Top 5 Scrum Books Every Agile Enthusiast Must Read

In this digital age, many professionals are rediscovering the value of traditional books. Why? To reduce screen time from electronic devices like smartphones, computers, and tablets, at the same time, they want to upskill themselves without compromising their well-being.

Reading books improves cognitive abilities like concentration, critical thinking, and communication skills, and boosts knowledge and creativity. These are all skills that are today must-haves for any professional, especially Agile enthusiasts.

Being an Agile or aspiring Agile professional, you are not limited to knowing what Agile and Scrum terms mean; you need to upgrade yourself to be knowledgeable about how to change the team to take ownership of the work process they are involved in. We discuss the top 5 Scrum books that every Agile enthusiast must read in this article.

The 5 Must-Read Books for Agile Aspirants:

1. Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time

Author: Jeff Sutherland, one of the co-founders of Scrum.

What it covers:

This Book covers a fundamental knowledge of Scrum’s core principles, its history, and practical applications across various industries beyond software. This is all packed and delivered directly from its co-creator. How to implement Scrum to increase productivity, improve team collaboration, and deliver exceptional results through adaptability and iterative cycles.

Who Should Read This Book:

This book is a great asset for both beginners and experienced practitioners who want to unlock the secrets of the philosophy behind the framework of its founder.

2. Essential Scrum: A Practical Guide to the Most Popular Agile Process

About the Author: Kenneth S. Rubin is the first managing director of the Scrum Alliance.

What it covers:

This serves as a comprehensive reference guide. Rubin breaks down every aspect of Scrum in detail. It is the best source to learn all major aspects of the Scrum process with clear definitions and over 200 illustrations. You get a chance to learn about Scrum roles, events, artifacts, and rules with exceptional clarity.

Who Should Read This Book:

This book is for anyone who is involved in a Scrum Project, like team members, managers, executives, scrum masters, product owners, and developers.

3. Scrum Mastery: From Good to Great Servant-Leadership

Author: Geoff Watts is a well-known leadership and performance coach, a member of the International Coaching Federation.

What it covers:

This book offers practical guidance and tips for Scrum masters who want to transform their duties from simply “doing agile” to “being agile”. It is a complete guide to becoming a truly expert in mastering the art of servant leadership. The core concept of this book is RE-TRAINED, which means:

• Respected
• Enabling
• Tactful
• Resourceful
• Alternative
• Inspiring
• Nurturing
• Empathetic

The above nine important qualities are what one should have.

Who Should Read This Book:

This book is mainly written for practicing scrum masters who are eager to recap past basic process facilitation, to become more influential servant-leaders within their team and organization.

4. Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum

Author: Mike Cohn, Co-founder of Scrum Alliance, one of the contributors to the Scrum Software Development method.

What it covers:

This is a practical guide for software professionals on how to successfully implement and sustain agile methodologies, with a specific focus on the Scrum framework. Cohn, drawing from extensive experience, clearly states actionable strategies for Scrum adoption and overcoming impediments.

Who Should Read This Book:

This book is specifically for pragmatic software professionals, leaders, and coaches who seek practical solutions and participate in organizational agile transformations.

5. User Story Mapping: Discover the Whole Story, Build the Right Product

Author: Jeff Patton, known for his work in Agile Software Development, especially the popularization of user story mapping.

What it covers:

It covers the user-centric technique of user story mapping and how it can be used throughout the software development process. After completely reading this, the team becomes capable of focusing on user needs, getting a shared understanding of a product, and delivering more valuable software.

Who Should Read This Book:

It is for a wide range of professionals who are involved in product development, design, and business strategy.

The Importance of Training with Mentorship Beyond Self-Study:

Beyond reading, training with mentorship is a crucial part of one’s professional journey for aspiring Agile professionals searching for next-level knowledge.

Here, Advanced scrum master certification training provides personalized guidance, accountability, networking opportunities, and emotional support that self-study alone cannot offer.

When Self-study builds independence and critical thinking, in another way, mentorship accelerates growth by filling gaps in knowledge and finding ways to complex real-world situations.

Final Thoughts:

Building agile expertise requires continuous learning, and these five books offer a strong foundation for any Agile/Scrum Practitioner. Each book brings unique perspectives that will improve your knowledge and implementation capabilities of agile principles. These are beneficial for both those new to Scrum and those seeking in-depth knowledge; these readings will help you.