Advanced IP Routing in Cisco Networks, Second Edition, by Terry Slattery and Bill Burton. This book focuses only on IP routing in Cisco networks. Numerous configuration examples are provided. The web pages dedicated to discussing errors found in both the first and second edition of this book, sample chapters of the first edition, and other details can be found by following the link from the book name above. If you have the first edition of the book, it will not have the words "Second Edition" in the title or on the title page. In this case, you want to examine the web site for this version of the book at Advanced IP Routing in Cisco Networks.

TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 1, by Richard Stevens. This is a well-written, comprehensive text on how the TCP/IP protocols operate. No good IP networking person should be without it.

CCIE Professional Development: Cisco LAN Switching, by Kennedy Clark and Kevin Hamilton. An excellent book on Cisco switching equipment and how it operates. Lots of detail on the nuances of how the spanning tree protocols operate and how to take advantage of various features of the Cisco switches to make your switching network operate better.

Interconnections, Second Edition, by Radia Perlman. A very good book that covers a variety of networking topics. Radia sprinkles the book with personal commentary on various topics. Every networking person should have a copy of this book.

Firewalls and Internet Security, Second Edition, by William Cheswick and Steve Bellovin. These two premier researchers discuss network security. Definitely worth having if you are concerned about network security and want to learn more about the topic.

Data and Computer Communications by William Stallings. This is a college-level text that provides a more mathematical treatment of networking fundamentals.

Code Complete, by Steve McConnell. This is an excellent book about how to write programs.

Rapid Design: Taming Wild Software Schedules, by Steve McConnell. Steve follows his prior book, Code Complete, with this book about how to make software projects successful. Of particular interest is the list of typical problems that software projects encounter. The first three chapters are particularly enlightning. If you've worked on software projects before, you'll recognize the problems and laugh about them (unless you're involved in one now and recognize all the symptoms of a project in trouble).

The Deadline, by Tom DeMarco. This is a light novel-type book written about how to properly manage software projects. It is a fast read and an entertaining treatment of what can be a very boring topic.

Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams, 2nd Ed, by Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister. This is an excellent introduction to software project management and how to make a team productive. It isn't just about the technical details of project management; it includes a discussion of research results on environments in which people are the most productive (and those in which they aren't). You'll recognize some of the places you've worked while reading this one.

The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering, by Frederick Brooks. This is one of the classic books about software engineering and project management, updated in 1995. This is the source for many project axioms, such as "Build the first one to throw away, because you will anyway."

Built to Last, by James Collins and Jerry Porras. This is an excellent, excellent book from two very good management consultants about their study of well-respected companies and why they were judged the best in their respective industries. It tells you the things that these companies did that have helped them over time. Anyone involved in corporate management should read this book.

Good to Great, by James Collins. I've just started reading this book, but it looks to be as good as Built to Last.

In Search of Excellence, by Tom Peters. Tom is well-known for his books about corporate mangement. All managers in a company should read this book and recognize the things that can be done to make a company excel in its market. This should be your second book to read about corporate management.

The Great Game of Business, by Jack Stack. If you're looking to turn running a business or department into an enjoyable place to work, this is a book you should read. It is basically the story of how the management and employees of a manufacturing facility did a buy-out of their about-to-be-closed plant and turned it around. The power of honest communications between management and employees (both directions) is clearly shown. One of their methods of operation is somewhat contraversial: Open Book Management, in which everyone in the company gets to see the weekly and monthly financial reports. Everyone knows if the company is doing well and if it isn't. Often, the reports show problems in particular areas of the operation and if the staff can see the problems, they are motivated to help correct the problem.