I’ve been working on this website, here, since 2000, and there’s so much material I’ve published four actual books out of it—yes, made out of paper and ink!—which you can buy, hold in your hand, read in the bus, or throw at your boss.
Joel on Software: And on Diverse and Occasionally Related Matters That Will Prove of Interest to Software Developers, Designers, and Managers, and to Those Who, Whether by Good Fortune or Ill Luck, Work with Them in Some Capacity
First published in 2004, Joel on Software contains 45 of the best articles from the site, from the early rants about hit-and-run management to the 2004 classic “How Microsoft Lost the API War,” and everything in between. It has gone through ten printings and remains a bestseller today.
“… the heft of this actual, physical book is very pleasant. I plan to display it prominently in my cube but for now I am carrying it with me like a schoolboy. ” — C. Patton
Available from Amazon.com or your favorite bookstore.
More Joel on Software: Further thoughts on Diverse and Occasionally Related Matters That Will Prove of Interest to Software Developers, Designers, and Managers, and to Those Who, Whether by Good Fortune or Ill Luck, Work with Them in Some Capacity
Published in 2008, More Joel on Software brings together 36 more chapters taken directly from the website. It’s the perfect companion to Joel on Software.
“When it comes to digesting the chocolate truffle that is the typical Joel essay, print is still more pleasurable for many than a browser.”—Gary Cornell
Available from Amazon.com or your favorite bookstore.
Smart & Gets Things Done: Joel Spolsky’s Concise Guide to Finding the Best Technical Talent
Smart and Gets Things Done tells you everything you need to know about attracting, recruiting, interviewing and hiring great programmers.
“Joel Spolsky is one of the most thoughtful writers on software development. His insights on hiring should be read by anyone who has to hire programmers.” — Jessica Livingston, Partner, Y Combinator and author of Founders at Work
Available from Amazon.com or your favorite bookstore.
User Interface Design for Programmers
A concise and logical introduction to UI design for geeks. It’s based on the online book but it’s longer, with about 50% all-new material that isn’t available online. Originally published in 2001, this book introduces principles of UI design that are still true today using awkwardly old-fashioned examples, but the principles are still 100% true.
“My family kept asking me how I could possibly be laughing so much at a book on programming.” — Eli Courtwright
Available from Amazon.com or your favorite fish shopbookstore.
The Best Software Writing I: Selected and Introduced by Joel Spolsky
A selection of great writing about software from around the Internet, edited and introduced by Joel Spolsky.
Available from Amazon.com or your favorite bookstore.