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Soft Skills: The Software Developer's Life Manual Paperback – November 11, 2020
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You became a developer for one reason…
…because you love solving tough problems.
Why aren’t you happy?
When you started to code, the beauty of the pure logic captured your heart. Hard work
and thousands of hours sitting at the keyboard have taught you how to develop software.
Still, there’s something missing.
What didn’t they teach you in school?
Success as a Software Developer requires skill and something nobody talks about,
mindset. If you’re not planning for your future, you’ll end up in a dead-end job you hate.
The secret lies away from the computer.
John uses a simple style to teach topics that you never knew you needed. This isn’t
theory, it’s proven through the results that let him retire at 33-years old.
You’ll learn:
- Ways To Land The Job, Keep The Job And Climb The Corporate Ladder
- How To Stand Out From Your Competition
- 10-Step Process To Learn Anything
- What To Do With Your Paycheck to Maximize Your Earnings
- Why Healthy Living and Exercise are Crucial
- Ways to Build Your Brand
You’ll love this unique career guide, because it isn’t about writing a great resume, it’s about
building one that will land you the dream job and all the other things that go with it.
Get it now.
- Print length501 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateNovember 11, 2020
- Dimensions7.5 x 1.13 x 9.25 inches
- ISBN-100999081446
- ISBN-13978-0999081440
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Product details
- Publisher : Simple Programmer, LLC
- Publication date : November 11, 2020
- Language : English
- Print length : 501 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0999081446
- ISBN-13 : 978-0999081440
- Item Weight : 1.88 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.5 x 1.13 x 9.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,015,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #27 in Data Structure and Algorithms
- #125 in Software Development (Books)
- #230 in Job Hunting & Career Guides
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author

John Sonmez is a software developer and the author of two best-selling books, The Complete Software Developer's Career Guide and Soft Skills: The Software Developer's Life Manual.
He's also the founder of the Simple Programmer blog and YouTube channel, where he reaches 1.4 million software developers yearly with a central message:
Technical skills alone aren't enough for a successful career—or life.
By focusing on "soft skills" like the ability to communicate clearly and lead by example, the mental resilience to bounce back from failure and even an improved level of personal fitness, software developers can break through the "glass ceiling" and enjoy extraordinary success.
John learned these lessons himself the hard way—through trial and error over his 17+ year career as a developer—and he's candid about the fits and starts he struggled through during those early years.
John started his software development career at age 10, hacking C and C++ to create virtual worlds for his favorite MUDs.
When John landed a coveted six-figure Silicon Beach job at age 19, he thought his career was set.
In reality he was only set up for years of frustration and disappointment—from getting "laid off" from that cushy job after underwhelming his boss with his C++ skills, to a spectacular implosion during an intense onsite interview with Microsoft, to finally taking a job outside of programming just to pay the bills.
Eventually though John realized that there's a huge difference between knowing how to program and having all the skills to be a successful, professional software developer—and he set out to develop the technical, leadership and communication skills he lacked.
John went on to become a highly paid consultant in test automation and Agile methodology, and the 55 courses he published with the technical education powerhouse PluralSight makes him one of the most prolific online trainers in the field of software development.
John effectively retired at 32 and moved to San Diego.
Today he focuses his energy on helping other developers achieve the success they desire through the videos, books and courses in his Simple Programmer platform.
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2020Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI've bought this book. I've also bought another book - "The Complete Software Developer's Guide" by John Sonmez. I found them both awesome. Usually, people which are starting with Software Development are the way too far from having a complete picture. They just decide "ok, I will be the programmer and money will start pouring in". It takes years and years to see what other aspects of software development are "in the game".
John uses a simple style of eye-opening explanations of various topics which are so important but you don't have a clue about it. I am a very long time in Software Development, but I simply either didn't think that some aspects are so important or I thought "ah, what a hell... who needs this anyway.. I am a programmer... why I have to even think about the fitness or some similar things". As our job is mostly "sit and code" the whole day long... I made a grave mistake. I was so out of the shape that I start feeling some really handicaps in my life (not just job related). I wasn't in a shape to think clearly or to focus on anything... I wasn't able to work... not as a programmer... but any job So get yourself in a good shape is much more important than most of the people think.
