As the year draws to a close, it’s natural to begin reflecting on the past twelve months and setting plans and goals for the year ahead. For many, these resolutions include reading more or making strides in their professional life. With that in mind, here at Tact we’ve combined the two to curate a list of the best books and podcasts to inspire, educate, and entertain tech enthusiasts and hiring managers as they step into 2025. Whether you’re aiming to sharpen your leadership skills, embrace the latest tech trends, or simply discover new perspectives, this list is packed with resources to get you started.
Books to Add to Your 2025 Reading List
“The Phoenix Project” by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford
This engaging business novel takes you through the journey of transforming an IT department into a high-functioning DevOps powerhouse. It’s a must-read for anyone involved in tech operations or managing software development teams.
“Measure What Matters” by John Doerr
A comprehensive guide to OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), this book shares invaluable insights into how tech giants like Google achieve their ambitious goals. Perfect for managers aiming to set clear and effective targets.
“Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek
Sinek explores the dynamics of successful leadership, offering lessons on building trust, fostering collaboration, and creating a thriving team culture.
“Deep Work” by Cal Newport
Newport’s essential guide to focused, meaningful work is particularly valuable in an industry often interrupted by notifications and multitasking.
“The Manager’s Path” by Camille Fournier
This practical handbook for engineering managers provides clear advice on everything from managing teams to navigating career progression in leadership roles.
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear
Small changes can lead to transformative results. Clear’s framework for building better habits is ideal for anyone seeking personal or professional growth in 2025.
Podcasts to Tune Into
“The Changelog”
A go-to for developers, this podcast covers open-source software, the latest industry trends, and conversations with tech leaders.
“Recruitment On The Go”
Bite-sized episodes offering hiring tips, insights into talent acquisition, and advice for navigating recruitment challenges.
“DevDiscuss”
Run by developers, for developers, this podcast offers thoughtful discussions on coding, tech careers, and the challenges of working in development.
“WorkLife with Adam Grant”
Organisational psychologist Adam Grant delves into workplace dynamics, helping listeners rethink leadership, productivity, and team culture.
“99% Invisible”
While not strictly tech-focused, this podcast explores design and innovation in everyday life, inspiring creativity and problem-solving.
“The SaaS Podcast”
A rich resource for anyone in the SaaS industry, offering lessons on scaling businesses, improving products, and achieving success.
Fuel Your 2025 Goals
As you plan for 2025, this collection of books and podcasts are quality sources of content for enriching your perspective and sharpening your skills. Whether you want to refine your leadership abilities, adopt innovative hiring strategies, or keep pace with the rapidly evolving tech landscape, this curated list offers valuable insights and inspiration.
So, make a cuppa, pick a book or podcast from this list, and take the first step towards a year of learning and growth. Here’s to a successful and inspiring 2025!