10 Must-Read Technology Books for Summer Reading

Summer has already dawned upon us, but is your tech reading list still empty? We know what to fill it with!

Whether you already work in the industry, aim to break into tech, or just want to quickly glance behind its curtain this summer and see how it catalyzes changes, these books are a feast for your mind.

Below are the top-recommended technology books to binge this summer. They perfectly suit any reader’s preference: from information to relaxation, from insanely simple vocab to tech jargon, from data analytics to UX design, from a futuristic prediction to a “love story to, for, and about tech.”

Hang tight: they’re coming!

Top 10 Books on Technology for Your Summer Read

Deep Tech: Demystifying the Breakthrough Technologies That Will Revolutionize Everything

Author: Eric Redmond

Get it from Amazon.

Can you also feel it?

A huge tsunami of technologies covers us from head to toe with tremendous force and persistence.

Tame this wave with Eric Redmond and his technology book picked for summer. Start bathing in the refreshing waters of cutting-edge tech trends and solutions as follows:

“Diving deeper and deeper into revolutionary technologies in his book, Eric Redmond does an incredible thing. He drags out to the surface a distinct snapshot of the future, where new dimensions, tools, and apps will have a 100-trillion-dollar impact on the economic landscape worldwide,” mentions Axel Lavergne, Founder at ReviewFlowz.

So, are you ready to take a plunge and investigate the seafloor of the tech revolution?

Wild Tech: Becoming a Digital Nomad

Author: Ironhack

Where to find: Download an ebook here.

From Deep Tech to Wild Tech, what a tech book shift, heh?

Now that you have delved deep into advanced technology with the previous book, you might want to go wild this summer through a journey into digital nomadism. Why not?

The key formula = travel freely + work distantly + use technologies.

Suppose you consider combining a career in tech with traveling or tweaking your work mode to be fully remote and launching your work right from the plane.

Then, your top pick this summer should be one of the must-read tech books for digital nomads: Wild Tech. It tackles all the “what ifs” in your mind when evaluating the digital nomad lifestyle.

Grant Aldrich, Founder of OnlineDegree.com, also remarks, “One of the greatest perks you can get from this ebook is practical guidance on how to work and level up your knowledge on the fly, whether figuratively or literally. Plus, Ironhack gives all the tools that make it a superbly joyful and rewarding process—the digital nomad’s toolkit.”

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI

Author: Ethan Mollick

Source it from Amazon.

Picture this.

You wake up on a Sunday morning in 2030. Your AI-powered voice assistant tells you several jokes, as requested. Your smart fridge generates a recipe based on your diet and reminds you to buy products for it. And once you log in to your work account—let’s say you’re building a career in design—an AI designer is already there. You see new AI breakthroughs wherever you turn at home or work.

Does it seem scary or exciting?

Whatever it is, we must prepare for smooth coexistence and co-intelligence. That’s what Ethan Mollick teaches us in one of the best books about technology that draws attention to artificial intelligence.

He discusses a variety of its nuances, from AI in everyday life to its specific aspects and roles in workplaces, like these:

When asked to share the most remarkable thing about this book, Phil Strazzulla, Founder at SelectSoftware Reviews, said, “What strikes me most in Co-Intelligence is how the author cracks the stereotypical perception of AI as ‘the alien’ to be frightened of. He creates the concept of ‘aligning the alien’ and working with artificial intelligence in symbiosis. It presupposes using AI instead as a friendly mind (even if it’s a digital mind in an AI bot or software) or a helping hand (even if it’s a robotized hand).”

Burn Book: A Tech Love Story

Author: Kara Swisher

Find it on Amazon.

Once christened “the Queen of all media” by the WSJ and the journalist so shrill “that only dogs can hear her,” by Elon Musk, Kara Swisher narrates a “tech love story.” In Burn Book, she reveals a three-decade result from penetrating the technology realm and interviewing tech leaders who dared to change the tech game. Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk, among others, appear in this story.

Logan Mallory, Vice President of Marketing at Motivosity, shares his experience of approaching the book:

“Burn Book appeared on my to-be-read list right after its publication this year. This title is one of the newest books on technology released in 2024.

I believe it’s a fantastic summer dose of inspiration for tech enthusiasts. You’ll be surprised to find out how the heartbeat of innovation resonates with the tech leaders and their aspirations, their internal and external motivational triggers for technological advancements.”

Please Stay: How Women in Tech Survive and Thrive

Authors: Kelley Irwin and Debra Christmas

Grab it from Amazon.

“If you’re a female in tech or hesitantly stepping into this domain, you must read this book. Even if you’re not, it’s a pick-me-up read anyway. The authors transcend gender boundaries. The stories of women empowerment can’t but motivate you to join the movement and stay, just as the title prompts you, and, more importantly, support women in technology,” comments Brooke Webber, Head of Marketing at Ninja Patches, who selected this book for our list.

