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Ragged Clown's avatar

Reading The C Programming Language is probably the most important thing that ever happened to me.

https://www.raggedclown.com/2010/04/11/it-changed-my-life-book-four/

XP Explained ruined software engineering for me. I blame Julio.

https://www.raggedclown.com/2023/11/20/it-changed-my-life-book-five/

I've read all the others too, of course. And loved them. I didn't know I had been quoting Peopleware for 20 years.

I got rid of most of my books when I left America and I only keep books that I love now. I have several hundred still. God knows what will happen to them when I am gone. I don't know anyone else who reads books.

Julio's avatar

I’m both shocked and not really to read how we overlap on those books.

On XP, I don’t think I would have had the heart to say in the profession without it. Sure, I have been frustrated at most of my fellow programmers ever since, because now there’s no excuse, we all know what to do. But at least now *I* know what to do.

A few hundred books!! And those are the ones you love. Truly impressive.

Ragged Clown's avatar

I hate the second edition of XP Explained BTW. I think Kent ruined it.

Julio's avatar

I remember reading "sustainable pace" instead of the more ballsy "40-hour week", and immediately has the sense I was reading the mainstream, more commercially appealing version

Ragged Clown's avatar

I organised them by colour too! Always wanted to do that :-)

Julio's avatar

Do it!! I’ve seen those and there is some esthetic appeal to it that i cant really explain. Love to see though

Ragged Clown's avatar

Bah. Can't post pics in comments.