8 Best-Selling Jira Books Millions Rely On

Dive into Jira Books authored by leading experts like Matthew B. Doar and Patrick Li, offering best-selling insights and proven strategies

Updated on June 26, 2025
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8 of 8 books have Kindle versions

There's something special about books that both critics and crowds love, especially when it comes to mastering complex tools like Jira. Millions of professionals worldwide rely on Jira to streamline their project management and software development workflows, making it essential to understand its depths through trusted resources. Jira's popularity reflects a proven value that organizations continue to leverage for efficiency and collaboration.

The books featured here come from authors deeply embedded in the Jira ecosystem. Matthew B. Doar, for example, brings hands-on expertise from his consultancy work, focusing on administration and plugin development. Patrick Li offers detailed knowledge on Agile project management with Jira, helping users implement Scrum and Kanban effectively. Rachel Wright and Jobin Kuruvilla add practical templates and advanced customization techniques, rounding out a collection that covers both foundational and specialized Jira skills.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific Jira needs might consider creating a personalized Jira book that combines these validated approaches. This option ensures you focus on the Jira features and workflows most relevant to your projects and experience level.

Best for mastering JIRA administration nuances
Kindle version available
Matthew B. Doar runs Consulting Toolsmiths, a Silicon Valley consultancy specializing in JIRA configuration and customization. As an Atlassian partner and active member of the Atlassian development community, Doar brings firsthand expertise to this book. His experience working globally with clients shaped this practical guide to JIRA administration, aimed at helping you navigate beyond basic documentation and apply configurations effectively in real environments.
2011·140 pages·Jira, Administration, Workflow Design, User Management, Configuration

Matthew B. Doar's deep involvement with JIRA configuration and customization shines through in this book, which tackles some of the trickiest questions around JIRA administration. You’ll learn how to differentiate between JIRA groups and project roles, maintain JIRA schemes, and build workflows from scratch, all framed with practical examples like preparing for upgrades or enabling remote access. This isn’t a manual for beginners but rather a focused guide for those who already know their way around JIRA and want to master its administration nuances. If you handle JIRA setups in a professional environment, this book sharpens your skills with clear, direct insights.

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Best for custom JIRA plugin developers
Kindle version available
Matthew B. Doar’s Practical JIRA Plugins offers a focused approach to extending JIRA’s capabilities through custom plugin development. This book appeals to developers and project managers who need more tailored solutions than standard JIRA provides. It breaks down complex plugin concepts with clear examples using JIRA’s Plugin SDK, covering custom fields, workflow enhancements, and data handling with Active Objects. By guiding you through creating, upgrading, and distributing plugins, it addresses real challenges faced by teams aiming to optimize their JIRA environment for specific project needs.
2011·111 pages·Jira, Plugin Development, Custom Fields, Workflow Automation, Software Tools

Matthew B. Doar’s experience as a software toolsmith shines through in this focused guide on customizing JIRA through plugin development. You’ll learn how to build and maintain tailored plugins using JIRA’s Plugin SDK, tackling complex areas like custom field types, workflow conditions, and data storage with Active Objects. The book goes beyond basics, clarifying challenging concepts with detailed examples, making it a solid companion to JIRA’s official documentation. If you manage projects that demand specific tracking or automation beyond out-of-the-box features, this book equips you with the know-how to extend JIRA effectively.

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Best for custom admin workflows
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This AI-created book on Jira administration is crafted specifically for your skill level and interests. By sharing your experience and goals, you get a tailored guide that focuses on the Jira admin techniques most relevant to your work. This means no generic content—just focused insights that help you master the complex configurations and workflows you actually need. It’s a practical way to deepen your Jira expertise without sifting through unrelated material.
2025·50-300 pages·Jira, Jira Basics, User Management, Workflow Design, Permission Schemes

This tailored book explores advanced Jira administration and configuration techniques, focusing on your unique background and goals. It delves deeply into customizing workflows, managing permissions, and optimizing Jira to support complex project needs. By combining well-established knowledge with insights tailored to your interests, it reveals practical approaches to streamline administration tasks and enhance system efficiency. The content matches your experience level and concentrates on the Jira features most relevant to your projects, helping you build mastery in managing workflows smoothly and effectively. This personalized guide is designed to refine your Jira skills and empower you to implement sophisticated configurations with confidence.

