What's the single best book for a first-time engineering leader?

'The Manager's Path' by Camille Fournier. It covers the entire arc from IC to director and gives you mental models for each transition. If you only read one book, make it this one. Follow it with 'Crucial Conversations' for the communication skills you'll need immediately.

How many of these books should I read?

Start with 2–3 from the Communication Essentials and Leadership sections. Don't try to read them all at once. Apply one key concept from each book before moving to the next. A book you internalize is worth more than ten you skim.

Are there any books specifically for engineering leaders at startups?

'An Elegant Puzzle' by Will Larson and 'Scaling People' by Claire Hughes Johnson are excellent for startup contexts. They cover the messy reality of building engineering organizations from the ground up, where you're simultaneously hiring, shipping, and defining processes.

The Engineering Leader Reading List: Communication & Soft Skills

What is a Reading List?

This curated reading list covers the soft skills that separate good engineering leaders from great ones. Technical expertise gets you the role, but communication, feedback, persuasion, and people leadership determine your success. These books — recommended by the HackerPulse team and engineering leaders in our network — span communication fundamentals, leadership frameworks, career growth strategies, and thinking models.

Key Takeaways

Start with 'The Manager's Path' and 'Crucial Conversations' — the two most impactful books for new engineering leaders
Communication and feedback skills compound over time — invest early
Mix reading with practice: apply one concept from each book before starting the next
Books in the 'On My Reading List' section are promising but not yet fully vetted

Communication Essentials

Smart Brevity — Say more with less. Essential for written communication in engineering orgs.
Crucial Conversations — How to navigate high-stakes conversations without damaging relationships.
The Fine Art of Small Talk — Build rapport and connection beyond technical discussions.
How to Talk to Anyone — 92 techniques for better interpersonal communication.
Connect — Building exceptional relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
Communication for Engineers — Bridges the gap between technical thinking and effective communication.
Thanks for the Feedback — The science of receiving feedback well — a must-read for anyone giving it.

Engineering & Leadership

The Manager's Path by Camille Fournier — The definitive guide for navigating the transition from IC to manager to director and beyond.
Staff Engineer by Will Larson — Leadership beyond the management track.
The Staff Engineer's Path by Tanya Reilly — A practical guide for senior ICs navigating technical leadership.
The Coaching Habit — Ask better questions, give less advice, and develop your team faster.
The Advice Trap — The sequel to The Coaching Habit. How to stay curious and resist the urge to solve.
The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhuo — First-time manager essentials from a former Facebook VP.
Engineers Survival Guide — Practical advice for engineers at Facebook, Google, and Microsoft.

Put these ideas into practice

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Career Growth & Promotions

What Got You Here Won't Get You There — Identify the habits holding you back from the next level.
Get Promoted — A tactical guide to advancing your engineering career.
Omar Halabieh's 90-Day Career Blueprint — A structured approach to career acceleration.

Persuasion & Influence

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion — The foundational text on how people are persuaded.
Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive — Research-backed persuasion techniques.
Radical Candor — Care personally and challenge directly. The framework for honest feedback.
Storyworthy — How to use storytelling to engage, persuade, and lead.

Advanced Reading

Thinking Fast and Slow — Understand the two systems that drive how you (and your team) make decisions.
Clear Thinking — Turn ordinary moments into extraordinary results.
Super Thinking: The Big Book of Mental Models — Mental frameworks for better decision-making.
Thinking in Systems — Understand complex systems and how to influence them.
On Writing Well — The classic guide to non-fiction writing. Essential for technical communication.
Engineering Management for the Rest of Us — Practical management for engineers who never planned to manage.