Hey Claude, I need to build a bridge.

I just finished reading Brian Merchant's Blood in the Machine. I'd received many glowing recommendations of it from other workers in tech, and frankly, my opinion of those recommenders has fallen a bit. But I do think it's worth reading, despite its flaws.

I've been asked more than once by junior coders: "When will I start feeling like I know what I'm doing?" They're not usually prepared for my answer, which is "never."

My job has a learning & development stipend. I usually use it to buy books that are relevant to my work. Here are the ones I read in 2025 and what I think of them.