Methodology
- Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister • If you're managing programmers and you haven't read this book, may I offer a career suggestion?
- The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master Andrew Hunt and David Thomas • Terrific ideas that make you feel all warm inside.
- Exploring Requirements: Quality Before Design Donald C. Gause and Gerald M. Weinberg • If you're designing a product, you need to read this book.
Programming
- Analysis Patterns: Reusable Object Models Martin Fowler • Patterns are cool. Brilliant, highly useful patterns are even better.
- Applied Cryptography: Protocols, Algorithms, and Source Code in C Bruce Schneier • I used this to design the crypto for Loophole™. Useful, comprehensive, understandable, and precisely zero BS.
Agile and XP
- Agile Estimating and Planning Mike Cohn • Finally, details about How to Do It. If you read Extreme Programming Explained, read this next.
- User Stories Applied Mike Cohn • More essential details by Mike Cohn.
- Pair Programming Illuminated Laurie Williams and Robert Kessler • As soon as the words "pair" and "programming" come out of your mouth, your boss and co-workers will have questions. You will not have answers until you read this book.
- Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change Kent Beck • The 2nd edition was a disappointment; I prefer the original.
User Interface and Graphic Design
- Designing Visual Interfaces: Communication Oriented Techniques Kevin Mullet and Darrell Sano • UI design from a graphic-design perspective. You didn't know that graphic design mattered this much.
- About Face 2: The Essentials of Interaction Design Alan Cooper and Robert Reimann • Lots of philosophy, plus practical advice that you can really apply to your UIs. This is a great book that deserves better than the 3½ stars Amazon gives it.
- Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability Steve Krug • Tons of wonderful, sensible advice about web design.
- Designing Interfaces: Patterns for Effective Interaction Design Jenifer Tidwell • Now you have a language to discuss the bits and pieces of your UIs.
- The Non-Designer's Design Book Robin Williams • Fantastic intro to graphic design for the beginner (every programmer on Earth).