The Unicorn Project

by Gene Kim
The Unicorn Project cover
Good Books rating 4.12
Technology and Innovation
Technical
  • ID: 3424
  • Added: 2025-10-18
  • Updated: 2025-10-18
  • ISBN: 9781942788775
  • Publisher: IT Revolution
  • Published: 2019-11-26
  • Reviews: 4

The Unicorn Project follows Maxine, a senior lead developer, as she is exiled to the Phoenix Project after a payroll outage. Struggling within a bureaucratic system, she joins a rebellion of misfit developers aiming to liberate technology work and drive innovation. The story explores the challenges of technical debt and complexity, highlighting the need for collaboration between technology and business leaders to succeed in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Gene Kim's highly anticipated follow-up to The Phoenix Project delves into the invisible structures required to make developers productive and the devastating effects of technical debt. It's a tale of survival, innovation, and the fight to bring joy back to technology work.

Reviews
Reddit - r/devops · 2022-10-09
insightful 4.00

The book is praised for its illustrative approach to DevOps, even if not entirely realistic. It effectively conveys the developer's perspective and the challenges they face.

This review highlights that while the book may not depict real-world jobs accurately, it serves its purpose well by illustrating DevOps principles. The reviewer appreciates the book's focus on the developer's viewpoint, providing valuable insights into the struggles and triumphs within a digital transformation journey. It's seen as a great tool for understanding the human side of DevOps, making complex concepts more relatable and engaging.

Quick quotes

    Its a good book. It might not be 100% realistic but the purpose is to illustrate devops not to provide an accurate depiction of how jobs work.

    This is the other side of the story from the developer's point of view.

    Even though I come from a different background, I found the book to be very insightful.

Thinking Tester · 2020-02-22
insightful 4.50

The book is highly recommended for its profound impact on understanding systems and its relevance to developers and testers. It is seen as a thought-provoking read that offers long-lasting insights.

The reviewer from Thinking Tester found 'The Unicorn Project' to be a deeply impactful book that will stay with them for a long time. They recommend it highly, especially for developers and testers, as it provides valuable insights into systems and processes. The book is praised for its ability to make readers think critically about their own work environments and the systems they interact with. The reviewer appreciates the book's practical advice and its relevance to real-world scenarios.

Quick quotes

    I'll be thinking about this book for a long time as I look at the systems I work with.

    I definitely recommend this book for developers, testers, and anyone involved in software development.

    The insights provided are both practical and thought-provoking.

Bennadel · 2019-12-29
engaging 4.50

The book is described as riveting and engaging, sparking numerous conversations and providing valuable insights into DevOps and digital disruption.

The reviewer found 'The Unicorn Project' to be absolutely riveting and engaging, sparking many conversations about its content. They appreciate the book's ability to illustrate the complexities of DevOps and digital disruption in an engaging manner. The reviewer highlights the book's relevance and the valuable lessons it offers, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the field.

Quick quotes

    I found that book to be absolutely riveting.

    In the multitude of conversations that I was having about that book, I discovered that Gene Kim has a unique way of illustrating complex concepts.

    This book is a must-read for anyone interested in DevOps and digital transformation.

Oracle-Base · 2019-12-24
mixed 3.50

The book is seen as a follow-up to 'The Phoenix Project,' offering a different perspective but feeling somewhat repetitive.

The reviewer notes that 'The Unicorn Project' feels like a continuation of 'The Phoenix Project,' but from a different character's viewpoint. While it provides valuable insights into DevOps and digital transformation, the reviewer feels it lacks originality compared to its predecessor. However, it's still seen as a worthwhile read for those interested in understanding the nuances of DevOps from a different angle.

Quick quotes

    The Unicorn Project is a follow-up to The Phoenix Project.

    Actually, it's more like the same book again, but written from different person's perspective.

    It's a good read, but it feels like a rehash of the first book.

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