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Books


I have read all (except '<pending>') below books (apparently 18561 pages), plus unlisted prior versions in case of standards specifications. Books that I don't own, but have read, are not included in the list. I also have not listed the (predominantly software development oriented) books which I read during the first 15 years of my professional career.

The books are subdivided into the following categories:

I have rated all books from a project manager's perspective:


Behavior - Leadership

5 starsISBN=0743269519 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey (2004, 384 pp)
Basically, how to function as a human being through timeless principles. Imagine the world if everybody would just apply this book's teachings. By far the most profound book I've ever read.

4.5 starsISBN=0743287932 The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen R. Covey (2005, 283 pp)
Leadership in the Information Age. Influencing other people through the whole-person approach. A very powerful book.

4.5 starsISBN=1451626266 The 3rd Alternative: Solving Life's Most Difficult Problems by Stephen R. Covey (2011, 459 pp)
Creative problem solving in its most fundamental form, from empathy to synergy instead of compromise. Very inspirational food for thought (and action) on different aspects of life.

5 starsISBN=0071771328 Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Al Switzler, Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan (2011, 272 pp)
How to establish effective dialogue, especially concerning important topics when prospects are not looking good. Self-monitoring, safety, mutual purpose/respect, and so much more: all coaching ingredients towards forming new habits are right in this book.

5 starsISBN=1897384556 How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (2015, 238 pp)
Very many timeless tips on interpersonal relationship growth via effective communication from the other person's frame of reference, i.e. empathy. Never mind the occasional use of archaic English vocabulary :-).

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Behavior - Coaching

5 starsISBN=0978440749 The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier (2016, 242 pp)
Extremely useful personal change/growth book: changing problem solving habits into question asking habits, i.e. unselfish coaching.

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Behavior - Consulting

3 starsISBN=0932633013 Secrets of Consulting: A Guide to Giving and Getting Advice Successfully by Gerald M. Weinberg (1986, 228 pp)
General consultancy wisdom, synthesized in numerous 'laws'. Fun read, due to the personal and humorous writing style.

3.5 starsISBN=0932633528 More Secrets of Consulting: The Consultant's Tool Kit by Gerald M. Weinberg (2001, 216 pp)
Self-management for consultants. How to consciously keep focusing, avoiding the burnout trap. Referring to numerous wisdom 'laws'.

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Behavior - Productivity

4 starsISBN=0143126563 Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen (2015, 352 pp)
How to clear your head by productively managing ongoing personal and professional open loops. A wordy classic book.

4.5 starsISBN=009950569X Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Take Hold and Others Come Unstuck by Chip Heath, Dan Heath (2008, 336 pp)
A solid well-researched book explaining 'SUCCESs' factors in making your point come across, so that it sticks.

3.5 starsISBN=0205632645 The Elements of Style: 50th Anniversary Edition by William Strunk, E. B. White (2008, 128 pp)
Do's (actually 'Dos' :-) and don'ts when it comes to English writing style. Must-read for any author.

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Business - Overview

5 starsISBN=1591845572 The Personal MBA: A World-Class Business Education in a Single Volume by Josh Kaufman (2012, 464 pp)
This book title doesn't lie, containing tons of business related concepts excellently explained in short interrelated articles. Also referencing lots of other bestsellers, and including a fundamental list of self-improvement questions.

6 starsISBN=1593373686 Kiss, Bow, Or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More Than 60 Countries by Terri Morrison, Wayne A. Conaway (2006, 592 pp)
(Encyclopedia)

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Business - Management

3 starsISBN=0061345016 The Essential Drucker: The Best of Sixty Years of Peter Drucker's Essential Writings on Management (Collins Business Essentials) by Peter F. Drucker (2008, 368 pp)
Condensed principles of executive management and knowledge work.

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Business - Strategy

2.5 starsISBN=0273721844 Strategy Bites Back: Strategy is far more, and less, than you ever imagined... by Bruce Ahlstrand, Henry Mintzberg, Joseph B. Lampel (2008, 240 pp)
No-nonsense observations palette about culture and strategy. Must-read for the monkeys seeking the banana.

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Business - Change

5 starsISBN=0385528752 Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath, Dan Heath (2010, 305 pp)
Compelling/proven framework for establishing any kind of change in any kind of human related context. Another superb book I wish I'd have read earlier.

4.5 starsISBN=193088561X Change Management: The People Side of Change by Jeffrey Hiatt, Timothy J. Creasey (2012, 148 pp)
Structured high-level introduction to ADKAR based personal and organizational change, including assessment templates.

4.5 starsISBN=1930885504 ADKAR: A Model for Change in Business, Government and Our Community by Jeffrey Hiatt (2006, 146 pp)
Industry standard results-driven method for preparing, managing, and reinforcing the human side of any (including technology driven) change initiative.

