Getting Real by Jason Fried is a no-nonsense guide on how to build web applications the smart way. Unlike their book Rework, this one actually makes sense. It’s packed with practical advice that goes beyond just web apps—I’d even say a lot of it could be applied to other projects or industries too.

The book is laid out in sections like “Organization,” “Code,” “Process,” and “Feature Selection,” and each part is filled with bite-sized, actionable tips that read like extended aphorisms (if that helps make any sense of how the book is put together!). Most of the advice draws heavily on agile, Scrum, Lean, and Kanban methodologies. That’s both its biggest strength and its potential downside. If you're already familiar with agile ideas, you’ll find the tips to be great reminders or triggers. But if you're not, it’s easy to misunderstand them or use them out of context.

I'd definitely recommend Getting Real—but only if you’ve got some knowledge of agile (or are ready to dive into it!). If I had any sway in a team or organization, I’d be handing out copies left and right.