The One-Paragraph Book Review

Well, actually two book reviews, although each is only a paragraph.

Micro-ISV: from Vision to Reality by Bob Walsh (APress).

A book by one of the moderators on the Joel on Software forum about the ins and outs of setting up your own (micro) independent software vendor. Lots of information on tax, web forums, interviews with people who have done it or are doing it and lots and lots of plugs for Joel and FogBugz. And, to tell you the truth, not much fun to read. As Mr Walsh states, his style is just the facts but it just left me bored. I'm sure there's useful information in there but I put the book down and didn't pick it up again.

Update: I think I was being a bit unfair. It's a reference book, not a reading book. Sorry Bob.

Getting Real by 37Signals (37Signals).

A book by the web's hottest company about the process that they followed to write Basecamp, Backpack, Campfire et al. Obviously, if you're reading this site you already know something of 37Signals as Rails is the brainchild of David Heinemeier Hanson and was created to write Basecamp. And the book, like the products and the framework is fantastic. I read the first chapters and I was itching to go off and set up my own company. The passion and enthusiasm positively drips off the (electronic) page and the book is an inspiration. Even though it is literally the opposite of Micro-ISV - virtually no facts, just a 177 page pep talk, with the disclaimer that "this is what worked for us, it may not work for you". If you ever feel a bit down about writing software, read it and it will bring you back to life.