Most books about programming teach us about a specific technology or two. Right now I’m staring at some great books on my shelf that have taught me things like user interface programming in Java, templates in C++, how to work with XML files, and so on. Bill Wake’s “Refactoring Workbook” goes well beyond books like these Those books give me some fleeting insights into a technology du juor. Wake’s book teaches me things that will stay with me throughout my career. I finished it having learned new skills that will make me a better programmer, regardless of what I’m working on–Java user interfaces, C++, or code to read XML files.
The book includes over 100 exercises, many of which are answered in an appendix. I worked through the book alone but this is the type of book I’d love to work through with a group.
