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John Sonmez
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Soft Skills: The Software Developer's Life Manual Kindle Edition

by John Sonmez (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars (314)

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.

Read more
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  1. Print length
    503 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    November 10, 2020
  5. File size
    4.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08N9KTYW6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simple Programmer, LLC
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 10, 2020
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 503 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0999081457
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: #189,366 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars (314)

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
John Sonmez

John Sonmez

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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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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
314 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book valuable for personal development, particularly for software developers at all levels, with one customer noting it serves as an actionable roadmap for improvement. The content is comprehensive, covering all aspects of life skills, and customers appreciate its approachable writing style and practical tips on productivity and finances. They consider it worth the investment, with one mentioning the learning chapter alone justifies the purchase.
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35 customers mention advice, 33 positive, 2 negative
Customers find the book's advice helpful, particularly noting how it changes their mindset and teaches them how to learn.
...areas, including career planning, learning, productivity, and personal development (financial, mental, and physical) into different areas and...Read more
...sharing his whole experience and not just the “good parts”; it’s humanizing and endearing to read about failures and the perseverance to overcome...Read more
All the content in this book is helpful and insightful....Read more
Great book with tons of great advice for anyone not just developers.Read more
27 customers mention information quality, 25 positive, 2 negative
Customers find the book's content helpful, with practical tips on various matters and excellent sections on learning faster.
Excellent book!!! Very unique, informative, easy to read and understand!!! Highly recommend!!!Read more
...though I have many years of experience I still find most of the content helpful. I would definitely recommend this book.Read more
...There are so many tips that you can pick up from this book. I love what John has put together. I'd recommend this book to others.Read more
...This book says to cover a lot of topics I really want to learn about so I have high hopes and expectations on the impact it will have on me....Read more
14 customers mention software developer, 14 positive, 0 negative
Customers find the book valuable for software developers at all levels, with one customer noting it provides an actionable roadmap for improvement.
...new version and like before I still think this book is mandatory for all budding developers and a very, very good idea for everyone else....Read more
...So it's a great book for software developers.Read more
This was a great read! This book is obviously targeted at software developers, but almost all of the lessons could be lifted and applied to any...Read more
This book helps to build your career as a software developer to the next level. There are so many tips that you can pick up from this book....Read more
10 customers mention value for money, 10 positive, 0 negative
Customers find the book worth every penny, with one mentioning that the learning chapter alone justifies the purchase, while another notes the value of the final chapters on fitness.
...the 10-step process for learning how to learn is more than worth the price of the book -- literally....Read more
...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...Read more
...he's definitely done some things right and this book is definitely worth a read.Read more
...takes you into every part of being a great developer, from career, money, and even your maximizing your personal life when you're a technology...Read more
9 customers mention content, 9 positive, 0 negative
Customers appreciate the book's comprehensive content, noting that it covers all aspects of software development, with one customer mentioning it includes material from 55 Pluralsight courses.
...This book covers it all! I highly recommend purchasing this book!Read more
Wow, this book covers so much....Read more
...Now the new edition brings even more value and content. This is a huge book....Read more
...You can watch 200 Youtube videos... but here, you have collected in one place great materiel... just look at the headings: Career, Marketing yourself...Read more
5 customers mention writing style, 5 positive, 0 negative
Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it very approachable.
...Very well written! Highly recommend!Read more
...The writing style is very approachable, won't take too much time to read a whole chapter. Make sure you complete the challenges at the end....Read more
...He's got a very approachable writing style, and keeps it real for his readers, which I appreciate. You won't be dissapointed by this book!...Read more
...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...Read more
4 customers mention productivity, 4 positive, 0 negative
Customers find the book helpful for productivity, with one mentioning that the approach to multitasking is good.
...to marketing yourself to study and learning new skills tops, how to be more productive, money advice, and even the importance of physical fitness....Read more
...out the different areas, including career planning, learning, productivity, and personal development (financial, mental, and physical) into...Read more
Soft skills are a weakness of mine, and the different strategies for being productive and life overall in this book are very helpful especially to...Read more
...His take on multitasking is good: “don’t, unless it’s two things that don’t interfere, then by all means do”....Read more
3 customers mention finance, 3 positive, 0 negative
Customers appreciate the financial content of the book.
...be a better programmer, a better person, how to work on your health, finances, mindset and so much more.Read more
...Handling finances: I particularly like what he says about real estate and employee retirement plans. - How to be more productive -...Read more
...to study and learning new skills tops, how to be more productive, money advice, and even the importance of physical fitness....Read more
Loved this book
5 out of 5 stars
Loved this book
Looks great on Kindle! Wonderful book with a path of success for software developers. You thought it was about coding, but this book takes you into every part of being a great developer, from career, money, and even your maximizing your personal life when you're a technology professional living the life of high tech and high achievement. Very real and I love his experience and his career guidance.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Vladimir Velickovic
    5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome book about how to succeed in Software Development - also applicable to other career paths
    Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I'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.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Lee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dear Reader
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I 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.
    7 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Klemmaniac
    4.0 out of 5 stars Decent "self help" book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    There 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.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Amer Mohammed
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
    Reviewed in Saudi Arabia on August 17, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    That's what I am looking for
    Report
  • Rohan G.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have in every software developer's arsenal
    Reviewed in India on December 17, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    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.

    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.
    Customer image
    Rohan G.
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    A must-have in every software developer's arsenal

    Reviewed in India on December 17, 2020
    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.

    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.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Report
  • Wally L.
    5.0 out of 5 stars An asset for developers of all skill levels!
    Reviewed in Canada on December 17, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I'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.
    Report
  • Mustafa Özçetin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Kesinlikle 5 yıldız!
    Reviewed in Turkey on March 2, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Kitabı 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.
    Report
  • Roberto Romano
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to help you reach your next career goals.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 16, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    John 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.
    Report

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