10 Software Engineering Books That Will Transform Your Career

Finding the right book is more than a happy coincidence. It is sheer perseverance and the hunger to learn more. In the modern-day, people resort to videos, blogs, and infographics as their primary source of information. However, there is no substitute for an engaging and insightful book. Even for software developers, the right book can improve their skillset and equip them with information not readily available on the internet. The question is, which software engineering books should developers read?

This article collates the must-read books for software engineers and tech enthusiasts.

1. Cracking the Coding Interview - G.L. McDowell

Practice is the most crucial aspect to focus on when learning the fundamentals of software engineering. Before applying for a job, go through as many problems as possible to get a general idea of executing basic techniques.

The recruiter may ask you to code for a specific task on the whiteboard during an interview. Before answering the questions asked during the interview, you must first unravel their layers. The book we're talking about has fantastic tips and methods to help you quickly understand the process.

Highlights:

book contains various interview questions ranging from essential to complex algorithms. The questions won't be from a textbook. Instead, they will be based on real-life scenarios and projects. You will be able to give your best during any coding interview after reading this software engineering book.

2. Clean Code - Robert C. Martin

The most important thing to remember when it comes to programming is how to write clean code. The development process is highly complicated, and you will only be able to master it with much practice.

To make everything work, the code you're writing must be clean. Otherwise, you will encounter numerous bugs, and the software you designed will collapse. focuses on helping you become a better programmer using tried and tested tips on writing clean code. The book also provides you with a large amount of written code that you can examine to identify any errors you may be making.

Highlights:

The primary goal is to comprehensively compare the critical factors determining whether a program is good or bad. The book is divided into three sections. The first part focuses on the pattern, practice, and principles.

The second section includes several case studies and practical examples, while the third section is a knowledge hub comprising “smells” and heuristics to help you identify a bad code. The book will also familiarise you with the necessary details to ensure you can transform poorly written code into a clean code.

3. Introduction to Algorithms - Thomas H. Cormen

Engineers praised previous versions of this reference guide for learning the fundamentals and getting started on the technical aspects. The book will cover topics like dynamic programming, edge-based flow, and multithreaded algorithms and will include a variety of methods and tips.

Highlights:

The USP of this software engineering book by is its meticulous and comprehensive approach to learning algorithm structures. Even when a wide range of algorithms is discussed in-depth, strives to simplify learning algorithms for beginners.

4. The Pragmatic Programmer - Andrew Hunt and Dave Thomas

If you are a software development geek, you've probably heard of and Dave Thomas' classic book, .

Many of the stories and terms in the book will likely be familiar to you. Hunt and Thomas invented code katas and rubber duck debugging. They also popularised concepts such as don't repeat yourself (DRY) and early agile development iterations.

Highlights:

is one of those reference books you keep on your shelf. You can refer to it several times throughout your career and learn something new. This software engineering book is for developers serious about becoming expert developers.

5. Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software - Erich Gamma

Four top-notch designers classify some succinct and straightforward solutions to commonly occurring design problems, capturing a wealth of experience in object-oriented software design.

These 23 previously undocumented patterns allow designers to create more flexible, elegant, and reusable designs without reinventing the wheel.

Highlights:

The authors define patterns and how they can aid object-oriented software development. They then systematically name, explain, evaluate, and catalog recurring designs in object-oriented systems. With as your guide, you'll know how these crucial patterns fit a part of the software development process and how to use them to solve your design problems quickly.

6. Clean Architecture - Robert C. Martin

When it comes to any aspect of software engineering, the most important thing to remember is that you should follow the universal rules no matter where you work.

, of course, is one of the best sellers that the author has already documented. The book concentrates on the factors to consider when applying for a job.

Readers will come across various issues in this software engineering book, with immediate solutions without unnecessary blabber. The author has discussed the fundamental principles to remember to achieve your desired position.

Highlights:

For data management, component separation, and other technical topics, the book will help you learn more and improve your skills. This software engineering book will better understand the aspects of coding that genuinely matter and the things you can skip without causing significant damage to the software you're working on.

