The flavor I detect here is to protect one's chosen profession as a programmer. It is the first time I've ever seen it presented as "beware the *trap* (if that's the correct word) of being moved out of the job you have chosen /programmer/ and into a management position.
I met just such a fellow recently and he seemed to be preoccupied with juggling all the new responsibilities of a manager, rather than moving up any kind of craftsman-like path. Thanks for showing a different viewpoint instead of the constant drum beat often heard - moving so many people out of an enjoyable job - and into the Peter Principle position where nobody is happy. This brings up so many things to think about.
Another interesting one to me is how to survive in jobs where all is not a bowl of cherries, but there ARE ways to keep things interesting. That is so important in any job - and rarely does one find a manager helping employees to watch for these things. To work a job (or death march) without something like that is exactly the kind of thing that keeps employees watching the clock for that second they have put in exactly 8 hours of work. Keeping your eye open for or developing (development is work - even if you are developing something fun) the fun in the very spot that puts the green in your wallet is a good thing. Again, it takes people like the authors of this book to remind us of it once in awhile - indeed to endorse this king of activity. But I ramble on...Cheers!
Tom N.
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