10 tech books I'm reading in 2026

All the books mentioned in a video: 0:48 AI books AI Engineering: Building Applications with Foundation Models https://amzn.to/3OBYsyI Hands-On Large Language Models: Language Understanding and Generation https://amzn.to/3QpGwb6 3:14 Building systems books Understanding Distributed Systems: What every developer should know about large distributed applications https://amzn.to/4cwnh8g System Design Interview - An Insider's Guide: Volume 1 https://amzn.to/48Q7oao System Design Interview – An Insider's Guide: Volume 2 https://amzn.to/4dY9FUC A Philosophy of Software Design https://amzn.to/4mEAOOt 5:41 Career & Growth books The Software Engineer's Guidebook https://amzn.to/4cMN8b2 The Staff Engineer's Path: A Guide For Individual Contributors Navigating Growth and Change https://amzn.to/4e71Uvs 6:28 Fun books Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions https://amzn.to/4e7e0ol 7:07 Soft skills books The Art of Explanation https://amzn.to/4sViJ0d On Writing Well https://amzn.to/4cH00PN The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change https://amzn.to/4uaAcCY All links are affiliate links (they don't change anything for you, but I get a tiny payback from the store for helping you find things) ================ Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:48 AI books 3:14 Building systems books 5:41 Career & Growth books 6:28 Fun books 7:07 Soft skills books ==== Stuff I'm using: Monitor: LG 40WP95C-W 40” UltraWide Curved https://amzn.to/4rZOy7H Keyboard: Nuphy Air75 https://nuphy.com/products/air75-v2?s... Camera body: Sony a7iv https://amzn.to/4v6aEZ0 My favorite lens: Sony 20mm f1.8 G https://amzn.to/481TRfw Second camera: DIJ osmo nano https://amzn.to/4sMK6KA ==== You can find me here: Instagram   / simpikkle   Patreon   / lifemeetscode   Newsletter https://substack.com/@lifemeetscode