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Best for foundational JIRA users
Kindle version available
Patrick Li is an experienced author in software development and project management with a proven record of delivering high-quality technical content. His expertise shapes this guide, which walks you through planning, designing, and customizing JIRA to fit your software development projects. By leveraging his deep understanding of project workflows and issue tracking, Li equips you to use JIRA 5.2 features, including Agile tools like GreenHopper, to improve team efficiency and project outcomes.
2013·373 pages·Issue Tracking, Jira, Project Management, Software Development, Workflow Design

Patrick Li brings his extensive experience in software development and project management to guide you through mastering JIRA 5.2. He focuses on teaching you how to design and implement JIRA tailored to your team's needs, covering everything from installation to advanced issue and project tracking methods. You’ll gain practical skills like customizing workflows, managing notifications, and leveraging Agile tools like GreenHopper to boost development efficiency. This book suits both newcomers wanting a solid foundation and seasoned users aiming to refine their JIRA setup for better productivity.

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Best for Agile project managers using JIRA
Kindle version available
Patrick Li is a recognized author and expert in Agile project management, specializing in JIRA and its applications. With extensive experience in software development and project management, he has authored several books that guide professionals in effectively utilizing JIRA for agile methodologies. His insights help teams improve their workflows and project outcomes. This background equips him uniquely to offer you practical guidance on transforming your project management approach with the Atlassian stack.
2015·111 pages·Agile Programming, Jira, Project Management, Scrum, Kanban

Patrick Li delves into the practical integration of Agile methodologies with Atlassian JIRA, drawing on his extensive experience in software development and project management. You'll learn how to install and configure JIRA Agile, manage projects using Scrum and Kanban, and customize agile boards to suit your team's workflow. The book walks you through planning sprints, creating user stories, and generating insightful reports, making it a solid guide for those already familiar with JIRA basics. If you're looking to enhance your agile project management skills within the Atlassian ecosystem, this book offers focused, actionable insights without unnecessary jargon.

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Best for advanced JIRA customization
Kindle version available
Jobin Kuruvilla is an Atlassian Consultant and platinum expert with extensive experience customizing JIRA and developing plugins for a range of clients, from startups to large enterprises. His deep involvement in managing Atlassian products and authoring previous editions of this book positions him uniquely to guide you through mastering JIRA extensions and customizations. Drawing from his practical experience, this book equips you with the know-how to tailor JIRA to your team's specific needs and improve your project tracking capabilities.
2016·598 pages·Jira, Development, Plugin Development, Workflow Customization, Reporting

What started as Jobin Kuruvilla’s hands-on work customizing JIRA for diverse clients became a detailed guide for anyone looking to extend and tailor JIRA’s capabilities. You learn how to build your own plugins, manipulate workflows to fit specific project needs, and create custom reports and dashboards that organize your data meaningfully. This book is especially useful if you manage or develop within JIRA environments and want to move beyond basic usage to create a smoother, more personalized user experience. It offers practical code examples and explains JIRA’s plugin framework and REST APIs without overwhelming you with jargon.

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Best for rapid Agile adoption
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This AI-created book on Agile project management with Jira is crafted based on your experience level and the specific Jira features you want to master. You share your background, interests, and goals, and the book focuses exactly on how to fast-track your Agile projects using Jira tools. This personalized approach helps you avoid generic content and concentrate on what truly matters for your projects, making learning more efficient and relevant.
2025·50-300 pages·Jira, Agile Fundamentals, Jira Setup, Sprint Planning, Workflow Customization

This tailored book explores practical Agile project management techniques specifically using Jira software, crafted to align with your background and goals. It reveals how to leverage Jira's capabilities to plan, execute, and monitor sprints effectively, focusing on your unique interests and experience level. The book covers core Agile concepts intertwined with Jira features like boards, workflows, and reporting tools, ensuring you understand how to apply them in real-world projects. By addressing your specific sub-topics, it offers a focused learning experience that makes Agile project management more accessible and actionable through Jira.

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Best for JIRA administrators seeking templates
Kindle version available
Rachel Wright is an entrepreneur, process engineer, and Atlassian Certified JIRA Administrator who began using JIRA in 2011 and earned her certification in 2016. She founded Industry Templates, LLC to help organizations improve their processes, leveraging her practical knowledge of JIRA in both professional and personal settings. Her first book, the 'JIRA Strategy Admin Workbook,' reflects a hands-on approach to solving real administrative challenges, offering readers templates, recommendations, and strategies developed through years of experience managing and optimizing JIRA environments.
2016·296 pages·Jira, Strategy, Administration, Process Improvement, Workflow Management

Rachel Wright brings her deep expertise as an Atlassian Certified JIRA Administrator and process engineer to this workbook, born from years of hands-on experience managing complex JIRA setups. You’ll uncover 152 concrete recommendations, ranging from initial implementation tactics to cleanup strategies that prevent the common pitfalls of poorly configured JIRA instances. The book offers practical worksheets, real-world problem examples, and templates that help you create repeatable processes, making maintenance less daunting. Whether you’re a part-time admin juggling multiple roles or a full-time JIRA specialist, this workbook provides clear, actionable guidance tailored to your environment and challenges.

