Bookworm Friday: Five book recommendations from Carlos Heron

Anyway, look at my reads below. You may find some inspiration in these reads, but more importantly, remember the benefits that reading can bring.

1.Camille Fournier, 97 Things Every Software Manager Should Know

Refresher and also linked into ‘Become an effective SEM’ book that we have been reviewing as a part of the effective SEM initiative with other engineering managers across the UK online. I use this book to reflect on past and future decisions. I like that each 5-minute bite-sized chapter offers viewpoints from multiple writers that keep things fresh to serve up alternatives to the reader. - Rating – 2.5/5

2.David J McNeff, The Work-Life Balance Myth: Rethinking Your Optimal Balance for Success

Interesting how this book investigates the notion of work/life balance into the ‘Seven Slice Method’. Looking at these ‘slices’ helps me to look at the areas needing attention and prioritise accordingly. In essence, this book allows us all to explore how to can better manage our stress and reach a place of harmony by recognizing and consciously living in all our Slices. I found this book allowed me to clearly break down each slice and question my commitment, control, and impact. - Rating – 3.5/5

3.Gene Kim, Kevin Behr & George Spafford, The Phoenix Project

This book has been covered and recommended many times but I enjoy the entertaining, challenging fictional world of Bill and Parts Unlimited. This book draws on the idea of the three ways and how we should focus on workflow, which I notice both in my personal and professional life. The book touches very lightly on principles around DevOps, Toyota TPS principles (workflow), but more importantly the dilemmas that face companies with an IT/engineering dependency. - Rating – 4/5

4.Simon Sinek, Start with Why

To be honest, a big chunk of this book is covered in his TED talk that I vaguely remember from one of William Hill's leadership programs. A lot of references to companies such as Apple, Wal-Mart, Costco, Starbucks but sometimes I feel some references are repeated on occasions within the book. I also link this book to the ‘Infinite Game’ with my core takeaway around the inspiration of having a just cause. - Rating – 3.5/5

5.Roald Dahl, The Twits

We have just finished the read of the ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ which is another exceptional children’s read (and film) that inspired me to continue with another famous Roald Dahl book with my daughter Natalia. These are outstanding books, but personally, I find the life of Roald Dahl very inspiring both to all generations of life: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl  - Rating – 5/5 by Natalia Heron