Buccaneer-Scholar Site is Up
My book “Secrets of a Buccaneer-Scholar” will be published in September by Simon and Schuster. It’s a book about how I approach self-education, personal branding, and original thinking. It’s the story of how I got started and how I got along all these years without any formal education or certification. It’s not a book about testing, but it will be highly relevant to testers. It will be relevant to any knowledge worker who wants to compete better in a down economy.=
The book is finished and delivered, it just takes a long time to get through production and sell into book stores. While I’m waiting and writing the next buccaneer book in the series, I’ve started a new site at buccaneerscholar.com and a new blog. There I will talk about the more general topics of thinking and learning that are not specific to testing.
I’m also creating a class to teach self-education (not as ironic as it sounds… but it does sound ironic, eh?).
This blog will continue to deal exclusively with testing and issues directly related to the software development industry.
January 5th, 2009 at 7:50 am
Great to see that the book is completed, shame that the turn around time is so long! If you need someone to review it I’d be happy to do so!
[James' Reply: Actually, Rosie, you are just the person to get an advance review copy. Your networking and business activities are rather buccaneer-like. I'll ask the publisher to send you one.]
January 5th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Awe, thanks James. You made me blush
January 6th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Congrats on completing the book James, I have the print out of “Are you a buccaneer-scholar?” posted in my bay . The way you have linked the 3 points is so fabulous - You live free (Independence), You hunt ideas (Exploration), You win your place in the world of thinkers (Credibility).
I am keen to grab a copy of it once released.
January 31st, 2009 at 6:46 am
It is great to see “Secrets of a Buccaneer Scholar” on Amazon! All the delays with publishing must have been frustrating, but I have a gut feeling that this will be perfect timing - the terrible economic times are a Perfect Storm where so many will be seeking innovative ways to not just survive, but prosper. Funny that just prior to visiting your blog, I had written a note of encouragement to a truly brilliant friend who had been let go. He has so much to offer, and right now companies will be open to new ideas and strategies as they struggle to survive. The Perfect Storm?
Wishing you All the Best!
-john
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Hi James,
Great to see that you are back online, that Buccaneer has been delivered and is now in the production process and that your blog is up and running. I will definitely check it out!
January 7th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
James,
I’m about 3/4 of the way through your book (since i’m reading 5 others at the same time), it’s with a sigh of relief to find an author finally nail exactly how I have been feeling for 39 years but unable to explain it in a concise way as you have. I too am a living example of someone who did not fit into the traditional education model and have nothing but a high school diploma to show for it, they told me I am best suited to be a janitor (seriously).
I had a love for music and computers, long story short I taught myself some basic sys admin and web dev skills in the early 90’s and have worked as a successful lead developer and managed others for several startups and a few very large name companies.
Thanks for writing the book and I look forward to reading your blogs.