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 enlarge | Author: Chad Fowler
Publisher: Pragmatic Bookshelf
Category: Book
Buy New: $27.62
New (7) Used (5) from $27.62
Rating:  31 reviews
Sales Rank: 374034
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 232
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.7
ISBN: 0976694018
Dewey Decimal Number: 005.1092
EAN: 9780976694014
ASIN: 0976694018
Publication Date: September 19, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: New Book, never owned. Very minor shelf wear.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Funny name, Serious Book September 17, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Pragmatic Bookshelf" has a solid reputation for publishing great books and this book is no exception. This one ranks right up there with books like "The Pragmatic Programmer" and "Code Complete". With small bite sized chapters with specific and pointed advice, you won't go wrong buying this book.
In the era of globalization -- specifically with regard to software development, the book offers a complete list of techniques and approaches to not just survive but excel in the programming world. Having lived in India for a short while, he has some really astute observations about India including some great tips related to recruiting good programmers. There are a couple of chapters available for free off the publishers website. Read them and also take a look at the table of contents. Just the table of contents is probably worth the price of the book.
It is unfortunate that the title "My job went to India ..." was chosen. Apparently, the author's propensity for cuteness overcame his wisdom. Looking at the cover makes it seem like some kind of a trashy joke book and it's possible that a lot of folks might have given it the go-by judging the book by its cover. The publishers might be doing the general public a great service by releasing a new edition with some updates and renaming it while not wearing their funny hats -- maybe something like "The Relevant Programmer".
 Unimpressive, general career advice. July 22, 2007
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book has a bunch of generic advice along the lines of keep up with things and don't put all your eggs in one basket. Not exactly a revelation here.
If you read the relevant blogs, web sites and talk to people in the industry you don't need this book.
teriffic book for *any* employee - wish I'd had it when starting out July 3, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I love this book. It's full of great ideas on how to be a creative employee who significantly contributes to her organization. I really wish I'd had it 20 years ago when starting out. Note: The title is misleading; it's not about outsourcing so much as making yourself highly valuable. Highly recommended.
More at: A few highlights from "My job went to India"
http://ideamatt.blogspot.com/2007/02/few-highlights-from-my-job-went-to.html
 Helpful and very timely book May 13, 2007
I am glad to run into this book. I like its comprehensible and friendly tone. It is like a wand. I believe it helped me greatly to reconsider many things I have been thinking about and reevaluate my priorities. I would frankly recommend the book to read thru and get back to its chapters on regular basis.
A call to arms April 19, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I think this book, is a brief and good overview. It should be required reading for anyone considering a job which involves a chair let alone a job in the software or engineering professions.
Basically for most situations and for my money the book could have been titled "If you sit in a chair for a living, read this book!" The hard reality is that unless you are just "paid to be smart" (as the author notes), your job is already gone.
While specifically concerned with the fairly competitive software engineer field, I think looking past the technical points makes this book invaluable for any professional and is a good primer for those concerned about the overall outsourcing trends and their effect. Reading nearly as a call to arms for the office workers of first world marketplaces, the general task of how workers can keep themselves current and relevant to the jobs available in today's international workplace.
Some of the most relevant points in my opinion
1. "Love it or Leave it" - A tragic observation that far far too many people don't love the field of software engineering/programming and if you are just clocking in and just collecting a paycheck, get a job somewhere else, save yourself the pain , do it now.
2. Love of Learning - if you don't or aren't comfortable retooling your skillset every couple of years until your old and gray and beyond, find another gig.
3. "Be A Generalist" - The best "Tip" or subject covered was something that is tragically not obvious to many programmers and other professionals, within the fields I've worked. The tip notes that as an individual worker, realizing that professional diversity in your skillset is vitally important to competetiveness, not in regard to not just outsourcing but to long term job survival in any marketplace.
I've been involved in programming, systems administration or database design or any number of other "titles" for the last 25 years and I was happy to discover that I already do many BUT NOT ALL of these tips.
Personally, I could not have continued for more the a few years had I not been willing and ready to learn entirely new things every few years and I think the author gives enough tips that its possible for many a seasoned worker to leave their "comfort zone".
Doing this for as long as I have, I can say from experience, that many of the author's suggestions are spot-on.
On the negative side, since each chapter is small (2-3 pages) it is unfortunately not as deep into particular areas as one might like.
I would have been interested if the author reviewed some of the advantages US workers have in more depth and highlighted some of the overall concerns regarding oursourcing in more detail.
From a more general perspective, I found this quick read wonderfully dovetailed and makes a fresh and good companion to the excellent and deep Rise and Fall of the Great Powers (by Paul Kennedy)
Overall, A huge thank you Chad!
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