Beyond the Code: A Practical Handbook for Engineering Managers is the field guide you didn't know you needed when you landed in management — whether you sprinted there, stumbled in, or got pushed without warning.

Forget the glossy leadership theories. This book is about surviving (and thriving) in the messy, chaotic, wonderfully human world of engineering management. Wagner Souza pulls from two decades of real-world experience leading teams, making mistakes, and figuring out what actually works. Plus, he backs it up with serious research — not just coffee-fueled opinions.

Inside, you'll find battle-tested advice on hiring and growing teams, navigating tough conversations, staying technically sharp without becoming a bottleneck, and leading with both empathy and backbone. It's packed with sharp analogies, practical templates, and a refreshing honesty about how hard — and how rewarding — this role really is.

Whether you're staring at a Jackson Pollock calendar of meetings, wondering how you became "Translator-in-Chief" between tech and business, or trying to figure out why your once-stellar developer is suddenly disengaged, this book has your back.

Beyond the Code isn't just a handbook. It's your slightly cynical but fiercely supportive companion on the toughest (and most meaningful) ride of your career.