And you decided you will be a programmer and you will just go to some company and knock on the door and say "Hey, hi there! I am a programmer... where I can sit and code"... life doesn't work that way.
Here in this book, you can actually inform yourself with good advice from how to start to how to become awesome.
I follow John's blog, youtube videos, books, courses... for a long time now and in my humble opinion he is an awesome guy and he influenced my work and various decisions regarding my work in many ways. You don't have to believe me... just go check his blog... see some of his videos.. you will see that he is an honest man, who will provide great advice without some fancy talk... he is just a normal guy like you or me... and you will have a feeling like you enjoy sitting and talking with a good friend who has so much experience in this field and he is willing to share it with you.
You can watch 200 Youtube videos... but here, you have collected in one place great materiel... just look at the headings: Career, Marketing yourself, Learning, Productivity, Financial, Fitness and Mindset!
I think I've said it enough... I think that this book is definitely worth buying and you will see for yourself.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2020Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI bought and gave Sonmez’s Soft Skills a read years ago. That was the first edition. The book goes well beyond basic suggestions for career development and gives you crucial life development concepts that too few ever even consider. I’ve been around long enough to have seen old friends and associates begin in roughly the same place but end up in wildly different places -- financially, romantically, physically, in terms of impact on their respective fields, and in terms of their mindset of what’s possible for the future (note: not all mindsets are created equal).
Why read this second edition? You don’t acquire a finely built piano, have it tuned professionally, and then never tune it again. You keep tuning it regularly. You don’t take your ride in for maintenance and say “Well, that’s done!” and then never again take your car in for a tune-up. You repeat the process every now and then to make sure everything is as it ought to be. And so it is with this book.
I’m always learning something new and have a habit of getting into minutia. For me, that’s fun. But it’s also a timesink and time is increasingly scarce. And Sonmez’s tips on learning is a fine reminder of how to acquire knowledge skills rapidly. The section on learning and the 10-step process for learning how to learn is more than worth the price of the book -- literally. I’ve purchased Sonmez’s course based on the same concept and I can tell you (shh... don’t tell John) that the bulk of the content, the important stuff, is right here for a small fraction of the price.
Does it work? Yes. Also, consider that the techniques taught are quite similar to what you find in Scott Young's book Ultralearning (published long after the first edition of Soft Skills) and that Scott Young, a polymath who knows his stuff, also offers his own course but at many times the price of Sonmez's. Not to get wrapped up in prices and comparison shopping but my point is that there are many options for learning how to learn and this book offers a nice, neat methodology for one of the lowest demands on your wallet.
How about how well his advice on physical fitness and financial success works? Yes, it’s all sound principles and sources are provided as well. And, frankly, just dive in to Sonmez’s YouTube videos. After you’ve spent some months there you will see for yourself that he writes what he knows and puts it all into practice. A ripped physique and enough money earned from his endeavors to basically spend his time doing what he wants in his early 30s, the guy knows what it takes to succeed.
Recommended.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2022Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseThere were some bits of useful information in this book, but overall it was mostly fairly basic, sometimes even common sense, advice. If you're totally green and young, then this is probably a worthwhile read, but if you've been in the industry or lived life for a time, you'd be better off spending your time reading another book that is more in depth.
Some of the advice and writing did offer value such as some specific tools the author uses for automating tasks and concrete examples of how to dodge questions in a salary negotiation to your advantage. There was also some value in the last chapters on fitness with concrete examples of dieting and fasting methods that the author has used successfully. The last several chapters were the most valuable for me.
Outside of a few of those tips, the book had mostly generic advice that wasn't very insightful, but good advice to be sure. For example in the Financial related chapter, he says things like - "make the most profitable investments you can." Thanks for the tip? There are more than a few self evident pieces of advice like that throughout the book that kind of leave you feeling a bit disappointed.