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Best for enterprise JIRA administrators
Kindle version available
This book stands out as a detailed guide to mastering JIRA 7, designed to help you become proficient at configuring and managing this powerful issue tracking system. Its appeal comes from addressing the needs of administrators who want to scale their JIRA instances and leverage integrations with tools like Confluence and Git. The book’s structured approach guides you through planning, customization, Agile methodology implementation, and troubleshooting, making it a solid resource for anyone looking to deepen their JIRA expertise and apply it in real-world environments.
2016·450 pages·Jira, Project Management, Software Development, Agile, JIRA Customization

Ravi Sagar's extensive experience with JIRA administration shines through in this guide focused on mastering JIRA 7. You learn how to plan installations, customize workflows, and manage permissions, moving beyond basic concepts to tackle enterprise-level challenges. The book breaks down complex integrations with Confluence, SVN, and Git, while also diving into Agile methodologies like Scrum and Kanban using JIRA boards. If you're responsible for JIRA in a growing organization, this book equips you with concrete skills to configure, extend, and troubleshoot your JIRA environment effectively.

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Best for Agile software teams using JIRA
Kindle version available
Patrick Li is a recognized author and expert in Agile project management, specializing in Jira Software. With extensive experience in software development and project management, he has authored several books guiding users in effectively utilizing Jira for Agile methodologies. His insights help teams enhance their performance and streamline project workflows, making this book a practical guide for those looking to master Jira's Agile capabilities.
2018·192 pages·Jira, Software, Project Management, Agile, Software Development

Drawing from extensive experience in software development and Agile project management, Patrick Li crafted this second edition to deepen your understanding of Jira Software beyond basic usage. You’ll explore how to leverage Scrum and Kanban methodologies within Jira, customize workflows, and integrate tools like Confluence and Bitbucket to streamline your team’s collaboration. Chapters walk you through setting up Jira for Agile portfolio management and even how to combine Scrum and Kanban tailored to your projects. If you’re familiar with Jira basics and want to elevate your project management skills, this book lays out practical insights to help you manage software development projects more efficiently.

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Conclusion

The collection of Jira books highlighted here reveals two clear themes: actionable expertise and widespread validation. From Matthew B. Doar's in-depth administration insights to Patrick Li's focused Agile methodologies, these works provide frameworks that many professionals have successfully applied in real-world environments. Rachel Wright's workbook adds a practical edge with templates, while Jobin Kuruvilla and Ravi Sagar offer advanced customization and integration skills.

If you prefer proven methods, starting with 'Practical JIRA Administration' or 'JIRA 5.2 Essentials' lays a solid foundation. For validated approaches to Agile project management, combining 'JIRA Agile Essentials' with 'JIRA Software Essentials' enhances your team's workflow. For those managing complex setups, 'Mastering JIRA 7' and the 'JIRA Strategy Admin Workbook' offer valuable guidance.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Jira book to combine proven methods with your unique needs. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed in leveraging Jira effectively, making your next step clearer and more confident.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with 'Practical JIRA Administration' if you're focused on mastering Jira's core setup and maintenance. It offers clear, practical guidance that builds a strong foundation before moving to more specialized topics.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Jira?

Not at all. Books like 'JIRA 5.2 Essentials' and 'JIRA Software Essentials' are designed to guide newcomers through Jira basics and gradually introduce advanced concepts, making them accessible for beginners.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with foundational guides like 'JIRA 5.2 Essentials,' then explore Agile-focused books such as 'JIRA Agile Essentials.' Afterward, dive into administration and customization with 'Practical JIRA Administration' and 'JIRA Development Cookbook.'

Do these books assume I already have experience in Jira?

Some do, especially those on administration and plugin development. However, titles like 'JIRA 5.2 Essentials' and 'JIRA Software Essentials' cater to users with little or no prior experience.

Which book gives the most actionable advice I can use right away?

'JIRA Strategy Admin Workbook' offers practical templates and strategies you can implement immediately to improve Jira administration and maintenance.

Can personalized Jira books complement these expert recommendations?

Yes! While these books provide solid expert insights, personalized Jira books tailor content to your specific needs, combining proven methods with your unique context. Learn more here.

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