4.5 starsISBN=1628250151 Managing Change in Organizations: A Practice Guide by Project Management Institute (2013, 127 pp)
Perfect blend of change management and project/program/portfolio management best practices.

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Business - Agility

4.5 starsISBN=0307887898 The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries (2011, 336 pp)
Mandatory reading on starting your own business: what to do and how to adapt towards long-term success. Highly acclaimed book for very clear reasons.

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Project/Program/Portfolio Management - Essays

3 starsISBN=0932633439 Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams by Tom Demarco, Timothy Lister (1999, 245 pp)
Accurate observations about the Information Age work environment. Why people matter most.

2.5 starsISBN=0201835959 The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering, 20th Anniversary Edition by Frederick P. Brooks (1995, 322 pp)
General observations about project management and technology. Several (technology related) essays have become outdated.

2 starsISBN=0884271781 The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt, Jeff Cox (2004, 384 pp)
Business novel introducing the Theory of Constraints in a manufacturing setting.

2 starsISBN=0884271536 Critical Chain : A Business Novel by Eliyahu M. Goldratt (1997, 246 pp)
Business novel introducing Critical Chain project management.

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Project/Program/Portfolio Management - Competence

4 starsISBN=<unknown> ICB - IPMA Competence Baseline, Version 3.0 by International Project Management Association (2006, 200 pp)
High-level overview of required technical, behavioural, and contextual competences for project, programme, and portfolio managers. Contains useful patterns for behavioural competence assessment.

2.5 starsISBN=1933890347 Project Manager Competency Development: Framework, Second Edition by Project Management Institute (2007, 81 pp)
PMBOK mapping of project manager competency, referring to a limited list of techniques.

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Project/Program/Portfolio Management - Frameworks

4 starsISBN=1628250364 Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide by Project Management Institute (2014, 102 pp)
Going beyond PMBOK fundamentals for assessing/tackling fundamentally complex projects/programs.

4.5 starsISBN=0113314221 Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices, 2013 Edition by Axelos, Eileen Roden (232, 2013 pp)
Extensive coverage of all portfolio/program(me)/project office aspects/dimensions, with real-life examples and maturity assessment referral.

4 starsISBN=0113312946 Management of Portfolios, 2011 Edition by Best Management Practice (2011, 180 pp)
Solid overview/examples of portfolio management principles and practices, including executive health check.

3.5 starsISBN=1935589695 The Standard for Portfolio Management, Third Edition by Project Management Institute (2013, 189 pp)
Standard framework for strategic portfolio management processes, with suggested techniques.

4.5 starsISBN=0113313276 Managing Successful Programmes, 2011 Edition by Stationery Office (2011, 276 pp)
Directly applicable program(me) management framework, on top of PRINCE2 fundamentals. Similar well-structured themes/processes duality, accompanied by summary information structures and health assessment checklists.

4 starsISBN=1935589687 The Standard for Program Management, Third Edition by Project Management Institute (2013, 176 pp)
Standard for combined project benefits realization through governance. Strongly related to the PMBOK Guide.

4.5 starsISBN=0113310609 Directing Successful Projects with PRINCE2, 2009 edition by Office of Government Commerce (2009, 167 pp)
The welcome companion book to 'Managing Successful Projects ...', explaining in (PRINCE2) detail any Project Board's responsibilities.

4.5 starsISBN=0113315333 Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2, 2017 edition by Axelos (2017, 400 pp)
PRINCE2 reference manual, even more focused than the 2009 (and 2005) edition. Unfortunately, still excluding an overall 'railroad diagram' process model.

4 starsISBN=1935589679 A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Fifth Edition (PMBOK Guide) by Project Management Institute (2013, 589 pp)
The ANSI standard for project management processes. More abstract than e.g. the PRINCE2 standard.

4.5 starsISBN=1903494133 APM Body of Knowledge, 5th Edition by Association for Project Management (2006, 179 pp)
Definitely the best (high-level) overview of all aspects of professional project management. Perfect writing style. Also contains a useful glossary.

1.5 starsISBN=<unknown> The Personal Software Process (PSP) Body of Knowledge, Version 1.0 by Software Engineering Institute (2008, 74 pp)
Personal process improvement method, based on a scientific approach requiring a firm grasp of statistics. Mainly targeting software development. Feeds into the Team Software Process.

1.5 starsISBN=<unknown> The Team Software Process (TSP) by Software Engineering Institute (2000, 36 pp)
Pragmatic although prescriptive operational team process scripts, focusing on teamwork driven by detailed quality plans. Often stating the obvious.

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Project/Program/Portfolio Management - Technique

4.5 starsISBN=0471741876 Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling by Harold Ph.D. Kerzner (2005, 1040 pp)
Everything you always wanted to know about project management. Incredible information density. Also called the 'project management bible'. Mapped to the PMBOK Guide.

