Below is a list of books that I've read and enjoyed. I recommend them to anyone interested in Technology Development.
on the History of Hardware and Software Development
There is more to developing high quality products than good technology (though good technology is important). A lot can be learned by reading accounts of past development projects gone wrong, or right. The following books are some that I have found interesting, and well written (in no particular order):
The Soul of a New Machine: by Tracey Kidder
This is a great book about a big computer development project in the hey-days of shared usage mainframes. I found it still very applicable to modern design projects, especially in the Telecommunications industry.
Dealers of Lightning: by Micheal Hiltzik
This is a great book on the early history of Xerox's PARC R&D Lab. They invented most of the technology that goes into a modern PC, like Ethernet and GUIs. Reading this book makes me wish I had have been born a few decades earlier.
Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution: by Steven Levy
Follows the original hackers, before the name became synonymous with computer crime. A lot of attention is paid to the famous MIT Hackers. It's a great book and a great read.
Microserfs: by Douglas Coupland
Technically this is not a history book, it's fiction. But it's a great motivational text for someone thinking about leaving a large corporation and heading out on their own.
The Cuckoo's Egg: by Clifford Stoll
A great book about one of the original hackers, which resulted in the term becoming synonymous with computer crime. It's a great read, highly recommended.
on Design Organization and Technique
The Mythical Man-Month: by Fred Brooks
It's suppose to be about Software Development in large organizations, but it's equally applicable to large Hardware Development Projects. It contains some very interesting ideas, my favorite is the "Surgeon Model" of design groups. I hope to someday give this model a try.
on Hardware Design
The Spice Book: by Andrei Vladimirescu
A great book for anyone interested in Spice. I've been using it as a reference as I work on eispice. Lots of useful info, and it's a paperback so it won't break the bank.
Right the First Time: by Lee Ritchey
It's a mish-mash of different hardware design ideas, basically a collection of articles. Some very good ideas, especially related to design process, which is an often overlooked engineering subject.
High Speed Digital Design: by Howard Johnson
This is the defacto standard text for the industry. It's well written, and is great for folks starting out in the industry and wanting to pick-up the basics of signal integrity.
Electromagnets for Engineers: by Clayton R. Paul
A solid understanding of the fundamentals of Electromagnetic will help you greatly with any hardware design project. Maxwell's equations are the basis for everything in Electrical Engineering, and just because they're a little tricky to wrap your brain around doesn't mean they should be ignored.
on Engineering
The Civilized Engineer: by Samuel C. Florman
A philosophical analysis of what it means to be an Engineer. A must read for all aspiring Engineers, contains some great, unique ideas on Engineering Ethics.