Software development happens in your head. Not in an editor, IDE, or designtool. You're well educated on how to work with software and hardware, but what about wetware--our own brains? Learning new skills and new technology is critical to your career, and it's all in your head.
In this book by Andy Hunt, you'll learn how our brains are wired, and how to take advantage of your brain's architecture. You'll learn new tricks and tipsto learn more, faster, and retain more of what you learn.
You need a pragmatic approach to thinking and learning. You need to Refactor Your Wetware.
Programmers have to learn constantly; not just the stereotypical new technologies, but also the problem domain of the application, the whims of the user community, the quirks of your teammates, the shifting sands of the industry, and the evolving characteristics of the project itself as it is built.
We'll journey together through bits of cognitive and neuroscience, learning and behavioral theory. You'll see some surprising aspects of how our brains work, and how you can take advantage of the system to improve your own learning and thinking skills.
In this book you'll learn how to:
Use the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition to become more expert
Leverage the architecture of the brain to strengthen different thinking modes
Andy Hunt is a programmer turned consultant, author and publisher. He co-authored the best-selling book "The Pragmatic Programmer," was one of the 17 founders of the Agile Alliance, and co-founded the Pragmatic Bookshelf, publishing award-winning and critically acclaimed books for software developers.
Comments about oreilly Pragmatic Thinking and Learning:
I started this book in the ebook version but after reading it, i had to buy several copies to my friends and colleagues, it has been very helpful for me.
12/12/2009
5.0
Great book
By Tim S.
from The Netherlands
About Me Developer, Student
Pros
Accurate
Concise
Easy to understand
Helpful examples
Well-written
Cons
Best Uses
Expert
Intermediate
Novice
Student
Comments about oreilly Pragmatic Thinking and Learning:
First I was very skeptic about this book, I didn't know what to expect. After reading a few pages it kept me reading more and more. 'Now put the book down. Go for a walk. I'll wait...' makes it look like a story the writer tells you. This book will learn you how your brain processes data, and how you can benefit from different approaches. It also made me reflect myself much better. There are many examples, so it's easy to understand what the writer means, even while you are grown up with a foreign language. There are many very useful tips about not getting distracted from work.
10/28/2009
5.0
Head First Thinking and Learning!
By Agile Kalaf
from Phoenix, AZ
About Me Developer
Pros
Concise
Easy to understand
Helpful examples
Well-written
Cons
Best Uses
Expert
Intermediate
Novice
Student
Comments about oreilly Pragmatic Thinking and Learning:
Whats great about the Head First books? They truly understand how we humans think and learn. Read the intro to any HF book and they will tell you their approach is based on an understanding of how people learn best. THIS book shows you how they arrived at that conclusion and how you can train your mind to be a better learner. Are you interested in mastering the job you have or training for the job you want? This book will help you lay the foundation for that no matter what area you are looking to master. One of the best books I've read in years!