Books Recommended by Engineers & Developers
The books most recommended by engineers and developers, drawn from their real public recommendations.
26 experts · 24 most-recommended books · Updated on June 6, 2026
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Books engineers and developers recommend most
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are MadeJason Schreier
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and DreamsMatthew Walker PhD
Thinking, Fast and SlowDaniel Kahneman
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad OnesJames Clear
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A novelGabrielle Zevin
Engineering Management for the Rest of UsSarah Drasner
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing NonfictionWilliam ZinsserRecommended by Derek Sivers
Dreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole WorldRob SheffieldRecommended by Dave Winer
What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business CultureBen Horowitz, Henry Louis Gates Jr.Recommended by Jessie Frazelle
Super Human: The Bulletproof Plan to Age Backward and Maybe Even Live Forever (Bulletproof, 5)Dave AspreyRecommended by Preston Pysh
Just Kids: An AutobiographyPatti SmithRecommended by Jordan Mechner
Power Schmoozing: The New Etiquette for Social and Business SuccessTerri MandellRecommended by Derek Sivers
How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in RelationshipsLeil LowndesRecommended by Derek Sivers
Internetworking with TCP/IP Vol.1: Principles, Protocols, and Architecture (4th Edition)Douglas E. ComerRecommended by Vint Cerf
Investment Fables: Exposing the Myths of "Can't Miss" Investments StrategiesAswath DamodaranRecommended by Ram Bhupatiraju
C# 6 for Programmers (Deitel Developer)Paul Deitel, Harvey DeitelRecommended by Eric Lippert
Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code (2nd Edition) (Addison-Wesley Signature Series (Fowler))Martin FowlerRecommended by Steve Yegge
Ruby on Rails Tutorial (Addison-Wesley Professional Ruby Series)Michael HartlRecommended by Derek Sivers
The Architect's Apprentice: A NovelElif ShafakRecommended by Tracy Chou
The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain ScienceNorman DoidgeRecommended by Preston Pysh
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of TraumaBessel van der Kolk M.D.Recommended by Richard Schwartz
Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside ParsonsGeorge PendleRecommended by John Moffitt
The Cybersecurity Dilemma: Hacking, Trust and Fear Between NationsBen BuchananRecommended by Runa Sandvik
A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic JoyWilliam B. IrvineRecommended by Derek Sivers
The engineers and developers
James Wilson
Civil engineer loves to crunch data, don't follow if allergic to facts, of course biased & opinionated. Crushes? water, law, finance, policy, books & DSLR
2 book recommendations
RS
Richard Schwartz
Developer of the Internal Family Systems Model of psychotherapy
3 book recommendations
Cliff Bleszinski
Washed up "dudebro" game developer OR legendary creative genius...depends on who you ask. I love dogs.
2 book recommendations
DC
Dave Castro
Director and Programmer of the CrossFit Games
2 book recommendations
VC
Vint Cerf
Senior Vice President, MCI WorldCom
2 book recommendations
Derek Sivers
Author and Founder of CD Baby
28 book recommendations
Steve Yegge
Software Engineer and Author, Head of Engineering at Sourcegraph
8 book recommendations
Preston Pysh
Co-founder of The Investor's Podcast Network
31 book recommendations
FC
Francois Chollet
Creator of Keras
2 book recommendations
Kelly Vaughn
Developer, speaker, @LadybugPodcast co-host Not listed on Forbes 30 under 30 Owns @taproomagency @ShopifyPlus Partner @dxnielvaughn's favorite wife
4 book recommendations
Gene Kim
DevOps enthusiast. Coauthor: DevOps Handbook, The Phoenix Project & Accelerate. Tripwire founder, IT Ops/Security Researcher, Theory of Constraints Jonah.
4 book recommendations
JW
Jim Williams
Linear Technology Corp
3 book recommendations
More Engineers & Developers
- Ben BrodeChief Creative Officer at @SecondDinner. Previously Hearthstone Game Director @ Blizzard.
- Patrick MckenzieI work for the Internet, at @stripe, mostly on accelerating startups. Opinions here are my own.
- Ivor CumminsTechnical Manager /Team Leader, Biochemical Engineer, Complex Problem Solving Specialist, Technologist #Biochemistry, #Nutrition, #LCHF, #CAC, #CVD, #RootCause
- Tracy Chouexploring & advising & investing in startups. founding advisor @projectinclude @arenasummit. prev @pinterest @usds @quora @stanford. i turn coffee into code.
- John MoffittAstrophysicist, paleontologist, geologist, speaker, playwright, engineer, artist, outspoken liberal, grandfather & fan of graffiti & Waffle House. Resistance!
- Addy OsmaniEngineering Manager working on @GoogleChrome • Husband & Dad • Make the web fast • Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights, DevTools, Chrome UX Report • TeeJungle
- Ian ColdwaterKubernetes breaker, container escaper, public speaker, former teen mom. Chaotic good. Opinions my own
- Jessie Frazellebringing the soul back in computing. froot loop in a bowl of cheerios. learning something new every day. one half of @weirdtrickmafia
- Miguel De IcazaFun Stack Developer. Started Xamarin, Mono, Gnome with great friends. Working at Microsoft on .NET, Xamarin, Mono, VSMac. https://t.co/7OaoBd0lVJ: migueldeicaza
- Rami Ismail50% of @Vlambeer. ED of https://t.co/3enU4v3oGa. presskit() creator. Public speaker, consultant, supporter of initiatives for global gamedev. Traveler. He/Him. +
- Dona Sarkar🦹Leading Dev Advocacy @microsoft for️#PowerPlatform #FusionDevs 🦾Code-blooded beast @FastCompany Most Productive People Dyslexic but dealing
- Dave WinerI create new media types for fun. Developer of outliners, blogging tools, RSS aggregators, podcasting.
- Runa SandvikI hacked a sniper rifle once.
- Robert GallagerMassachusetts Institute of Technology