In our Discord Server – It’s All About the Journey – we’ve got a book club where all of our server members share books that have helped them throughout their journey. We’ve compiled a list of the Top 10 books recommended by Network Engineers, for Network Engineers. It’s composed of tech and non-tech books alike. As a bonus, we’ve had the pleasure of interviewing some of these authors on our podcast! Here’s the list:
Make it Stick: The Science of Succesful Learning – Brown, Roediger, McDaniel
This book discusses the science of how we, humans, learn! It discusses several strategies and tools people of any age and profession can use. The book does not read as a scholastic paper, but a really good book. It starts each section by engaging the reader with a powerful story about learning and then highlights a particular strategy or tool learners can use.
Bonus – We interviewed one of the co-authors on Ep 32 of The Art of Network Engineering Podcast, you can check out the YouTube video of the interview here: https://youtu.be/yXk_3TEspfA
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck – Mark Manson
There are so many things in life we can put effort into and so many more we are told we should put our energy and effort into (RIGHT NOW!). This book will help you decide which ones are actually worth putting your effort into and the rest you can just let go over.
Network Warrior – Gary A. Donahue
As the subtitle of the book suggests this book contains “Everything You Need to Know That Wasn’t on the CCNA Exam.” While some of the switches referenced in the book are End of Life the knowledge that this book provides is certainly not! Network Engineers from the most Jr. to the most Sr. will all get something from this fantastic book!
Succeed: How We Can Reach Our Goals
by Heidi Grant Halvorson
In this book author, Heidi Grant Halvorson offers some very insightful bits that will help you set goals, build willpower, and avoid failure. “Succeed unlocks the secrets of achievement, and shows you how to create new possibilities in every area of your life!”
A Mind for Numbers – by Barbara Oakley
Revealed that the way most of us are taught in school is not really a good way to learn, and then it reveals much better ways of learning based on science-based research. There is also a related course on Coursera.
The Practice of System and Network Administration – Limoncelli, Hogan, Chalup
The book was suggested because it is a non-technical book written specifically for network and Sys Admins to guide them on how to behave in different situations like how to hire and fire people and how to deal with misconducts by co-workers and managers.
Automate the Boring Stuff with Python – by Al Sweigart
This book is aimed at beginners trying to learn Python and apply it to everyday tasks. There’s also a completely free companion website https://automatetheboringstuff.com/
Mastering Python Networking – by Eric Chou
This book can take your Python and Network Automation Journey to the next level! We also had the opportunity to sit down and interview Eric in Episode 75 – The Automation Chou’sen One.
The War of Art – by Steven Pressfield
“The War of Art emphasizes the resolve needed to recognize and overcome the obstacles of ambition and then effectively shows how to reach the highest level of creative discipline.” One Discord book club member said the book helped them to realize that failure is part of the process and that everyone faces resistance when trying to accomplish something hard.
Outliers – by Malcolm Gladwell
In this book, Malcolm Gladwell asks “What makes high achievers different?” His answer is that too much attention gets paid to what the people are like, and not enough attention to their background and upbringing. One Discord member said this book helped them to deal with imposter syndrome because it highlighted the fact that some people have access to resources that others of us may not, and that adds to their success.
Did we miss one? Make a suggestion in the comments below or let us know on Twitter, we are @artofneteng
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