy reading. Time travel has always been avery fascinating subject to me. This book dwells in the same. If love Netflix series Dark then you will love it too.

  • “The Staff Engineer’s Path” by Tanya Reilly - Nov

    The path to being a staff engineer is filled with hard work. One cannot just become staff engineer. With the role you are essentially taking alot of tasks. Firstly to think big. Now the problem you are solving is not related to a small ticket, it is a business issue, higher impact. One’s path to become a staff engineer is filled with various factors.

  • “Mom Test” by Rob Fitzpatrick - Sept

    This books talks about how talk with your potential custom and see if the idea for business is a good idea when everyone is lying to you. When your friends and family member do not want to heart your feeling they will give biased answer. This books tells you to avoid generic feedback, especially from family and friend. Good book for people who want to know how to seek honest feedback.

  • “Start small, Stay small” by Rob Walling - Aug

    As the name suggest, this book talks about how one should start working on building something. Do not try to build a lamborghini to go from point A to B. Start with a skateboard and then upgrade to cycle, then to a bike and then to a car.

  • “The Pragmatic programmer” by David Thomas - Jul

    This book is technical, might write a blog about it someday. hopefully…

  • “Foundation of Scalable Systems” by Ian Gorton - Feb

  • “Software Architecture: The hard parts” by Neal Ford, et. al. - Jul

    Highly technical but a good book. P.S: Do not choose this to study for a light reading.

2023

  • “80/20 Principle” by Richard Koch - Aug

    The summary of the book is that 80% of the outcomes are the result of 20% of the key things that we do and the goal of 80/20 is to help us idenfity that 20% of the work that are productive and make them a priority ( emphasis of making them a priority )

  • “Clean Code” by Robert C. Matrin - May

    This book focuses serving as a guide for software developers who are aiming to write high-quality, maintainable code. It focuses on importance of writing meaningful names, write good readable functions,minimal comments, consistent formatting and effective error handling. It encourages encapsulating data and exposing behaviour. It also advocates testing, emphasizing automation and clatiry in test cases. By adhering to these principles, developers can create code that is not only functional but also readable, adaptable, and easily maintained over time.

  • “Site Reliability Engineering” by Betsy beyer, et. al. - May

  • “How to lead when you’re not in charge” by Clay Scroggins - May

    1. The book provides practical advice and actionable strategies for individuals who want to make a positive impact in their workplace or community, regardless of their title or position.

    2. Author suggests that anyone can be a leader, regardless of their formal authority, by cultivating certain traits such as initiative, influence, and self-awareness.

    3. He provides mentions that leader are created not born. Author suggests focusing on the big picture, building a support network, and developing a growth mindset.

    4. The book provides practical strategies and actionable advice that can be applied to a wide range of situations, and is written in an accessible and engaging style.

    In general, the book is commendable, but I found the excessive references to God and His creations and the frequent mentioning of Him to be bothersome. Although we are appreciative of God, these accomplishments are the result of our own efforts. I believe that we and ourself alone are responsible for improving ourselves

  • “7 Habits of Highly effective people” by Stephen R Covey - Apr

    This is a life changing book. It has so much to teach us, and i would read this book again if i get some free time. Here is a summary of the seven habits:

    Be Proactive: Take responsibility for your own life. Instead of being reactive to external circumstances, choose to act based on your values and principles. This habit emphasizes self-awareness, initiative, and the power of choice.

    Begin with the End in Mind: Start with a clear vision of what you want to achieve in the long run. Define your goals and values before you start any endeavor. This habit encourages you to set clear objectives and align your actions with your ultimate purpose.

    Put First Things First: Prioritize tasks based on their importance rather than their urgency. Focus on activities that align with your goals and values. This habit promotes time management and effective planning.

    Think Win-Win: Seek mutually beneficial solutions in your interactions with others. Embrace a mindset of cooperation and collaboration, aiming for outcomes that satisfy all parties involved.

    Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood: Practice empathetic listening. Try to truly understand the perspectives and needs of others before expressing your own. Effective communication starts with genuine understanding.

