This is an excellent text for those who want to get in touch with agile methods. The writing style is effective and the coverage is quite broad. At the same time, the book is best for beginners in agile, students being exposed to a range of agile concepts, or managers facing agile development, rather than agile professionals needing deeper content.

Each chapter has a particular focus and includes an interview with an agile pioneer, references, and review questions. On the macro level, the chapters address history, cultural considerations, different flavors of agile, roles of participants, requirements determination, planning and prioritization, testing, quality, integration, project management alternatives, and agile in environments other than information technology (IT). One continuing made-up example company and project is woven throughout to give a feel for specificity, and there is a case study based on John Deere’s experience with going agile. On a relatively micro level, different agile methodologies are presented that include Scrum, extreme programming (XP), feature-driven development (FDD), Kanban, Crystal, dynamic systems development method (DSDM), and Lean. There is also a helpful glossary and index that helps manage the many terms and acronyms in the agile domain.

The authors have written a very readable introduction to agile methods that serves a variety of audiences. The content is not superficial; it gives moderate depth to a wide range of agile concepts and methodologies. I’m not sure that using the waterfall method as a traditional alternative approach whipping boy is really satisfactory, but it does give a non-agile context that may appeal to some. References are given for those who need an in-depth treatment of a particular methodology or concept.

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