Scrum Inc.'s 2024 Scrummer Reading List

At Scrum Inc., we believe that continuous learning and growth are essential for both personal and professional development. To inspire and engage our community, we've compiled this year's "Scrummer Reading List," featuring book recommendations from our team members. These selections span a variety of genres and topics, reflecting the diverse interests and insights of our team. Whether you're looking for leadership strategies, personal growth, or simply a great story, our 2024 Scrummer Reading List has something for everyone. Dive in and discover the books that have shaped our thinking and can help you on your journey.

1. Ender's Game

Author: Orson Scott Card

??SI Thoughts: "Ender's Game was one of the most formative books of my childhood, and I have read it many times since then. As I've grown, the themes that most resonated with me have evolved as well. Most recently, I've come to appreciate its profound viewpoint on the qualities that make an effective leader."

→ Recommended by: Geoff Clemm , Chief Financial Officer

2. The Elephant and the Blind

Author: Thomas Metzinger

??SI Thoughts: "Thomas Metzinger's The Elephant and the Blind offers a profound exploration of pure consciousness through the lens of over 500 experiential reports, aiming to demystify the essence of human consciousness by examining non-egoic experiences such as silence, wakefulness, and clarity. This deep dive into the simplest forms of awareness resonates with the TEHS Scrum Framework for Health and Performance, particularly in the context of achieving optimal physiological states measured by FirstBeat analytics on Garmin devices. When Body Battery levels exceed 80% and stress falls below 20%, individuals often enter a flow state where the perception of time fades, the sense of self recedes, and the work itself becomes an enjoyable focal point. This alignment with Metzinger's observations on minimal consciousness underscores the interconnectedness of physiological metrics and advanced states of human consciousness, demonstrating how real-time health monitoring can enhance our understanding and experience of pure awareness."

→ Recommended by: Jeff Sutherland , Scrum Inc. Founder and Chairman of the Board

3. Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard

Author: Chip Heath and Dan Heath

??SI Thoughts: "I love the simple analogy it uses to break change into parts. Need to stimulate the mind (analytical side), stimulate the feeling of change (emotional side), and smooth the path to make the change easy. Did a great job of then breaking down those into practical solutions. This can then work across many domains or fields in a nice, easy-to-read entertaining book."

→ Recommended by: Matthew Jacobs , Chief Product Owner, Consulting

4. Leadership Strategy and Tactics Field Manual

Author: Jocko Willink

??SI Thoughts: "I love that the book talks about honing in on critical decision-making instincts!"

→ Recommended by: Nicole Marroquin, MBA , Agile Transformation Consultant

5. Tom Lake

Author: Ann Patchett

??SI Thoughts: "This is one of the loveliest novels I've ever read. It's a beautiful reflection upon choice, destiny, and the relationships between a mother and her daughters."

→ Recommended by: Jade Morel , VP, Client Services

6. The Culture Map

Author: Erin Meyer

??SI Thoughts: "A really interesting look at how different cultural norms impact how we communicate when we do business internationally."

→ Recommended by: George Glennie , Enterprise Agile Transformation Consultant

7. Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time

Authors: Jeff Sutherland and J.J. Sutherland

??SI Thoughts: "Originally I read this book to help me create content for my job, but was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the stories of different organizations and their challenges sucked me in. It was interesting to see how we really don't live unique experiences because we all face similar obstacles in the workplace and it was interesting to see how people tailored Agility to fix their problems. I walked away really feeling that Scrum can work anywhere - no matter the context."

→ Recommended by: Melanie Suarez , Brand & GTM Strategy Manager

8. Braiding Sweetgrass

Author: Robin Wall Kimmerer

??SI Thoughts: "I love Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer because it beautifully blends Indigenous wisdom with scientific knowledge, making it a unique read on our innate connection to nature. I recommend it to anyone for its practical lessons on sustainability and respect for the environment, which can inspire a softer, more humane approach to life."

→ Recommended by: Alyssa Layden , Director of Marketing and Strategy

9. Right Thing, Right Now

Author: Ryan Holiday

??SI Thoughts: "Right Thing, Right Now is yet another must-read by Ryan Holiday. Ever thought about how to make ethical decisions in today’s complex, modern, digital world? This book is essential for professionals who strive to lead with conviction and moral clarity, offering practical wisdom to foster a culture of integrity within their teams."

