Books That Have Shaped My Career
It’s Read Across America Week 2025—a time dedicated to promoting reading among students. As a lifelong learner, I believe it’s essential to continue reading throughout your career. Reading is one of the best ways to expand your knowledge, refine your skills, and improve yourself.
Over the years, I’ve come across several books that have profoundly influenced my thinking, work habits, and approach to software development. Some have helped me refine my technical skills, while others have shaped my problem-solving, communication, and continuous learning mindset.
Here’s a list of books that have had the biggest impact on my career, grouped by category.
Affiliate Disclosure
Chris Hansen Tech is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Software Development and Craftsmanship
Being a self-taught developer, I sought out resources to ensure I wasn’t just writing spaghetti code that worked but was difficult to maintain. These books have been invaluable in that journey.
Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship – Robert C. Martin
A must-read for any software developer, this book dives deep into writing maintainable, readable, and efficient code. Uncle Bob’s principles on naming, functions, and code structure have reshaped how I approach development.
The Clean Coder: A Code of Conduct for Professional Programmers – Robert C. Martin
While Clean Code focuses on writing good code, The Clean Coder emphasizes professionalism in software development. It covers topics such as learning to say “no” when necessary, managing time effectively, and handling deadlines with integrity. Many new developers think programming is just about writing code, but soft skills are equally important.
Code Complete 2: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction – Steve McConnell
This comprehensive guide to writing high-quality software covers everything from naming conventions to debugging techniques. Packed with practical advice and real-world examples, it’s an invaluable resource for elevating coding skills beyond the basics.
The Pragmatic Programmer: Your Journey to Mastery – Andrew Hunt and David Thomas
A must-read for developers, this book provides practical insights on coding, debugging, automation, and continuous learning. It encourages adaptability, craftsmanship, and taking ownership of your work.
Software Engineering and Project Management
Software Requirements – Karl Wiegers and Joy Beatty
As a tech lead, I spend more time analyzing and writing specifications than coding. Understanding and managing software requirements is crucial in this role. This book provides a structured approach to gathering, analyzing, and documenting requirements, helping developers avoid common pitfalls.
The Imposter’s Handbook – Rob Conery
A fantastic resource for self-taught developers and anyone experiencing imposter syndrome in the industry. It covers computer science fundamentals—from algorithms to encryption—in an accessible and engaging way. Many self-taught developers feel imposter syndrome, yet some of the best engineers I’ve worked with are self-taught. I believe it’s because they genuinely love technology, rather than just picking a degree for job security.
The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win – Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, George Spafford
Told as a novel, this book introduces DevOps principles and highlights the importance of collaboration in IT organizations. It’s surprising how many software companies still don’t follow even the most basic DevOps practices.
Cognitive and Behavioral Science
Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
A fascinating exploration of how our brains process information. The book explains two thinking systems—fast, intuitive thinking and slow, logical reasoning—and how they influence decision-making. A must-read for developers working on problem-solving and debugging.
Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping – Paco Underhill
Having worked in the point-of-sale industry for most of my career, this book helped me understand the psychology of shopping. It explores consumer behavior and decision-making, which is incredibly useful for understanding user experience (UX) and how people interact with technology.
Productivity and Personal Development
The first two books in this section significantly improved my reading speed and learning efficiency.
Limitless – Jim Kwik
A book about unlocking the full potential of your brain, improving memory, and learning more effectively. I always felt like a slow reader, but Jim’s tips helped me improve both my reading speed and comprehension.
How to Read a Book – Charles Van Doren and Mortimer J. Adler
Learning how to read effectively might seem odd, but this book teaches techniques for deep reading and comprehension. In an industry where continuous learning is crucial, extracting the most value from books and combining knowledge from multiple sources is essential. I use Obsidian for all my note-taking while learning.
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big – Scott Adams
As a longtime Dilbert fan, I picked up this book by Scott Adams. It focuses on long-term success strategies, emphasizing the importance of systems over goals. It’s a great read for anyone looking to optimize their career path with small, repeatable improvements.
The Daily Stoic – Ryan Holiday
Developers often deal with high-pressure situations, making the ability to stay calm and composed a valuable skill. Stoic philosophy offers timeless wisdom for handling stress, decision-making, and professional challenges. This book provides daily meditations that cultivate resilience and focus. I’m currently re-reading it in 2025, starting my workday with each day’s passage.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World – Cal Newport
As a developer and remote worker since 2017, the ability to focus deeply without distractions is crucial. This book provides strategies for achieving meaningful, high-quality work by minimizing distractions and improving concentration.
Writing and Communication
Grammar Girl’s Punctuation 911: Your Guide to Writing It Right – Mignon Fogarty
I struggled with grammar in high school, so as an adult, I sought resources to improve my writing. Grammar Girl’s blog was a huge help. This book is a quick and easy reference for improving writing clarity, grammar, and punctuation—skills every developer needs for documentation, emails, and presentations.
Microsoft Manual of Style
A must-have for writing consistent and professional technical documentation. It’s especially valuable for developers working on user guides, help files, and product documentation. I frequently reference this book when writing specifications and technical notes.
Final Thoughts
Reading these books has helped me refine my skills, improve my thinking, and navigate my career more effectively. Whether you want to write better code, communicate more clearly, or develop a growth mindset, there’s something on this list for you.
What books have had the biggest impact on your career? Let me know in the comments!