Member-only story
9 Books All Engineering Managers Should Read
Whether a first-timer or you want to gain some different perspectives, these are the books I’ve found most helpful so far in my career
1. High Output Management
A manager’s output is the output of the organization under their supervision or influence.
Andrew S. Grove focuses repeatedly on this adage throughout his book. Looking at projects, bottlenecks, and creating a “breakfast factory” to drive points home, “High Output Management” was one of the first management books I read. While some of it seems archaic (there are discussions about properly telecommuting), it will always be a solid base for new managers.
Grove’s book can feel a bit dense, but the manufacturing management insights are a pre-MBA must. It’s been nearly 40 years since the book was written, but Andy Grove, sometimes called “the father of OKRs” has a lot of nuggets of wisdom to dole out. There’s even a section on “meetings” and how to get the most out of them. See the diagram below.
2. An Elegant Puzzle
Layed out almost like a Readme, Will Larson’s book on engineering management is a solid reference after its first readthrough. Doing something with hiring? Read that section again. What “High Output Management” was to management in general, “An Elegant Puzzle” is the software engineering management equal.
A great management book especially for the more technical-minded, Larson is methodical in his approach to nearly every management situation. Similar to “Principles” below, this is a management book I use as a reference guide, especially when approached with new problems.
3. The First 90 Days — Michael Watkins
Even if you are promoted into management within your current company, The First 90 Days can be extremely helpful for setting yourself up for success. I’ve read or listened to this book at least twice at this point as I’ve switched jobs and it is still extremely…
