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Puneet Chandna
Puneet Chandna

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10 Must-Read Books for Software Engineers in 2025 📘💻

10 Must-Read Books for Software EngineersAs a software engineer, one thing has been constant: learning never stops.

So here’s a list of 10 books every engineer should read at least once in their career.

They’ve shaped how I approach problem-solving, systems, and even team collaboration.


✅ Books I’ve Already Read:

1. Designing Data-Intensive Applications (DDAI)

My absolute favorite. This book changed how I design systems.

I used its concepts to optimize a DB that reduced query times by 40% on a real project.

I’ve highlighted the key sections and revisit them regularly — it’s more of a playbook than a textbook.

2. System Design Interview – Vol 1

Great for both interview prep and practical, real-world system architecture.

3. Introduction to Algorithms (CLRS)

The classic. Dense, but worth it if you want to master the core fundamentals.


🕐 What’s Next?

The remaining books are still on my list, and I plan to read them one by one — as soon as I get time.

If you're building a roadmap for serious engineering growth, this list is a great place to start.


⭐ My Top Recommendation?

Without a doubt: DDAI.

  • It’s not just for learning — it’s for relearning.
  • I revisit it every few months.
  • It stays relevant across systems, databases, and scalability topics.
  • No book can beat that.

🔁 Your Turn:

What’s one book that changed how you think as an engineer?

Drop a comment, link your review, or just say hi 👋

Let’s build the ultimate software engineer reading list together!


#softwareengineering #backenddevelopment #books #learning #systemdesign #career #developer

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