→ Recommended by: Alyssa Layden , Director of Marketing and Strategy

10. Scaling People

Author: Claire Hughes Johnson

??SI Thoughts: "I love that this book has both the strategy and the tactics of implementing a successful ops strategy. Stripe is a very agile organization, and our values align beautifully, so I have been very excited to read and start to implement what they have been able to successfully use and scale their business. This book was recommended by other Scrum Inc.'ers to me, so it's a testament to how well our organization thinks we are aligned!"

→ Recommended by: Preetinder (Preeti) Pugatch , Head of Operations & Scrum of Scrums Master

11. How Big Things Get Done

Author: Bent Flyvbjerg

??SI Thoughts: "This book gives an insight into how mega projects get done successfully. Lots of insight from creative processes at places like Pixar and by amazing people like Frank Gehry. Packed full of case studies and data, this book is fascinating and there are some wonderful parallels to our work."

→ Recommended by: James Edmondson , Enterprise Agile Transformation Consultant

12. New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong

Author: Stephanie Harrison

??SI Thoughts: "It's making me stop and think about my own societal conditioning for a shared definition of happiness, and whether or not I am valuing the correct things when pursuing happiness."

→ Recommended by: Reiner Leal , Senior Software Engineer

13. The Women

Author: Kristin Hannah

??SI Thoughts: "This book opened my mind and heart to the many who suffered and are still suffering due to the Vietnam War and our country's inability to support the people affected."

→ Recommended by: Dr. Tess Thompson , Principal Agile Transformation Consultant & Trainer

14. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Author: Douglas Adams

??SI Thoughts: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, a classic that's been around for years, is a fascinating read for both its humor and deeper insights. I picked it up to re-read as a fun summer treat and found it as engaging as ever. What makes this book particularly interesting is its ability to blend absurdity with profound observations about life, the universe, and everything in between. As an Agile nerd, I couldn't help but see parallels to Agile and Scrum principles. The themes of continuous adaptation to unexpected challenges and the iterative journey to discover the ultimate question resonate with the Agile mindset, emphasizing the importance of embracing change, continuous learning, and the value of simplicity. The characters' flexibility and resilience in navigating an ever-changing universe mirror the adaptability required in Agile teams, while their teamwork and effective communication highlight the collaborative nature of Scrum. In essence, this book is not only an enjoyable escape but also a subtle reinforcement of Agile principles, making it a delightful read that offers valuable lessons for both personal and professional life."

→ Recommended by: Shaun Thompson , Agile Transformation Consultant

15. Day Trading Attention: How to Actually Build Brand and Sales in the New Social Media World

Author: Gary Vaynerchuk

??SI Thoughts: "This book is full of insightful, practical, and actionable advice from a true leader out in the field. The examples, images, stories, and suggestions all make perfect sense and help connect the dots between idea and execution."

→ Recommended by: Shaun Thompson , Agile Transformation Consultant

16. The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying What People Think of You

Author: Jenna Fuchs

??SI Thoughts: "I love how it digs into your values and makes you think bigger picture about the legacy you want to leave behind and what matters in life. I also appreciated the scientific application behind why we are hardwired to care so much about what others think of us and what tools we can turn to so that it does not prevent us from reaching our full potential."

→ Recommended by: Jenna Fuchs , Scrum Team Coach

17. Recoding America

Author: Jennifer Pahlka

??SI Thoughts: "It’s an easy and compelling story about culture, data, digital, and how to connect with the consumer. There are lots of rich examples that we can use in consulting."

→ Recommended by: Martin Barlow , Enterprise Agile Transformation Consultant

18. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Author: Carol S. Dweck

??SI Thoughts: "While technically I am currently reading this book, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in self-improvement and fine-tuning their growth mindset. Success truly starts within."

→ Recommended by: Joe Figueroa , Director of Agile Ops

19. The Murder at the Vicarage

Author: Agatha Christie

??SI Thoughts: "This is the first novel to feature the iconic character Miss Jane Marple and it is set in her English village. Marple seems the least likely person to identify a murderer but her knack for listening, observing, and noticing transforms a series of seemingly unrelated clues into a denouement that is still surprising almost 100 years later. Indeed, very little gets passed, Jane."

→ Recommended by: Veronica Ruiz, Chief Marketing Officer

Let us know if any of these books hit your reading list. Have any topics you'd like to see us cover? Email us at [email protected] or comment below!