Pragmatic Thinking and Learning: Refactor Your Wetware / Edition 1

by Andy Hunt

Overview

Printed in full color.

Software development happens in your head. Not in an editor, IDE, or design tool. You're well educated on how to work with software and hardware, but what about wetware—our own brains? Learning new skills and new technology is critical to your career, and it's all in your head.

In this book by Andy Hunt, you'll learn how our brains are wired, and how to take advantage of your brain's architecture. You'll learn new tricks and tips to learn more, faster, and retain more of what you learn.

You need a pragmatic approach to thinking and learning. You need to Refactor Your Wetware.

Programmers have to learn constantly; not just the stereotypical new technologies, but also the problem domain of the application, the whims of the user community, the quirks of your teammates, the shifting sands of the industry, and the evolving characteristics of the project itself as it is built.

We'll journey together through bits of cognitive and neuroscience, learning and behavioral theory. You'll see some surprising aspects of how our brains work, and how you can take advantage of the system to improve your own learning and thinking skills.

In this book you'll learn how to:

Use the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition to become more expert

Leverage the architecture of the brain to strengthen different thinking modes

Avoid common "known bugs" in your mind

Learn more deliberately and more effectively

Manage knowledge more efficiently

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781934356050
Publisher:	Pragmatic Bookshelf
Publication date:	09/01/2008
Series:	Pragmatic Programmers
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Andy Hunt is a programmer turned consultant, author and publisher. He co-authored the best-selling book "The Pragmatic Programmer," was one of the 17 founders of the Agile Alliance, and co-founded the Pragmatic Bookshelf, publishing award-winning and critically acclaimed books for software developers.

Editorial Reviews

"I’ve recommended it to anyone who will stand still long enough to listen to me. I was familiar with some of the ideas and techniques from my various readings on the science of learning, but its invaluable to have them gathered in one concise book, especially one geared towards developers."

—Dr. Paul V. Gestwicki, Professor & Director of Undergraduate Programs, Ball State University

"I’ve always been looking for something to help me improve my learning skills, but i’ve never found anything as effective as this book."

—Oscar Del Ben, Software Developer

"Absolutely terrific! I’m only beginning the 3rd chapter and I’ve already found the book VERY, VERY useful. It makes me look at what I am doing and how I do it in a different light."

—Carol Saah, Java Software Developer

From the Publisher