Ask HN: What “soft skills” books does your company buy for developers and why?
Just looking to get an idea of what's out there in terms of company-endorsed books!
Books that I have read on my own are 'The Coaching Habit', 'Getting to Yes', and 'Exactly What to Say'. They might be helpful to you. They didn't help me since my career is in a downward spiral.
Basically I have been in obscure tech that has no future career and now feel burned out and used. I don't see a future to my career.
Then with the fresh energy, work hard but steadily ("just do it") on learning a new stack that you think you'd want to work on and is also in demand.
Take it easy, live within your means so you have a cushion, and just work towards what you want. Sleep is important, cut out alcohol and stims. Read classic worldly fiction to feel inspired.
I'm on a team that uses AWS. I have a couple associate level AWS certs. We use a little Python (self taught). I think these are solid areas. I need to get actual experience in these to be employable.
My problem is that I get very little programming time. I'm saddled with corporate bureaucracy, BS analysis, and other non-impactful work. I want to make an impact. I want to be an expert.
I won't have any fresh energy - work saps me, then I watch my kid most days (wife works the hours I don't).
I live within my means, but don't have a cushion. I support my family (my wife works but does not contribute to family expenses, only her hobbies). I do drink sometimes (make my own wines) but do not use anything else. I don't read much fiction. I did read One Man's Wilderness (nonfiction but worldly), which probably was not the right motivation since j would love to be mostly selfsufficent. I like nonfiction that is educational like Stamets book on mushroom cultivation or 'We get Confessions'. Do you have any book recommendations?
Like the other guy said, just go for a long walk without any other stimuli.
You gotta step back and start a new effort from a place of "relaxed momentum". Don't fret over what's wrong in the present, you're in negative thought loops. Activating super old evolutionary defense mechanisms in the human brain. Meditate, relax, and circumvent those.
Peopleware by DeMarco The Psychology of Computer Programming, Secrets of Consulting, and Becoming a Technical Expert by Gerald Weinberg. Not exactly fitting into the category, but worth reading if you can find it: Models of My Life by Herbert Simon.
A co-worker who left to become a consultant took the Weinberg books along with him.
I would recommend the following books:
Never Split the Difference - we are always negotiating, I use things from this book on a daily basis.
One Minute Manager - if you managing people this is a much simpler method. It is like the Kent Beck TDD of management rules in its simplicity.
How to Win Friends and Influence People - classic, but very useful in soft skills.