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Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager 1st ed. Edition

by Michael Lopp (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 88 ratings
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Managing Humans is a selection of the best essays from Michael Lopp's popular website Rands in Repose(www.randsinrepose.com). Lopp is one of the most sought-after IT managers in Silicon Valley, and draws on his experiences at Apple, Netscape, Symantec, and Borland. This book reveals a variety of different approaches for creating innovative, happy development teams. It covers handling conflict, managing wildly differing personality types, infusing innovation into insane product schedules, and figuring out how to build lasting and useful engineering culture. The essays are biting, hilarious, and always informative.

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  1. ISBN-10
    159059844X
  2. ISBN-13
    978-1590598443
  3. Edition
    1st ed.
  4. Publisher
    Apress
  5. Publication date
    June 22, 2007
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    6 x 0.51 x 9 inches
  8. Print length
    209 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Lopp is a veteran engineering manager who has never managed to escape the Silicon Valley. In over 20 years of software development, Michael has worked at a variety of innovative companies, including Apple, Netscape, Symantec, Borland International, and a startup that slowly faded into nothingness. In addition to his day job, Michael writes a popular technology and management weblog under the nom de plume "Rands," where he discusses his management ideas, worries about staying relevant, and wishes he had time to see more of the world. His weblog can be found at RandsinRepose.com. Michael lives in northern California, never far from the ocean.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Apress; 1st ed. edition (June 22, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 209 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 159059844X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1590598443
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.51 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 88 ratings

About the author

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Michael Lopp

Michael Lopp

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Michael Lopp is a veteran Silicon Valley-based engineering leader who builds both people and product at historic companies such as Borland, Netscape, Palantir, Pinterest, Slack, and Apple. While he's not deeply worrying about staying relevant, he writes about backpacks, bridges, people, leadership, and werewolves at the popular weblog Rands in Repose. He currently works at Apple on "things."

Michael has three books. His first book "Managing Humans, 4th Edition" is a popular guide to the art of engineering leadership and clearly explains that while you will be rewarded for what you build, you will only be successful because of your people. His second book, "Being Geek" is a career handbook for geeks and nerds alike. Michael's third book, "The Art of Leadership: Small Things, Done Well" was published in June of 2020.

Michael rides bikes in the mountains, splits wood, and drinks red wine amongst the redwoods of Northern California because staying sane is more important than staying busy.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
88 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Lance C. Hibbeler
5.0 out of 5 stars interesting and helpful
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2008
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I found Rands' book to be both an interesting and helpful read. I'm not in management myself, but I still gained quite a bit from reading the book (and other articles in the blog). Rands explains many of the various personalities you come across in the (software development) workplace, which I found insightful from a purely psychological point of view. If you've ever wondered what makes your seemingly robotic micromanager tick, Rands provides an explanation. He explains some common events in professional life from the managers perspective, such as reorganizations/layoffs, Monday morning freak-outs, and various kinds of meetings. Rands also gives some sage career advice - from "both sides of the table" - about resumes, phone interviews, face-to-face interviews, and so on.

