7 Best-Selling Devops Books Millions Love
Kirk Borne, Principal Data Scientist at Booz Allen, and Aruna Ravichandran, CA Technologies VP, recommend these best-selling Devops books

There's something special about books that both critics and crowds love, especially when it comes to Devops—a field driving the evolution of software delivery and organizational performance. Millions have turned to these best-selling books because they offer proven frameworks that help teams accelerate innovation, improve reliability, and scale effectively.
Kirk Borne, a Principal Data Scientist at Booz Allen, discovered Accelerate through his work in data science and praised its rigorous research that also applies to DataOps and Lean Analytics. Meanwhile, Aruna Ravichandran, Vice President of DevOps Product Marketing at CA Technologies, brings two decades of experience in IT operations and champions practical strategies for digital leaders in DevOps. Their endorsements highlight why these books resonate with both practitioners and executives.
While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific Devops needs might consider creating a personalized Devops book that combines these validated approaches with your unique goals and context.
Recommended by Kirk Borne
Principal Data Scientist at Booz Allen
“Fantastic accomplishment! Congratulations Nicole Forsgren on your outstanding DevOps book ... I love that: “The Science of Lean” ... that works also for DataOps and Lean Analytics.” (from X)
by Nicole Forsgren PhD, Jez Humble, Gene Kim bestselling author of The Phoenix Project The Unicorn Project and Wiring··You?
by Nicole Forsgren PhD, Jez Humble, Gene Kim bestselling author of The Phoenix Project The Unicorn Project and Wiring··You?
Nicole Forsgren PhD, Jez Humble, and Gene Kim challenge the long-held belief that software delivery performance doesn't impact business success. Drawing from four years of rigorous research including the State of DevOps reports, they identify measurable metrics and capabilities that improve technology organizations' output. You’ll learn how to quantify team performance and which investments drive higher efficiency, supported by clear statistical analysis. This book suits managers at all levels aiming to align software practices with business outcomes, especially those navigating digital transformation. For example, chapters detail how lean principles apply to DevOps and how leadership decisions influence delivery speed and stability.
Recommended by Publisher's Weekly
“...it's tone is as inviting as the case it makes is compelling. Business leaders looking for guidance about DevOps practices, or to get started on an implementation plan, will find much to work with here.” (from Amazon)
by Gene Kim bestselling author of The Phoenix Project The Unicorn Project and Wiring, Jez Humble, Patrick Debois, John Willis, Nicole Forsgren··You?
by Gene Kim bestselling author of The Phoenix Project The Unicorn Project and Wiring, Jez Humble, Patrick Debois, John Willis, Nicole Forsgren··You?
Gene Kim's decades of experience in IT and DevOps led to this expanded edition that pushes the boundaries beyond traditional IT departments. You learn how to implement DevOps at scale across entire organizations, with insights grounded in rigorous research and detailed case studies from brands like Adidas and American Airlines. The book offers practical frameworks for improving agility, security, and reliability in technology operations, emphasizing collaboration beyond just software teams. If you're involved in technology transformation or business leadership seeking to integrate DevOps principles widely, this handbook lays out what works and why, without unnecessary jargon or hype.
by TailoredRead AI·
This tailored book explores advanced DevOps practices designed specifically for complex environments where traditional methods often fall short. It delves into nuanced techniques and integrates proven knowledge with your unique background to address the challenges of scaling, automation, and collaboration in high-stakes settings. Through a personalized lens, the book examines continuous integration, deployment pipelines, infrastructure as code, and monitoring strategies that align with your specific goals and interests. By focusing content to your experience level and priorities, it fosters deeper understanding and practical mastery of DevOps beyond generic guidance, making your learning journey both efficient and relevant.
by Jeffery D. Smith·You?
by Jeffery D. Smith·You?
Jeffery D. Smith's extensive experience managing DevOps transformations at companies like Centro and Grubhub informs this book's realistic approach to implementing DevOps in less-than-ideal environments. You learn to identify common operational pitfalls—dubbed anti-patterns—and to apply incremental improvements without needing to overhaul your entire organizational structure. Chapters like "Alert Fatigue" and "Information Hoarding: Only Brent Knows" offer concrete examples highlighting communication breakdowns and cultural challenges you’ll recognize in your own teams. This book suits team leaders and managers who want practical strategies for navigating entrenched mindsets and limited resources, rather than idealized DevOps scenarios.
by Aruna Ravichandran, Kieran Taylor, Peter Waterhouse··You?
by Aruna Ravichandran, Kieran Taylor, Peter Waterhouse··You?
