Strengths
The book’s greatest strength lies in its accessibility. Kerievsky writes with genuine passion, and his advocacy for joy in work is particularly refreshing in an era where we tend to focus on velocity metrics and burndown charts. He reminds us that agility should lead not merely to better software, but to a more fulfilling experience for everyone involved. Agile or scrum metrics should not be used merely to prove Goodhart’s law (When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure).
The practical nature of this book makes it easy to draw inspiration for solutions from the stories and to recommend it to a wide audience, be it a junior programmer, a senior QA tester, or just a random colleague. Everyone can find a kernel of wisdom in it.
Kerievsky also cites other well-known figures in the field, which strengthens his message.
A minor nitpick
One of the book’s major strengths occasionally works against its cohesion. The standalone, short nature of the stories may not offer the interwoven experience that some readers expect. While the takeaway at the end of each story is certainly helpful, explicitly identifying any secondary paradigms would be a valuable addition. This would help those less familiar with agile concepts to better navigate the interlinked themes.
Who should read this book?
The Joy of Agility is ideal for those who prefer learning through practical stories rather than at times dry methodology. The more nuanced and practical stories will also appeal to those who might have become somewhat jaded by more dogmatic resources. It’s a book that I can recommend to seniors to draw inspiration from and to juniors to learn what being agile truly means.
For those of us who’ve witnessed agile’s promise diluted by poor implementation, Kerievsky’s work serves as a welcome reminder of what we’re actually striving for: not adherence to a process, but the cultivation of a mindset which embraces adaptability, collaboration, and yes, joy.
Other recommended books
People who enjoyed this book will likely also appreciate:
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97 Things Every Scrum Practitioner Should Know (Edited by Gunther Verheyen): Much like this collection, Kerievsky emphasises that agility is a culture of continuous improvement. Both works suggest that the most effective processes are those that empower the people doing the work.
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Refactoring (by Martin Fowler): The focus on Versatility and Readiness mirrors Fowler’s technical philosophy. It reminds us that internal quality is what provides the external “grace” needed to pivot when a product’s direction changes.
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The Pragmatic Programmer (by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas): This book shares the same “common sense” approach to excellence. It focuses on the developer’s mindset and the importance of having a diverse “toolbelt” of techniques.
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Extreme Programming Explained (by Kent Beck): The emphasis on Resilience and Proactivity echoes Beck’s early assertions that technical discipline is the key to both speed and team well-being.
Conclusion
The Joy of Agility is not another agile methodology book, but a manifesto that inspires us. It’s a recommended read for anyone genuinely interested in what it means to be agile, rather than merely doing agile.
Author: Joshua Kerievsky
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler
ISBN-13: 978-1523004386
Publication date: 2023-02-07
Rating: 9/10