I think the topics in the book are applicable to many science-based fields outside of software development. To me, the take-home message is all about learning how to deal with people (including yourself). It's important to remember that the contents are just one man's opinions, though I feel that said opinions are very well thought-out and explained in an easy-to-read, entertaining manner.
2 people found this helpful
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Erik Gfesser
4.0 out of 5 stars Witty take on software engineering management
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2009
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A lot of reviews for this work have been posted here already, including a few which puzzlingly complain about the substance of what Michael Lopp has to share, even though the subtitle of "Managing Humans" contains the phrase "Biting and Humorous Tales". While Joel Spolsky, cofounder and CEO of Fog Creek Software, is quoted on the back cover as saying that this is "by far the most brilliant book about managing software teams you're ever going to find", I would argue that in my opinion this is by far the most witty book about managing software teams. The content that the author provides focuses on some of his personal experiences, the bulk of which were taken from previous contributions to his "randsinrepose" weblog, and abides by his premise to a T, which is to not offer a traditional management book based on the idea that there is a science behind management, but a witty book about how managers, "a strange breed of people who through a mystical organizational ritual have been given power over your future and your bank account", learn by doing. At the same time, the reader should not expect this book to explain the hows - it is simply about the software engineering management experiences of one individual and some of the insights he has gained along the way. Despite the fact that much of the content here consists of a wide variety of topics, sometimes seemingly random, for readers seeking more traditional content chapters 27-30 entitled "Incrementalists and Completionists", "Organics and Mechanics", "Inwards, Outwards, and Holistics", and "Free Electrons" provide some valuable content that is reminiscent of Frederick P. Brooks, Jr.'s "The Mythical Man-Month" chapter 3 entitled "The Surgical Team" (see my earlier review). In these chapters, Lopp takes a break from his customary humor and looks at some of the different work styles and associated personalities in this field. After a while, any successful professional will undoubtedly begin to figure out some of the traits possessed by colleagues, but Lopp does the best job that I have seen to provide some broad brushstrokes to help even those in the profession who are no longer neophytes; if anything, this portion of the book will serve as a second take into how professionals might approach different scenarios based on the individuals involved. This book is a quick read and recommended to anyone in the software engineering field willing to take a break for some humor about their own profession, and interested in hearing some life lessons provided by an individual who is not afraid to talk about himself.
9 people found this helpful
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Cristobal
5.0 out of 5 stars Useful tips and recommendation
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024
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The way the book gives tips, instructions and recommendations to manage your team is awesome
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M. Tan
3.0 out of 5 stars A different kind of management book
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2010
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Managing Humans is Michael Lopp's entree into blog-turned-book style that seems to be increasingly popular these days. And while the content from [...] has been edited and tweaked, a few reviewers have mentioned that it needs a bit more polish; I would agree.

While it has an amazing amount of insight into relevant issues delivered with surprising certainty, there isn't research, a philosophical premise, or numbers to back it up, only anecdotes that, while believable, are admittedly created for purpose. Lopp doesn't equivocate, and he doesn't present his views within the context of a greater argument or philosophy. As such, the book reads like a monologue about software companies from a drunk friend who you don't always see eye-to-eye with.

In this regard, the book is simultaneously annoying and stimulating. If you can stomach a point of view not frequently written in, and a blatantly unapologetic tone, it's worth the read. There are nuggets of wisdom to be found, but they are buried so deeply within the anecdotes, I found myself forgetting them after a few chapters.

I really wanted to like this book more, but it lacked a coherence that I may have mistakenly been expecting. Too bad there aren't half star ratings - 3 is a little short, but will have to do.
18 people found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 stars Product exactly as described in the item description
Reviewed in Spain on February 16, 2018
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Very pleased with the product, arrived in a timely manner. Didn't have time yet to read the book itself but its gonna happen soon, only +++ from me
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Eric
5.0 out of 5 stars (i mean i like this style
Reviewed in Canada on June 2, 2016
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so, finished reading this book last night. overall - a very amusing read, definitely quite a few pearls of wisdom from a savvy manager from the silicon valley in there. his writing style is very bloggy, well, because - he's a blogger. (i mean i like this style :) ) i enjoyed this book and feels like it can give birth to lots of good conversations (work book club or in your nerd herd), mainly because Rands discusses many topics surrounding our area of trade (IT). i give it 5 stars and will get his earlier book now - Being Geek https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0596155409. Thanks Rands!
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Ajith
5.0 out of 5 stars It's a lovely book one should own if you are ...
Reviewed in India on November 24, 2015
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It's a lovely book one should own if you are looking to work your way either as an Individual contributor or stepping into the management path
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Christian
5.0 out of 5 stars Nette Lektüre
Reviewed in Germany on May 24, 2013
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Interessant geschriebenes Buch mit vielen Geschichten aus der Praxis. Liest sich auch gut nebenbei und wenn man den Blog des Autors gern hat so hat man auch das Buch gern
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Josh
4.0 out of 5 stars Plenty to take away
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2011
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Having been inspired by the blog I was expecting a few fun anecdotes rather than anything particularly significant. It's not earth shattering stuff but I felt the approach was compelling and that it put some dreaded meetings and certain players into perspective for me. Anyway, it's a really enjoyable book and I found plenty to take away in the few hours it took to read. Recommended to everyone.
One person found this helpful
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