View Larger Image	Christopher Duncan Apress, Paperback, 2nd edition, Published January 2006, 300 pages, ISBN 1590596242
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Unrealistic schedules, unstable releases, continual overtime, and skyrocketing stress levels are legendary in the software development industry. Unlike traditional occupations such as accounting or administration, the software business is populated with programmers who are as creative and passionate about their work as musicians and artists. But for most programmers and project managers, it is a complete surprise when they enter the business world and find that internal politics, inept management, and unrealistic marketing drive the process, rather than a structured and orderly approach based on technical issues and quality.

This guide, delivered with the wit and aplomb to make a serious topic entertaining and palatable, will help you survive the programming industry in 2006. The Career Programmer explains how you can work within the existing system to solve deadline problems and regain control of the development process. You’ll master self-defense techniques to shield yourself, your project, and your code from corporate politics, arbitrary management decisions, and marketing-driven deadlines. Author Chris Duncan provides proven, practical, hands-on solutions designed to work even when tested by the political and chaotic realities of the business environment. Issues are addressed from the points of view of both the programmer and project manager, and steps are illustrated from all perspectives—from large-scale teams down to projects with a single developer. For you, the end results will mean less overtime and stress, higher-quality software, and a more satisfying career.

Founder of Practical Strategy Consulting, Christopher Duncan is the best selling author of Unite the Tribes and The Career Programmer. He's been a frequent guest on radio shows across the country, his monthly columns have been read by hundreds of thousands worldwide, and he is widely acclaimed for his immensely practical approach to success in the real world—where self interest and office politics are often more prevalent than common sense.

This keen insight does not come by accident. Christopher has an unusually diverse background which includes a career in sales consulting, life as a professional musician, and experience fighting deadlines as a cubicle-dwelling software developer. He's also performed mind-numbing factory work, labored on construction sites, and built components for guided missiles. Currently, he writes, speaks and mentors professionals on career and business strategies. He understands the problems and goals of your people, from the lowest paid workers to the executive elite, because he's been there himself and lived to tell the tale.

Whether he's talking about the job-related anxieties of the night watchman's attack Chihuahua or explaining the relationship between bunny slippers and corporate productivity, his humor and light-hearted antics will entertain your audience as he shares his vision of success through the pursuit of American excellence.

Lively, expressive, and a consummate professional with three decades of stage experience, Christopher delivers an exciting and practical message to your people, inspiring them to reach for their very best and showing them how to get there in the real world, where things don't always go according to plan. Most importantly, he makes sure that everyone has a little fun in the process.

Apr 30, 2006     G. Wade Johnson from Houston, TX
An introduction to business tactics for the technical type
Duncan's book covers some of the political tactics a technical person needs to survive in Corporate America. He makes a strong case that a large part of what makes programming in a corporate environment difficult involves a misunderstanding of what the rest of the company considers important.

After covering the parts of life in real companies that drive us crazy, Duncan spends a significant fraction of the book explaining why these issues that drive us crazy exist and what we can do to reduce their impact on our lives. Duncan maintains that programmers are smart enough to learn the skills needed to battle in the arena of corporate politics. He also maintains that by using these skills and picking our battles, it is possible to reduce the annoying parts of our jobs and spend more on the programming that we enjoy.

There is a lot about this book that I like. Many of the tactics and attitudes he describes look directly useful in my career. Unfortunately, it seems that some of his advice works for someone with Duncan's natural people skills. Not all of us will be able to apply his tactics.

Despite this flaw, I think the book does a very good job of introducing technical people to these issues and some tactics for dealing with them. Even though Duncan may not have given enough information to solve your particular problem, I believe that he does a good job of helping us to be aware of tactics that might help.

If you are already an old hand at maneuvering in the corporate world, this book may not be for you. If you are junior enough and/or idealistic enough to believe that pure technical skill and knowledge will win out over mere politics, this book is not for you.

If you are in the middle, like most of us. This book serves as a great introduction to corporate politics and realities in a form that most of us can probably digest and use.

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