    Synergize: Create synergies by working together to achieve more than what individuals can accomplish alone. Leverage the strengths and talents of a group to produce innovative and superior outcomes.

    Sharpen the Saw: Continuously invest in your personal and professional growth. Take care of your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This habit emphasizes self-renewal and lifelong learning.

    These habits form a framework for personal effectiveness, guiding individuals towards a balanced and purposeful life. Covey suggests that by adopting these habits, one can become more proactive, focused, and capable of achieving meaningful and lasting success in both personal and professional spheres.

  • “Out of the maze” by Spencer Johnson - Mar

    1. It’s you and only you who can help you.
    2. Old belief do not lead to new cheese
    3. You can achieve a lot you can think if you start believing in yourself
    4. Your old belief can hold you a prisoner in your own mind, stopping yourself from achieving great things.
    5. There are some beliefs which can hold you back, and some beliefs which can lift you up. Try and test them and see which one is which, and have courage to know the difference.
    6. You can change your old belief. You can choose a new belief.
    7. You don’t have to believe everything you think. Belief is not constant, as time changes, you should change to adopt.
    8. Your yesterdays old belief might not work today. You can choose to adopt a new belief. Changing your perspective and viewpoint will not change who you are.
    9. There are no limit to what you can believe. You can do a lot more than you can think of.
    10. You cannot launch a new quest with old baggage. Let go of things what was not working.
    11. Sometime even if everyone believes on same thing, doesn’t mean its true.
    12. Always ask yourself when considering a belief “Does it lift you up or hold you down” ?

  • “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson - Mar

    The story revolves around four characters in a maze, two mice named Sniff and Scurry, and two little people named Hem and Haw, all in search of cheese, which represents their goals and desires. When they discover a steady supply of cheese at Cheese Station C, they become complacent. However, when the cheese suddenly disappears, Sniff and Scurry immediately set out to find new cheese, embracing change with adaptability. On the other hand, Hem and Haw resist the change, clinging to the hope that the old cheese will return. Eventually, Haw overcomes his fear and embarks on a journey to find new cheese, adopting a more flexible and open-minded approach. The book emphasizes the importance of accepting change, letting go of fear, and being proactive in seeking new opportunities, encouraging readers to embrace change rather than resist it.

  • “Master Mentors” by Scott Jefferey Miller - Mar

    This book offers life long lessons from 30 different mentors who share their advices and practical strategies. Each story or advise from individual author is very insightful and interesting to read.

  • “Microservice from day one” by Cloves Carneiro Jr, Tim Schmelmer - Feb

    Too technical. Might write a blog about this someday :P

  • “Getting Real” by 37Signals - Jan

    Build Less: Focus on what’s truly essential and avoid feature bloat. Keep the product simple and lean.

    Solve Real Problems: Address actual pain points and create solutions that genuinely benefit users.

    Be Data-Driven, Not Feature-Driven: Base decisions on user feedback and actual usage data rather than a checklist of features.

    Stay Lean and Agile: Emphasize rapid development, quick iterations, and responsiveness to change.

    Prioritize User Experience: Place a strong emphasis on creating intuitive and user-friendly interfaces.

    Say No to Good Ideas: Avoid being swayed by every potential feature or enhancement. Stay focused on the core value proposition.

    Focus on the Core: Concentrate on the essential functions that define your product, rather than trying to cater to every possible need.

    Release, Iterate, Repeat: Launch early and often, and then refine based on user feedback.

    Simplify the Process: Streamline decision-making and avoid unnecessary bureaucracy.

  • “Engineers survival guide” by Merlin Taze - Jan

  • “Elon Musk” - Jan

  • “REST API Design rulebook” by Mark Masse - Dec / jan

    This book is too technical, i have summarized the book in a blog post here: https://99devops.com/essential-guide-to-designing-an-effective-rest-api

2022

2021

This book focuses on an idea of embracing life’s struggles and focusing on what truly matters. The book advocates for a more authentic and balanced approach to living a meaningful life.