At the end of the day it does what a lot of good self help books do, which is to get the gears in your mind going and inspire you with success stories.
Top reviews from other countries
Amer MohammedReviewed in Saudi Arabia on August 17, 20235.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseThat's what I am looking for
Rohan G.Reviewed in India on December 17, 20205.0 out of 5 stars A must-have in every software developer's arsenal
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseIn the past, I used to believe that the only way to get a promotion is flattering your manager. I read the first edition of the book and also following John's content for the last 4 years. Rather than the raw content, it changed my viewpoint of how I see things now. The book has lots of useful content, which you won't learn at college.
It discussed money management, how to learn, fitness, and most importantly, how to market yourself as a software developer, which is very important in today's oversaturated market. I was unemployed for 10 months after passing out from college, John's advice helped me to get my first job, and increased my remuneration 3 times in just 1 year as a fresher. That too in this covid-hit year.
TLDR, his stuff works.
In the past, I used to believe that the only way to get a promotion is flattering your manager. I read the first edition of the book and also following John's content for the last 4 years. Rather than the raw content, it changed my viewpoint of how I see things now. The book has lots of useful content, which you won't learn at college.5.0 out of 5 stars
Rohan G.A must-have in every software developer's arsenal
Reviewed in India on December 17, 2020
It discussed money management, how to learn, fitness, and most importantly, how to market yourself as a software developer, which is very important in today's oversaturated market. I was unemployed for 10 months after passing out from college, John's advice helped me to get my first job, and increased my remuneration 3 times in just 1 year as a fresher. That too in this covid-hit year.
TLDR, his stuff works.
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Wally L.Reviewed in Canada on December 17, 20205.0 out of 5 stars An asset for developers of all skill levels!
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI've had a long career in software development (20 years) and John's work here clearly covers many areas that I've had to deal with, both as a beginner in the industry and a seasoned professional.
This book is perfect for the programmer's brain, each chapter has a clear goal and gets straight to the point with actionable steps you can take that will yield results. There's none of the filler and fluff that tends to only add pages to other self-improvement style books. An added bonus is that the topics go far beyond the professional skills and how to navigate a workplace environment and gets deep into things like diet, fitness, motivation and focus which will lead to having a better life overall.
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Mustafa ÖzçetinReviewed in Turkey on March 2, 20215.0 out of 5 stars Kesinlikle 5 yıldız!
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseKitabı okurken defalarca "Bu kitap keşke yazılım kariyerimin başında olsaydı ve okumuş olsaydım" diye hayıflandım. Daha kitabın başlarında iken de notunu verdim: Kesinlikle 5 yıldız. Her yazılımcının mutlaka okuması gereken bir kitap.
Roberto RomanoReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 16, 20205.0 out of 5 stars Great book to help you reach your next career goals.
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseJohn takes a completely different approach to teaching you about software development in that he places the onus of responsibility on the reader to invest in themselves throughout all stages of their career in order to become a better person and ultimately a better programmer. One of John’s basic premises for the idea behind Soft Skills is that even though there is widespread perceived notion that software development is primarily programmers writing code all day and not having to worry about anyone else is actually completely misplaced. Rather developers produce software in order to make people’s lives better and easier so we as software developers have to be fundamentally people person orientated. In order to do this then we need to invest time in ourselves firstly through increasing what value we can offer employers and through better marketing of those particular values we have to offer. John writes clearly and to the point in a concise and informative way. Each chapter is reasonably short with handy actionable points at the end of every chapter again putting the onus on the reader to take action to further themselves along their chosen career path. One of the additional new chapters in this well revised Second Edition include how to set up and manage your own YouTube channel which is timely in light of the increased demand of online self-promoted video content. A excellent and well resourced book that provides a huge amount of inspiration to reach your next career goals.


















