Top Agile and personal development books in 2024
Like in any other topic, reading keeps you updated and feeds into your ever-growing interest for a given subject. Agile is no different. New ideas, changes of mindset, new experiences that you can gain access too. All of these are reasons to want to keep reading and feed your brain new information that you can use at a later point in time, when you most need it.
Therefore, here are a few books that are worth your time to keep you up to speed with the two topics I’m a firm believer in: Agile and personal development.
Coaching agile teams, by Lyssa Adkins
This practical guide explores what it takes to be a successful agile coach, covering all the key roles you need to master: teacher, mentor, problem solver, conflict navigator, and performance coach. It provides clear advice on creating an environment where high-performance, self-organized teams can thrive and offers strategies to move teams from simple cooperation to full collaboration.
The book emphasizes the importance of evolving your leadership style as your team changes, and it helps you stay engaged without overshadowing your team’s growth. It also teaches you how to recognize and handle failure, recovery, and success in your coaching journey.
Beyond team dynamics, this book is a great tool for personal development. It encourages self-reflection and growth, helping you become a better leader and coach. Whether you’re an agile coach, leader, ScrumMaster, or team member, this book will support your journey to becoming a skilled professional who helps others excel.
Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland
If you want to understand the philosophy behind Scrum rather than just the mechanics, The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time is a great read. This book delves into the 'why' behind Scrum, offering extensive background information to deepen your understanding of its principles.
While it’s not a step-by-step guide for implementing Scrum, it serves as an excellent starting point for those who want to appreciate the rationale behind the framework. The book is filled with success stories, although it would have been beneficial to explore some failures for a more balanced perspective.
For those seeking practical guidance on Scrum, other titles like Essential Scrum and Scrum Mastery: From Good to Great Servant Leadership are recommended. This book is particularly useful for convincing a team to adopt Scrum, especially if you already have a basic understanding of its concepts. Though the author's self-promotion can be a bit much at times, the book is short and a worthwhile read.
The laws of human nature by Robert Greene
The Laws of Human Nature is an excellent primer on the psychological tendencies that often derail our rational goals. Robert Greene identifies 18 "laws," using historical and biographical sketches to illustrate each one. He provides strategies to turn these often self-destructive tendencies into advantages. The book is rich with examples, drawing on a wide range of sources, including ancient Greece, and emphasizes the importance of rationality.
Some chapters tend to drag with repetitive points, making the book feel longer than necessary. It can also be challenging to discern which ideas are based on solid science and research, as this isn’t always clear. While some chapters, like those on narcissism, are well-supported by evidence, others, such as the discussion on Milton Erickson's recovery from polio, are more dubious and overstate the mind-body connection beyond what the literature supports.
On another note, I feel like the author tries to categorize the human behavior into a few types, which i find wrong and dangerous. He tries, in some occasions, to teach the reader how to read into the micro-expressions of a person, into their behavior, and draw conclusions from there. Where in my opinion, all this is oversimplified and a person needs to know the base behavior of a person at least and to have far more in depth knowledge about the subject in order to draw conclusions that he/she can use. Otherwise, all the information Robert Greene is putting on the table is dangerously insufficient and can lead the reader to draw faulty conclusions that can do more harm than good.
Overall, The Laws of Human Nature is well-received for its in-depth exploration of human psychology, though some readers on Goodreads note the need for a more critical approach to the scientific validity of Greene’s claims. Despite its length, it’s a valuable read for those interested in understanding and leveraging human behavior.
Man’s search for meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl is a profoundly impactful book that has helped countless individuals, including myself, navigate through challenging times. Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and the founder of logotherapy, provides a unique and deeply personal perspective on finding meaning in life, even in the most harrowing circumstances.
The book is divided into two parts. The first part details Frankl's harrowing experiences in concentration camps, offering a stark look at human suffering. Despite the unimaginable horrors, Frankl observes that even in the direst situations, individuals can find purpose and meaning, which can be a powerful source of resilience.
The second part introduces the principles of logotherapy, a form of existential analysis developed by Frankl. Logotherapy emphasizes the importance of finding meaning in life, arguing that this sense of purpose is the primary motivational force in human beings. Frankl's insights into the human psyche and the necessity of meaning are both enlightening and inspirational.
The book's core message is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Frankl's belief that we can endure almost any "how" if we have a "why" resonates deeply. His personal anecdotes and professional insights combine to create a work that is not only a historical account but also a guide to personal growth and mental well-being.
Man's Search for Meaning is a book that offers hope and guidance, particularly for those facing difficult periods in their lives. It's a reminder that even in the face of immense suffering, we can find a way to live a life filled with purpose and meaning.
This is a short list of books that if someone asked me what to read and was working in software development and wanted to grow as a person, I would recommend wholeheartedly.
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