97 Things Every Programmer Should Know: Collective Wisdom from the Experts

97 Things Every Programmer Should Know is the book I keep on my desk for quick reference. Each item is two pages—you can read one in five minutes—and they cover everything from code quality to career advice. The format is perfect for busy developers: pick it up, read one item, put it down. The contributors are industry legends—Uncle Bob, Martin Fowler, Michael Feathers—and their insights are timeless. My favorite items are the ones on simplicity, testing, and code reviews, but there's something useful in every section. The book doesn't try to be comprehensive—it's a collection of wisdom, not a tutorial—which makes it perfect for developers who already know how to code but want to get better. My only critique is that some items feel dated, and the quality varies since it's a collection from different authors, but the best items are worth the price. I've recommended it to junior developers who want to level up, and it's helped them see patterns they hadn't noticed before.