Women in tech often need to prove their seats at the table are well-deserved. And worse—there are widespread roadblocks obstructing them:

At the same time, the book demonstrates how women can overcome these barriers and forge a path to success.

Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked

Author: Adam Alter

Find it on Amazon.

In most cases, we all follow this pattern. We open a social media channel (Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook) and keep scrolling, and more scrolling, and more...

The addict lives in all of us, according to the author. However, not everyone can cope with this phenomenon. Adam Alter kicks off with stories about addicted video gamers and gadget addicts. For example, one of them is about an addict using Google Glass (innovative wearable technology) for 18 hours a day. He confesses the addiction is stronger than the alcoholic one.

Thomas Medlin, Co-founder at JumpMD, highlights the book’s psychology-driven side. He says, “Irresistible is one of the best technology books I’d encourage everyone to read this summer. It reviews the psychological dangers of consuming digital content we typically never give much thought to (mental and behavioral addictions). What I particularly find useful in this book is practical guidance on how to minimize these threats and apply psychological principles constructively to technologies for consumer’s well-being.”

The Art of Cyber Resilience: Into the Mind of Cyber Criminals

Author: Amelia Ching

Snag it from Amazon.

What are cyber attackers thinking at this moment? What hacking plans are boiling in their minds?

They can sabotage people’s trust and cybersecurity, turning anyone into a cyber victim. Amelia Ching discusses various aspects of the darker side of technology, such as security concerns of digital information, sources of vulnerabilities, and types of cyber threats.

That’s what happened to:

As a business leader concerned about physical and cyber safety, Roman Zrazhevskiy, Founder & CEO at MIRA Safety, says, “I’d highly recommend this technology book to those particularly interested in cybersecurity or pursuing this career. With bits of tech-related jargon, the author explains how to be cyber-resilient through realistic scenarios and examples. Each chapter includes sections with warning signs, safeguards, and the best cybersecurity practices, which can be handy for tech professionals as well as non-techies.”

Make Noise: A Creator’s Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio Storytelling

Author: Eric Nuzum

Where to find: on Amazon.

Would you like not only to read books about technology but also to make your voice heard in the field?

Then, make noise—start podcasting and storytelling with the power of audio!

Derek Pankaew, Founder of Listening.com, claims, “A podcast is an indispensable modern tool to amplify voices and tell stories, whether for entertainment, education, or business. Yet, as there are already thousands of podcasts, it’s rather tough to make it sound like the melody in a cacophony of noise, vivid and resonant. In his book, Eric Nuzum will gladly instruct you on making it melodic and captivating instead of dull and tiresome.”

By the way, if you’re also a podcast junkie, you can tune in to the best tech podcasts this summer.

The Innovator’s DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators

Authors: Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen, and Clayton Christensen

Obtain it via Amazon.

“I want to put a ding in the universe.”—Steve Jobs

And Steve Jobs actually did what he wanted by propelling innovation and progress through Apple Inc., his tech “child.”

In fact, many other innovators have done the same through tech entrepreneurship. They all have five common competencies engraved in their DNAs. They learned to—

“The Innovator’s DNA isn’t just a tech book for a casual summer read; it’s a continuous reference manual to become a front-running luminary in the tech world. It provides strategies and exercises to stay vigilant about emerging technologies and market shifts and champion groundbreaking ideas,” said Jerry Han, CMO at PrizeRebel.

Summer may be a perfect season to test your innovator’s DNA.

 The Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Home Automation

Author: Gary Hickman

Where to get it: on Amazon.

Bet you’ve heard of the Internet of Things and probably faced it in everyday life: cleaning bots, temperature control systems, motion sensors, Wi-Fi-enabled refrigerators, personal assistants (Alexa or Siri), etc.

The author explains how such devices work and interconnect to create a more pleasant living environment. This is a must-read for anyone curious about IoT as high-tech and its immense transformative impact on our homes specifically.

Alan Parkes, Owner of Denver Roofing & Colorado Springs Roofing, also notes, “It’s a splendid book about IoT technologies settling in our houses. Short but practical, it gives helpful tips on choosing one if you want to renovate your home in line with your tech-oriented taste.”

Have you revolutionized your mind? How about renovating your home with smart devices now?

Additional Summer Reads for Technoids

Data analysis books

If you’re a data nerd, consider reading technology books on data analytics:

Web development books

Some of the newly released tech books on programming and web development are:

UX/UI books

Here’s a short list of technology books for a designer:

To top it all off, Ironhack has also gathered a more extensive collection (25 titles!) of books for techies, featuring tech career advice, data analytics, web development, cybersecurity, and design.

Get “booked” for a tech-filled summer reading adventure with Ironhack.