Recommendations
Over time, I have gathered a selection of learning materials that I really enjoy and recommend often. It is a combination of management, technology, and self-improvement materials that can help you become a great leader in the tech industry. From time to time, I revisit this list and make changes, but I stay below a dozen recommendations overall.
High Output Management
"High Output Management" is one of my favorite books on building and running a company. Grove has a no-nonsense way of explaining what really matters — from setting the right KPIs and metrics to keeping your team focused as you scale. I love how practical it is: while discussing the theory, it gives you tools you can actually use. Every time I revisit it, I come away with something new I can apply to my own work. If you're growing a business or leading a team, this is a must-read.
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The Art of War
"The Art of War" is one of those books I come back to every year. It was initially written for military strategy thousands of years ago, but it remains very relevant to leadership and management today. It's about clear communication, preparation, and identifying opportunities. These lessons apply as much in business as on the battlefield. Every read gives me a fresh perspective on how to lead better and think more strategically. It's no wonder so many modern leaders swear by it.
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Think Again
Critical thinking is an underrated skill — and one that can significantly impact how you work and communicate. I've noticed that in Germany, argumentation and rhetoric aren't part of the standard curriculum, and I've seen people in tech struggle because of it. That's why I love this course from Duke University. It starts with the basics of building good arguments. It quickly dives into common fallacies and the tricks people use; skills that are incredibly useful in debates, meetings, and decision-making. There are four parts, but I think the first two are the most valuable and a great place to start.
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Clean Code
"Clean Code" is one of those books that reshapes how you look at programming. Uncle Bob emphasizes the readability and maintainability of code. I often recommend it to developers who want to level up their skills. I keep a copy on my shelf to lend out. You can learn some of these lessons the hard way through technical debt and major refactorings, but reading how to write clean code from the start is so much less stressful.
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Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code
This is the book that put refactoring on the map. Fowler does a fantastic job of showing that refactoring isn't about big rewrites; it's about steadily improving your codebase, step by step, without breaking things. The book provides you with concrete principles and techniques to guide that process, enabling you to make real progress over time. I often hear developers use "refactoring" as a synonym for "rewrite," which can cause confusion and derail planning. Reading this book helps everyone get on the same page about what refactoring actually means and how to do it effectively.
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