What do you think?
Rate this book
Tech Simplified for PMs and Entrepreneurs
Understanding Tech is hard and time-consuming for people without a coding background.
Tech is one of the most complex topics for those without a technical background. But at the same time, understanding tech is quite important.
Anyone working with software developers will find it hard to connect and communicate if they don't understand tech. There are other benefits to understanding tech too. You can build empathy for the development team working day and night with you. This creates mutual trust and respect, which makes it easy to work and get work done. Having tech understanding also helps in building your confidence as a PM.
So it is no wonder that all the product leaders and CEOs of tech companies understand tech very well, even if they didn't have a degree in Computer Science or a background in coding. Excelling on the job requires them to do it.
There are so many good reasons for learning tech, but not every PM does that. The reason is that it's hard to learn tech on your own. There aren't many resources designed for PMs to understand tech. In the absence of proper guidance and resources, it takes years of study to build an understanding.
And that's why I wrote this book. The goal of the book is to help you get to a place that takes years to reach.
Tech is one of the most complex topics for those without a technical background. But at the same time, understanding tech is quite important.
Anyone working with software developers will find it hard to connect and communicate if they don't understand tech. There are other benefits to understanding tech too. You can build empathy for the development team working day and night with you. This creates mutual trust and respect, which makes it easy to work and get work done. Having tech understanding also helps in building your confidence as a PM.
So it is no wonder that all the product leaders and CEOs of tech companies understand tech very well, even if they didn't have a degree in Computer Science or a background in coding. Excelling on the job requires them to do it.
There are so many good reasons for learning tech, but not every PM does that. The reason is that it's hard to learn tech on your own. There aren't many resources designed for PMs to understand tech. In the absence of proper guidance and resources, it takes years of study to build an understanding.
And that's why I wrote this book. The goal of the book is to help you get to a place that takes years to reach.
304 pages, Paperback
Published January 12, 2022
107 people are currently reading
672 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 10, 2022
A book for PMs who are not from a technical background.
Since I have a technical background and I am not a PM (not even aspiring to be one), i skimmed through a lot of the chapters.
Still, I think this would give people a good idea of the tech that goes into making tech products.
Since I have a technical background and I am not a PM (not even aspiring to be one), i skimmed through a lot of the chapters.
Still, I think this would give people a good idea of the tech that goes into making tech products.
January 14, 2025
Undoubtedly, this is one of the best book to grasp the fundamentals of Tech for a Product manager.
This will take you to a level where you can go confidently into a discussion with an EM and talk about tech trade-offs which impacts your user experience. It will help you look at Tech Debt from a different lens.
A must-read for every PM!
For those looking to deepen their understanding and retain the concepts more effectively, check out this self-paced course by Deepak: Everything Tech for PMs
(https://www.pmcurve.com/program/every...), which has hundreds of questions and powerful Mental Models designed to elevate your expertise and take your skills to the next level.
This will take you to a level where you can go confidently into a discussion with an EM and talk about tech trade-offs which impacts your user experience. It will help you look at Tech Debt from a different lens.
A must-read for every PM!
For those looking to deepen their understanding and retain the concepts more effectively, check out this self-paced course by Deepak: Everything Tech for PMs
(https://www.pmcurve.com/program/every...), which has hundreds of questions and powerful Mental Models designed to elevate your expertise and take your skills to the next level.
January 26, 2022
Amazing read for anyone from non-tech background & wants to understand tech. The use of simple language & analogies make it an easy read for students to professionals alike.
October 3, 2022
I have always been a big fan of his newsletter “Growth Catalyst”. In fact I made an excel sheet containing links to all his posts when I was learning the basics of PM-ing at Upraised !
The book is very similar to “Swipe To Unlock” but delves deeper into the tech side; especially system design and database related topics.
I had fun learning about the system design of popular products like Twitter, Uber and WhatsApp. Now I’ll be able to intelligent conversations around how my products are designed at a system level.
I’ll probably read it another time and internalize the stuff in the book. Extremely useful and relevant to anyone who’s managing an app or a software product!
The book is very similar to “Swipe To Unlock” but delves deeper into the tech side; especially system design and database related topics.
I had fun learning about the system design of popular products like Twitter, Uber and WhatsApp. Now I’ll be able to intelligent conversations around how my products are designed at a system level.
I’ll probably read it another time and internalize the stuff in the book. Extremely useful and relevant to anyone who’s managing an app or a software product!
January 28, 2022
Excellent read for the ones starting PM journey from a non-technical background. It covers all the essentials needed. I have been looking for something like this for some time now and really glad to have found it. Great idea! & execution! Product market fit for this book is given!!
April 16, 2022
Good read for non engineers
November 2, 2022
Who should read the book - Product Managers and entrepreneurs who aren’t from a computing background
Tech Simplified is an ambitious endeavour. Product Managers need to know the consequences of tech decisions and discuss them with engineers. However, they don't build anything themselves. The book covers all aspects of computing that a PM usually come across without getting bogged down in details.
The author explains complex ideas using easy-to-understand analogies. The best advice comes at the start – read the book to understand and not memorize. The author paints in broad strokes.
First-time Product Managers will come across different aspects of technology in their day-to-day work. This book gives you a head-start in navigating tech decisions. You will still need to dive deep on your own before you can make informed decisions.
The best part of the book is the system design example. They bring the concepts taught in the book together neatly.
