A Reading List for Software Developers

Books Recommendations From Software Engineering Bootcamp

When committing a career change, you commit to growth. This is particularly true in the ever-changing tech industry, where continual development and a growth mindset are core to success and culture. As fast as the industry moves, the developer community has responded by supporting one another to learn and grow to keep pace. You need only know to ask well-considered questions (it’s polite to put your best effort in if you’d like it returned!), and you will find those willing, eager, to point you in the right direction.

Since starting code school, I have been recommended books from instructors within my program, people working in the industry, and keen hobbyists. Here is that list.

Usability, Design, HTML & CSS

Refactoring UI — Adam Wathan & Steve Schoger.

Design for Hackers: Reverse-Engineering Beauty — David Kadavy.

Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web and Mobile Usability by Steven Krug.

HTML & CSS: Design and Build Websites — Jon Duckett.

JavaScript

Functional JavaScript: Introducing Functional Programming with Underscore.js — Michael Fogus.

Eloquent JavaScript — Marijn Haverbeke.

Python

Learn Python the Hard Way: A Very Simple Introduction to the Terrifyingly Beautiful World of Computers and Code — Zed Shaw.

Automate the Boring Stuff with Python: Practical Programming for Total Beginners — Al Sweigart.

Technology & Society

Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism by Safiya Umoja Noble.

Personal Development & Job Search

Cracking the Code Interview: 189 Programming Questions and Solutions — Gayle L McDowell.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success — Carol S. Dweck.

Now, it’s true what they say: Bootcamp is intense. So, most of the books listed are stacking up on my “To Read” pile. However, many have already proved useful references for specific problems I’ve encountered along my code school journey. For example, Refractory UI is the most practical guide to introduce design principles into your applications ASAP.

I look forward to digging further into this reading list and collecting more recommendations as my journey continues. So, do you have any reading suggestions to pay forward?