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

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 89 ratings

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Managing Humans is a selection of the best essays from Michael Lopp's web site, Rands in Repose. Drawing on Lopp's management experiences at Apple, Netscape, Symantec, and Borland, this book is full of stories based on companies in the Silicon Valley where people have been known to yell at each other. It is a place full of dysfunctional bright people who are in an incredible hurry to find the next big thing so they can strike it rich and then do it all over again. Among these people are managers, a strange breed of people who through a mystical organizational ritual have been given power over your future and your bank account.

Whether you're an aspiring manager, a current manager, or just wondering what the heck a manager does all day, there is a story in this book that will speak to you.

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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 ‏ : ‎ 11.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.51 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 89 ratings

About the author

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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
89 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book insightful and entertaining, providing useful advice on managing and working in software. They describe it as a quick and easy read that provides good guidance for learning how to manage. Readers appreciate the engaging writing style and mention it's one of their favorite books. The book includes discussions on personality traits and human psychology, helping readers learn how to deal with people effectively.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

26 customers mention "Insight"22 positive4 negative

Customers find the book insightful and witty. They say it's an entertaining and practical guide to managing and working in software. The content is familiar, spot-on, and relevant. Readers describe the book as a no-nonsense look into real management and software companies.

"...time to read, this short and easy-to-read book is immediately relevant in a very concrete way, and nicely broken up into easy-to-digest chapters...." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"I found Rands' book to be both an interesting and helpful read...." Read more

"...While it has an amazing amount of insight into relevant issues delivered with surprising certainty, there isn't research, a philosophical premise,..." Read more

17 customers mention "Readability"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy reading the book. They find it helpful, amusing, and one of their favorite books. The content is praised as good and lively. However, some readers feel the content becomes repetitive at times.

"...bought literally dozens of copies of this book, and have a very dogeared 1st edition, signed by Michael Lopp...." Read more

"I found Rands' book to be both an interesting and helpful read...." Read more

"...not frequently written in, and a blatantly unapologetic tone, it's worth the read...." Read more

"...This book gave me hope when I started it because it was funny and lively, but descends into repetitive negativity that would make anyone want to run..." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing quality"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's writing entertaining and easy to read. They appreciate the witty and instructive style, which is a quick read for software professionals.

"...; full of theory that I never had time to read, this short and easy-to-read book is immediately relevant in a very concrete way, and nicely broken..." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"...that said opinions are very well thought-out and explained in an easy-to-read, entertaining manner." Read more

"...This is not... timidly written, and it's not your average "How to Win Friends and Influence People" or "Power of Positive Thinking" clap-trap either..." Read more

7 customers mention "Personality traits"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for learning about personality traits and work approaches. They appreciate the discussion of human psychology and the home message about dealing with people as individuals and not just cogs in a machine.

"...and looks at some of the different work styles and associated personalities in this field...." Read more

"...To me, the take-home message is all about learning how to deal with people (including yourself)...." Read more

"...Thinking" clap-trap either, though there is certainly discussion of human psychology. Highly recommended. I couldn't put it down." Read more

"...insightful and realistic primer for managing people - and on treating them like humans, not cogs in the machine...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2015
    Concrete practical advice, in short easy-to-digest chunks. I think this is as close to perfect as I've seen so far. What else could a harried manager ask for?

    Background: I found this book by accident, flipping through pages in a book store. A half-hour-later, I realized I was still there, standing there reading page by page with great intent. So I bought it. And sat up late reading it all in a couple of late nights. Great. Instead of the big heavyweight "management tombs" full of theory that I never had time to read, this short and easy-to-read book is immediately relevant in a very concrete way, and nicely broken up into easy-to-digest chapters. Just perfect.

    I've since bought literally dozens of copies of this book, and have a very dogeared 1st edition, signed by Michael Lopp. I've given a copy to everyone who worked for me in one company - "good way to learn how to manage - and also how to manage up"! I always have a copy at work, and at least 3 copies at home, and if someone finds the book interesting, I happily give them an unopened copy of the book, with the following condition: "Read it to completion. If you dont like it, or dont finish it, give it back to me - all good. However, if you do like it, keep it, for free and go buy a copy to spread the word to others." When I'm down to my last copy, I buy a few more. In all the years of doing this, I've bought literally dozens of copies, and have had only one copy of the book handed back to me.

    What else can I say?
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2009
    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
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2008
    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
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Xchange
    5.0 out of 5 stars Product exactly as described in the item description
    Reviewed in Spain on February 16, 2018
    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
  • Eric
    5.0 out of 5 stars (i mean i like this style
    Reviewed in Canada on June 2, 2016
    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!
  • 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
    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
  • Christian
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nette Lektüre
    Reviewed in Germany on May 24, 2013
    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
  • John H McAleely
    5.0 out of 5 stars Software Management by someone who's done some
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 19, 2013
    There aren't many texts about software management, and this is a good one. For this European, I have to filter for a certain amount of American cultural references, but that doesn't obscure the message.

    Mostly a collection of essays published as Rands In Repose on a blog, I enjoyed reading them as a group.