3 starsISBN=0470137401 Project Management Communications Bible by William Dow, Bruce Taylor (2008, 807 pp)
Describes and provides guidelines for most major project communication tools, mapped to the PMBOK Guide. Unfortunately, the first half of the book is not concisely written.

4 starsISBN=1935589350 Practice Standard for Earned Value Management, Second Edition by Project Management Institute (2011, 153 pp)
Earned Value Management fully explained. Also briefly introduces the Earned Schedule concept.

3.5 starsISBN=1930699476 Practice Standard for Project Configuration Management by Project Management Institute (2007, 53 pp)
Theoretical approach to configuration management. The least informative PMI Practice Standard.

4 starsISBN=1935589121 Practice Standard for Project Estimating by Project Management Institute (2011, 79 pp)
High-level estimation guidance, plus a brief estimation process assessment checklist.

4 starsISBN=193389038X Practice Standard for Project Risk Management by Project Management Institute (2009, 116 pp)
Risk management further refined. Contains an extensive list of applicable techniques.

4 starsISBN=1935589245 Practice Standard for Scheduling, Second Edition by Project Management Institute (2011, 142 pp)
Additionally discusses schedule conformance. Contains a vague introduction to the critical chain method.

4 starsISBN=1933890134 Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures, Second Edition by Project Management Institute (2006, 111 pp)
WBS basics. Includes useful WBS starting points for different industries.

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Project/Program/Portfolio Management - Agility

3 starsISBN=0113314671 PRINCE2 Agile by Axelos (2015, 356 pp)
A loose blend of traditional and agile project management frameworks/influences, unfortunately not answering many burning questions.

<pending> ISBN=1628256508 Choose your WoW!: A Disciplined Agile Delivery Handbook for Optimizing Your Way of Working by Scott W. Ambler, Mark Lines (2020, 445 pp)
<unfinished reading>

4 starsISBN=0201760436 Agile Software Development Ecosystems by Jim Highsmith (2002, 448 pp)
Collaboration in the Information Age. Contains an overview of all major agile approaches and interesting thoughts on methodology selection/design.

4 starsISBN=0131479415 Agile Estimating and Planning by Mike Cohn (2005, 368 pp)
The book title says it all. Very pragmatic. Easy read.

4.5 starsISBN=0932633447 Project Retrospectives: A Handbook for Team Reviews by Norman L. Kerth (2001, 268 pp)
Very insightful book about continuous project/process improvement through community originated lessons learned, obtained through personal safety and effective communication.

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Service Management - ITIL

4.5 starsISBN=0113313551 Passing Your ITIL Foundation Exam by Christian F. Nissen (2012, 212 pp)
Very complete ITIL framework overview. Includes summary mind maps and sample questions/answers.

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Software Development - Overview

4 starsISBN=0769523307 Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge, 2004 Version (SWEBOK Guide) by ISO/IEC/JTC 1/SC 7 (2005, 210 pp)
The IEEE Computer Society overview of software engineering. Presents a knowledge areas based walkthrough of all involved and boundary topics. Refers to applicable standards and further readings.

2.5 starsISBN=<unknown> Guide to the (Evolving) Enterprise Architecture Body of Knowledge, Draft (EABOK Guide) by MITRE Corporation (2004, 141 pp)
Heterogeneous collection of mostly US government related enterprise architecture papers. Work in progress.

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Software Development - Requirements

3.5 starsISBN=0981129218 A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge, Second Edition (BABOK Guide) by International Institute of Business Analysis (2009, 272 pp)
Framework for business analysis tasks and techniques, inspired by the PMBOK Guide.

3.5 starsISBN=0321419499 Mastering the Requirements Process by Suzanne Robertson, James Robertson (2006, 592 pp)
The Volere requirements processes and specification template explained in detail. Excellent book.

3 starsISBN=1439858349 Business Analysis for Business Intelligence by Bert Brijs (2012, 400 pp)
Multi-dimensional (BA) guidance on BI projects, covering the full spectrum from strategic management to database internals.

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Software Development - Testing

3.5 starsISBN=0471081124 Lessons Learned in Software Testing by Cem Kaner, James Bach, Bret Pettichord (2001, 286 pp)
50+ accumulated years of no-nonsense context-driven testing (management) experience, condensed in 293 useful heuristics.

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Software Development - Design

2.5 starsISBN=0321125215 Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software by Eric Evans (2003, 576 pp)
How to centralize/evolve domain models for common/deeper stakeholder insight. Written from a software developer's perspective.

2 starsISBN=0735712026 The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web by Jesse James Garrett (2002, 208 pp)
High-level overview of user-centered web design. Refers to other books for further exploration.

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