The Agile Samurai: How Agile Masters Deliver Great Software (Pragmatic Programmers) Paperback – October 5, 2010

Excellent Introduction to Agile

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Amazon Customer

October 15, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I found the material on this book edifying and easy to understand. This book stays away from many of the technical details of the practices it covers (such as TDD and Continuous Integration); for more information on Test Driven Development or Continuous Integration, I recommend much further reading. Use this book as a starting point, not a source of compressive information on the subject.

One does not need to be a developer to appreciate the contents of this book. In fact, most of the insights in Agile Samurai would probably be more helpful for managers and nontechnical workers overseeing technical projects than for developers themselves.

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Best intro to agile I've read

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Randy

February 21, 2011

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I consider The Agile Samurai the best introduction to agile I've read. The writing is clear, fun and concise. The use of a dialog with Sensei to summarize each chapter is clever and a refreshing change from the typical bullet points. Even if you have done agile for a while, this book will bring you back to the principles of agile and re-inspire you on why you have the habits that you do. It will re-equip you to have conversations with skeptics and newbies. I have a copy available for anyone who joins the team.

3 people found this helpful

Practical Agile book covering all aspects of software project management

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Agile_Chris

February 25, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I have read many books about Agile project management but this is the most practical book I have read so far. In addition the book covers all aspects of an Agile software development project: from estimating and planning via burn-down charts and working agreements to continuous integration and test driven development. It is like the best User Stories you can get: a complete vertical slice through your software development project from a project management perspective.

The style is very casual and reflects the Agile culture. The real take-away is the Inception Deck as originally developed within ThoughtWorks (note: yes, I have worked for them too). Many Agile (Scrum) projects kick-off without asking these 10 tough questions and are forced to fix more misunderstandings down the track.

One reviewer refers to this book as "Starter course for agile managers" and indeed the material is lightweight and simple to read. However in real-life this is very hard to master. The simplicity of the book therefore reminds me to stick to the basics when handling the day-to-day complexity.

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August 16, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Umpteen websites, videos, meetings, and several books into 'learning agile' a colleague recommended this book. I tore though it in less than a day. It clarifies practices and jargon, cutting to the core of how to start doing what matters most: delivering working solutions of value to the customer and stakeholders. I have a practical and do-able list of things to do to get our agile project moving.

Wherever you are on the agile spectrum, picking this up and giving it a read is going to be worthwhile. You may not agree with everything or be able to put it all into practice, but if you pay attention to what the author is getting at, you will have to think about how and why you do what you do the way you do.

Good for a quick read, but I can't say if it's a necessary one.

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Olivera T.

April 27, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I'm new to development, so I can't really comment on how groundbreaking this book is. I don't think I'm using it in the appropriate context to use the text (it's a web development class textbook), so it's a little hard to appreciate what it says. I will say it's a pretty easy and fast read, and its concepts are quite solid. I do think the interior of the book could have been designed a bit...neater, though. It's not the most fun to look at, though the author did a good job of making what could be a boring and uninteresting topic somewhat entertaining.

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Active Amazon Shopper

Five Stars

January 20, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Practical and straight forward. Keep it by my desk to reference often.

Cuts through the guff to get to the meat

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Peter griffin

June 27, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I also have the audio version which I often play in the car on the way to work. I like the simplicity in the way that information is presented without the extra verbiage. The humour is a little cheesy at times, but that's OK it's meant to be. I would rate this as a great Quick Reference book.

One person found this helpful

Lists the right questions to ask before starting a project. Inception Deck rocks!

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Most recent customer reviews

Fabiola De la Cueva

I have this book in the "Pragmatic" books section of my library.

If you don't have time to read the whole book, I recommend the product inception section.Read more

Published 5 months ago

Orlando_Pham

Five Stars

good book

Published 5 months ago

Amazon Customer

For beginners only

Would have expected much more details on agile practices and less about (very basic) software development practices.Read more

Published 8 months ago

Michal Nowostawski

Must read for all interested in project management.

A must read for those who work with projects, no matter if this is agile or not.
Principles remain the same. Some projects are successful and some aren't.Read more

Colorado Frustrated

Awesome!

Easy ready! Very useful!

Clear, concise, and entertaining first look at agile

Amazon Customer

The Agile Samurai is a great introduction to agile development. Written in clear, concise, entertaining, and often funny language, Rasmussen explains how teams can get started...Read more

but this is by far my favorite. Maybe its that I can identify with it ...

Jonathan Frappier

If you want to learn about Agile, this is the book. I have read others, but this is by far my favorite.Read more