This isn't another DevOps book promising generic solutions; it dives deep into the real challenges digital leaders face when bridging development and operations. The authors, all seasoned DevOps leaders at CA Technologies, share strategies for removing bottlenecks, automating continuous delivery, and integrating metrics tailored to your organization's needs. You'll find insights into producing defect-free software faster, virtualizing production-like testing, and adopting agile practices to enhance both developer productivity and operational reliability. This book suits IT executives responsible for accelerating software delivery, as well as development, operations, and security professionals seeking a pragmatic approach to modern DevOps.
by Len Bass, Ingo Weber, Liming Zhu··You?
by Len Bass, Ingo Weber, Liming Zhu··You?
When Len Bass recognized the gap between DevOps promises and architectural realities, he teamed with Ingo Weber and Liming Zhu to confront these challenges head-on. You'll explore the architectural decisions essential for effective DevOps adoption, including how virtualization, cloud, and continuous deployment pipelines reshape system design. The book offers detailed case studies on microservices migration and business continuity that illustrate these concepts in practice. If you're a software architect or engineering leader seeking to integrate DevOps deeply into your systems and teams, this book provides a focused lens on the operational and organizational shifts required.
by TailoredRead AI·
This personalized book explores a focused 30-day sprint designed to optimize your DevOps processes efficiently. It covers step-by-step actions tailored to your background and goals, guiding you through practical adjustments that enhance workflow speed and reliability. By concentrating on your specific interests and experience level, this tailored resource drills into key aspects such as pipeline automation, monitoring, and collaboration improvements that drive tangible progress. The book matches proven knowledge with your unique context, offering a learning experience that examines common DevOps challenges and reveals effective techniques to overcome them quickly. It provides a customized path to accelerate continuous delivery and operational excellence.
by Gary Gruver, Tommy Mouser, Gene Kim bestselling author of The Phoenix Project The Unicorn Project and Wiring··You?
by Gary Gruver, Tommy Mouser, Gene Kim bestselling author of The Phoenix Project The Unicorn Project and Wiring··You?
Gary Gruver's decades of executive experience in large-scale software development shine through in this focused guide on scaling Agile and DevOps principles beyond individual teams. You learn how to coordinate complex workflows across multiple groups, a challenge most tech leaders face when trying to accelerate delivery in legacy environments. The book breaks down a clear framework that executives can use to lead transformation efforts, emphasizing organizational change over just team-level improvements, with examples from companies like Amazon and Google. If you're looking to understand not just Agile or DevOps concepts but how to apply them at enterprise scale, this book offers practical insights without unnecessary jargon.
What happens when a practical guide meets the complex world of DevOps? Tech World crafted this handbook to break down the often-intimidating DevOps journey into accessible steps. You’ll find clear explanations on assessing organizational readiness, fostering a collaborative culture, and applying automation techniques like continuous delivery and automated testing. The book’s beginner-friendly tone means you don’t need prior expertise to grasp its insights, making it especially useful if you’re transitioning your team or starting fresh with DevOps practices. By the end, you’ll understand not just the technical tools but also how to nurture communication and continuous improvement within your organization.
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Conclusion
This collection of seven best-selling Devops books reveals clear themes: grounded research, actionable strategies for scaling, and realistic insights into overcoming organizational challenges. If you prefer proven methods backed by rigorous data, Accelerate and The DevOps Handbook provide powerful foundations.
For those seeking practical advice on navigating common pitfalls, Operations Anti-Patterns, DevOps Solutions offers indispensable guidance. Alternatively, DevOps for Digital Leaders and Leading the Transformation focus on leadership and enterprise-scale adoption, ideal for executives driving change.
To blend these proven methods with your unique challenges, you can create a personalized Devops book tailored to your experience and goals. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed in transforming their organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?
Start with Accelerate if you want data-backed insights on what truly drives high-performing DevOps teams. It’s praised for its clear metrics and practical advice that apply beyond software delivery.
Are these books too advanced for someone new to Devops?
Not at all. DevOps Handbook: A Guide To Implementing DevOps In Your Workplace is especially beginner-friendly and breaks down complex concepts into accessible steps, making it great for newcomers.
What's the best order to read these books?
Consider beginning with foundational research in Accelerate, then explore practical implementation in DevOps Handbook. Follow with leadership-focused titles like DevOps for Digital Leaders for broader context.
Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?
You can definitely start with one that matches your role or goals. For example, architects might prefer DevOps: A Software Architect's Perspective, while team leaders might gravitate toward Operations Anti-Patterns.
Are any of these books outdated given how fast Devops changes?
While DevOps evolves, these books focus on core principles and strategies that remain relevant. Their emphasis on culture, metrics, and leadership transcends specific tools or trends.
How can I get Devops knowledge tailored to my specific needs without reading multiple books?
These expert books offer invaluable insights, but personalized content can complement them by focusing on your unique experience and goals. You can create a custom Devops book that blends popular methods with your specific challenges and priorities.
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