[mcraenich]

In my career books have paled in comparison to real world experience, and finding myself far outside of my comfort zone. The two major advances I've gained in skill were a) completing a college diploma b) being thrown into the deep-end at a fortune 500. You can read all the books in the world, but challenging work experience will have far more impact.

The 'mental model and scientific process' has less to do with code alone, and more to do with the holistic act of working for a business. Development is just a part of it. Books will teach you best practices (and you should know best practices), but they won't teach you how to be an effective team-member, or cog in the business.