Joshua Flanagan

I recently read Coding Slave by Bob Reselman, after having my interest piqued by Rory.  This is a book that every software developer should read.  It is a very easy read, but its message has the potential to be very important to our lives.  It has already had a positive effect on how I approach and feel about my day-to-day job.  Initially, the subject matter may seem depressing, but I think the ultimate message is really uplifting.  After you read the book (or if you aren't conviced to read it yet), go listen to the .NET Rocks episode with Bob Reselman.  Then go read Rory's interview with the author (it has a link to the first part).  At that point, you will probably want to read the book again.

Bob isn't the only coder to write a book about the life of coder.  You should also read Ellen Ullman's Close to the Machine: Technophilia and its Discontents.  This is the first book that I read which confirmed my theory that coding is a personality trait, not a chosen career path.