7. Modern Software Engineering - David Farley

Continuous delivery pioneer explains how software professionals can think about their work more effectively, manage it more effectively, and genuinely improve the quality of their applications.

Farley illuminates the enduring principles at the heart of practical software development for programmers, managers, and technical leads of all experience levels in this software engineering book. He defines principles that help you improve the quality of your code. He categorizes the discipline into two main activities: learning and exploration and managing complexity.

Highlights:

Farley's ideas and techniques form a unified, scientific, foundational approach to solving real-world software development problems under realistic budget constraints. This broad, long-lasting, and pervasive approach to software engineering can help you solve problems you haven't yet encountered using current and future technologies. It gives you a direction towards what you do daily, allowing you to create better software faster, with more enjoyment and personal fulfillment.

8. Building Microservices: Designing Fine-Grained Systems - Sam Newman

Distributed systems have evolved from code-heavy monolithic applications to smaller, self-contained microservices. However, developing these systems comes with its own set of challenges.

This software engineering book takes a holistic view of the topics that system architects and administrators must consider when building, managing, and evolving microservice architectures, with plenty of examples and practical advice.

Highlights:

Microservices technology is rapidly evolving. Author gives you a solid understanding of the concepts before diving into current solutions for modeling, integrating, testing, deploying, and monitoring your autonomous services. Following a fictional company throughout the book, you'll learn how building a microservice architecture affects a single domain.

9. Agile Project Management with Kanban - Eric Brechner

This software engineering book will show you how to manage software projects effectively using Kanban, which provides predictability and simplicity.

Kanban assists you in delivering value to your customers more quickly than Waterfall, Scrum, or almost any other project management method.

Within Microsoft's Xbox engineering team, author pioneered Kanban.

Highlights:

Consider this software engineering book a "Kanban in a box": open it and read the quick start guide. Brechner reveals effective techniques for meeting deadlines, right-sizing teams, estimating, deploying components and services, adapting Scrum or traditional Waterfall, and more as you gain experience.

Practical advice, helpful checklists, and actionable lessons are available for every step of your journey.

10. Engineers Survival Guide - Merih Taze

This software engineering book helps with practical advice on navigating the various situations we all face throughout our careers as software engineers. It is direct, clear, and entertaining.

shares advice, tactics, and tricks after a decade of working at Facebook, Microsoft, and Snapchat.

Highlights:

The author provides candid and actionable advice while sharing his extensive experience working for several major tech companies. This software engineering book is a fantastic read if you want to improve your results, reflect on specific situations, or extract nuggets of information.

Special Mention:

Managing Humans: Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager - Michael Lopp (Rands)

draws on his varied and sometimes bizarre experiences as a manager at Apple, Pinterest, Palantir, Netscape, Symantec, Slack, and Borland to tell hilarious stories with profound lessons.

Many of the stories first appeared in rough form on Rands in Repose, Lopp's perennially popular blog. The Third Edition of includes a brand-new season of episodes from Lopp's ongoing adventures in Silicon Valley.

Lopp's direct-to-the-point style sets him apart from other management and leadership authors. He doesn't hold back and tells stories he shouldn't.

Highlights:

Whether you're a manager or simply curious about what a manager does all day, there's a story in this software engineering book that will speak to you. It will help you survive and prosper amid the general craziness of dysfunctional bright people chasing riches and power.

Final thoughts

The famous Roman scholar Cicero once said, "A room without books is like a body without a soul."

Don't rely only on Youtube, Reddit, and Github if you are a software developer. Learn the art of coding and its nuances instead of depending heavily on a code written on StackOverflow.

All the books mentioned in this article will help you gain insightful perspectives on the software engineering universe. Whether a trainee or a seasoned software professional, every book here will transform your coding abilities and help you become a better developer.

Further, if you wish to join a dynamic community of developers and learn the best software practices, sign up with Turing today. Turing is a deep jobs platform with over 1.5 million developers from 150+ countries, building their dream careers while working with world-class enterprises.