The Mythical Man Month – Frederick P. Brooks Jr.
I bought this book the other day. I was slightly ashamed that, as a developer, I didn’t have it in my collection.
I’ve seen it referenced and quoted so many times: in fact, it’s the first time I think I ever heard of the phrase “thought stuff”.
Mind you, having received it, I realise that I have in fact read at least one of the papers: the “No Silver Bullet” one. I was made to read it in University. It was one of the few papers I was made to read that I really ‘got’ – and that remained with me.
Frederick Brooks is an amazing fellow: if you need any inspriation, check out his life. He’s still going strong!