Considering the rapid and profound changes in computer science and software engineering since 1975, one could challenge the relevance of a 20-year-old book on software design and management. In this case, such a challenge would be in error: Brooks’s book is that rare work with enduring value. The technology can change, but the principles in this book have not budged. There are a few arcane technical references (young software engineers may have trouble imagining running a project with documentation on microfiche instead of hypertext, but Brooks disavows that suggestion in a new, later chapter anyway). There are also some places where social customs have evolved (now the book would have the title The mythical person-month). In general, however, readers searching for solid advice on how to create software are well advised to look here. Similarly, courses in managing software development ought to require this book and Maguire’s recent Debugging the development process [1].

This version has 50 percent more pages than the original edition [2]. The basic book is essentially unchanged; Brooks reserves the explanation of how he has changed his mind on some matters to a summary chapter. The biggest addition is the text of his 1987 paper [3]. He follows that with a chapter sharing critiques of that work and his thoughts since its publication. A third additional chapter summarizes the propositions of the original book, and contains Brooks’s comments on them looking back over time. The final chapter is a further discussion of great concepts in software engineering and further dialogue with the author’s critics and fans.

All in all, I highly recommend this work: it is a book for the next 20 years as well.