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

Kirk Borne
Updated on June 27, 2025
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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.

Best for proven DevOps research
Kirk Borne, Principal Data Scientist at Booz Allen and a leading voice in data science, praised this book for its rigorous approach to DevOps and lean methodologies. He highlights how its insights extend beyond software to DataOps and analytics, reflecting its broad impact. His endorsement underscores how the book distills complex research into practical lessons, aligning with what many in technology management find invaluable. "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." This reflects how the book reshaped his view on integrating lean principles into digital workflows.
KB

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)

Accelerate: The Science of Lean Software and DevOps: Building and Scaling High Performing Technology Organizations book cover

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.

Winner of the Shingo Publication Award
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Best for scaling DevOps practices
Publisher's Weekly, a respected authority in the book industry, highlights how this edition aligns with what business leaders need during digital transformation. Their recommendation reflects the book's appeal to those seeking clear guidance on DevOps implementation, emphasizing its inviting tone and compelling case for widespread adoption. This perspective underscores why so many readers turn to this handbook to navigate the complexities of scaling DevOps beyond IT teams.

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)

The DevOps Handbook: How to Create World-Class Agility, Reliability, & Security in Technology Organizations book cover

by Gene Kim bestselling author of The Phoenix Project The Unicorn Project and Wiring, Jez Humble, Patrick Debois, John Willis, Nicole Forsgren··You?

2021·528 pages·Software Development, Technology, Scalability, Devops, Strategy

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.

Bestselling business handbook
Second edition with new case studies
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Best for personal action plans
This AI-created book on DevOps mastery is tailored to your background, experience, and the specific challenges you face in complex environments. By sharing your goals and interests, you receive a book that zeroes in on advanced DevOps topics relevant to your needs, avoiding one-size-fits-all advice. This personalized approach helps you focus on what matters most in your context, making your learning process more efficient and engaging.
2025·50-300 pages·Devops, DevOps Fundamentals, Continuous Integration, Deployment Pipelines, Infrastructure as Code

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.

Tailored Guide
Advanced DevOps Insights
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for practical DevOps troubleshooting
Operations Anti-Patterns, DevOps Solutions offers a grounded look at applying DevOps techniques when your workplace resists sweeping change. Jeffery D. Smith draws on his 15-plus years in tech and hands-on experience transforming teams at Centro and Grubhub to show how you can tackle common blockers like communication breakdowns and outdated systems. The book’s mix of technology guidance, organizational psychology, and realistic strategies makes it a valuable resource for team leaders aiming to improve processes despite limited flexibility. It addresses the challenges of turning DevOps theory into practice in real-world environments where politics and legacy infrastructures prevail.
2020·320 pages·Devops, Information Technology, Code Anti Pattern, Operational Metrics, Workflow Optimization

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.

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Best for digital leadership in DevOps
Aruna Ravichandran, Vice President of DevOps Product Marketing at CA Technologies, brings over 20 years of experience in IT operations and software delivery to this insightful guide. Recognized as one of Silicon Valley's most influential women, she leverages her leadership roles at Juniper Networks and Hewlett Packard to address the challenges digital leaders face in uniting development and operations. Her expertise shines through as she outlines how to build modern DevOps-enabled software factories that drive business value and operational excellence.
2016·188 pages·Devops, Information Technology, Software Development, Continuous Delivery, Agile Practices

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.

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Best for software architects in DevOps
Len Bass, a senior principal researcher at National ICT Australia Ltd. with over 50 years in software development, brings deep expertise to this exploration of DevOps. His extensive background in software engineering informs a practical guide focused on architectural choices and organizational context that shape successful DevOps implementation. This book benefits those ready to rethink traditional architectures to harness DevOps fully.
DevOps: A Software Architect's Perspective (SEI Series in Software Engineering) book cover

by Len Bass, Ingo Weber, Liming Zhu··You?

2015·352 pages·Devops, Information Technology, Software Architecture, Continuous Deployment, Microservices

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.

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Best for rapid DevOps improvements
This AI-created book on DevOps optimization is crafted based on your experience and specific goals. You share which areas of DevOps you want to improve and your current skill level, and the book focuses on the step-by-step actions that best suit your needs. Customizing the content this way helps you avoid generic advice and zero in on the changes that will make the biggest impact faster.
2025·50-300 pages·Devops, DevOps Fundamentals, Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, Automation Tools

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.

Tailored Guide
Workflow Enhancement
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for enterprise Agile and DevOps
Gary Gruver is an experienced executive with a proven track record of transforming software development processes in large organizations. His expertise underpins this guide, which draws from successes at companies like Amazon and Google to show how executives can lead Agile and DevOps transformations at scale. Gruver’s focus on organizational coordination rather than just team-level tweaks makes this book a valuable resource for leaders aiming to accelerate software delivery in complex environments.
Leading the Transformation: Applying Agile and DevOps Principles at Scale book cover

by Gary Gruver, Tommy Mouser, Gene Kim bestselling author of The Phoenix Project The Unicorn Project and Wiring··You?

2015·112 pages·Devops, Agile Software Development, Software Development, Enterprise Transformation, Team Coordination

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.

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Best for beginner-friendly DevOps implementation
The "DevOps Handbook: A Guide To Implementing DevOps In Your Workplace" offers a straightforward approach to adopting DevOps, emphasizing both technical and cultural shifts. Its accessible style and clear roadmap have resonated with many looking to transform their organizations into more agile and collaborative environments. This guide demystifies DevOps concepts, making it approachable whether you’re new to the field or looking to refine your existing processes. By focusing on practical strategies for integration and continuous learning, it stands as a solid resource for anyone committed to improving software delivery and team dynamics through DevOps.
2017·58 pages·Devops, Strategy, Collaboration, Automation, Continuous Delivery

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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Popular Devops Strategies, Personalized

Get proven Devops methods tailored to your unique challenges and goals.

Proven frameworks delivered
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Validated by thousands of Devops enthusiasts and top experts

Devops Mastery Blueprint
30-Day Devops Sprint
Foundations of Devops
Devops Success Formula

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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