There is room for improvement. For example, the structuring of some of the sentences could have been better. Also, as can be expected from a book of this magnitude, a few concepts are mentioned but never explained. Finally, the constant use of analogies does get a little dull.
Overall, a great read for Product Managers/Entrepreneurs who don’t have a CS degree.
Tech Simplified is an ambitious endeavour. Product Managers need to know the consequences of tech decisions and discuss them with engineers. However, they don't build anything themselves. The book covers all aspects of computing that a PM usually come across without getting bogged down in details.
The author explains complex ideas using easy-to-understand analogies. The best advice comes at the start – read the book to understand and not memorize. The author paints in broad strokes.
First-time Product Managers will come across different aspects of technology in their day-to-day work. This book gives you a head-start in navigating tech decisions. You will still need to dive deep on your own before you can make informed decisions.
The best part of the book is the system design example. They bring the concepts taught in the book together neatly.
There is room for improvement. For example, the structuring of some of the sentences could have been better. Also, as can be expected from a book of this magnitude, a few concepts are mentioned but never explained. Finally, the constant use of analogies does get a little dull.
Overall, a great read for Product Managers/Entrepreneurs who don’t have a CS degree.
December 31, 2023
If you're a student, a CS graduate, or from a non CS background, and struggling to understand tech which is making you feel anxious about your career in the digital transforming world,
Don't worry. It isn’t your fault. And that doesn’t mean, it’s impossible.
One of the most common reason why it’s the case today:
• College or online educational content are way too complex to understand because it’s written by techies for techies.
• Lack of proper guidance in helping you understand better
This book is smartly designed in a way that 90% of English readers can understand and build strong foundation on tech, turning complex concepts into simple ideas. The book uses good analogies and real-world examples, making it well-organized and easy to follow, even for someone who doesn’t know anything in the tech world to understand how products like Netflix, Swiggy, etc works today.
Don't worry. It isn’t your fault. And that doesn’t mean, it’s impossible.
One of the most common reason why it’s the case today:
• College or online educational content are way too complex to understand because it’s written by techies for techies.
• Lack of proper guidance in helping you understand better
This book is smartly designed in a way that 90% of English readers can understand and build strong foundation on tech, turning complex concepts into simple ideas. The book uses good analogies and real-world examples, making it well-organized and easy to follow, even for someone who doesn’t know anything in the tech world to understand how products like Netflix, Swiggy, etc works today.
April 4, 2022
The book does what it says on the cover page - explains tech at an 8th grade level. While some details are mundane, overall the pedagogy makes for an excellent book.
Much better than a variety of PM courses available online, as this book has a specific focus on 'tech' for those with a non-tech background. Literally only the last 2-3 pages of the book talk about ideal PM behavior, which is what most such resources are totally about!
Much better than a variety of PM courses available online, as this book has a specific focus on 'tech' for those with a non-tech background. Literally only the last 2-3 pages of the book talk about ideal PM behavior, which is what most such resources are totally about!
December 8, 2023
I like this book, it really has great readability so that tech questions were easy to understand. If it is helpful? Yes, for sure. I would suggest Tech simplified to a variety of roles (at least for the support, sales, product owners, stakeholders and the CEOs within IT industry). Does it cover everything deep? It covers enough to get answers and to see the way of the personal development. Highly recommend
April 14, 2024
"Tech Simplified" by Deepak Singh is a fantastic book for beginners in product management. It simplifies complex tech concepts into easy-to-understand explanations, even for those without a programming background. The book covers a wide range of topics, from basic computer components to advanced subjects like system design. By the end, readers will have a solid foundation in tech and be well-equipped to navigate the world of product development.
September 16, 2024
It is intentionally not a book written in depth. You can rush through the topics in the book to get an idea of the technical understanding / terms you need to know for a PM job. I would suggest reading this book before getting into a PM role and once again on the job to connect the dots.
Note: I found a few typos in the book which were kind of a buzzkill I mean it is a published book right ?
Note: I found a few typos in the book which were kind of a buzzkill I mean it is a published book right ?
May 27, 2022
Loved it. It’s essential as a PM to understand tech but the problem is where to start. This book is a pretty good place to start as it attempts to help us understand how tech works and what are some technologies that go into making a working product. Language is simple and I would highly recommend this to especially new PMs.
January 1, 2024
This book really improved my understanding of how software, computers and the internet work by explaining concepts from first principles.
It is pretty easy to read for the uninitiated. However, you‘d probably only be interested in most concepts if you actually work in tech. I wouldn‘t recommend this book for the non-technical enthousiast.
It is pretty easy to read for the uninitiated. However, you‘d probably only be interested in most concepts if you actually work in tech. I wouldn‘t recommend this book for the non-technical enthousiast.
December 17, 2024
Coming from a non-tech background and being a marketer, it was hard enough to understand tech, let alone hold a conversation with engineers.
This book could have been a great read during the start of my cross- functional team management.
Makes you understand tech jargons in a short, and as the book says the readability for a non-tech person is quite high.
This book could have been a great read during the start of my cross- functional team management.
Makes you understand tech jargons in a short, and as the book says the readability for a non-tech person is quite high.
February 20, 2022
When I started this book I thought it will cover tech in general. However, the focus seems to be a lot on internet businesses. There should be one for other types of technology. I particularly liked how all the concepts were made to tie up at the end in the form of system design examples.
April 28, 2023
This book deserves much much more attention.
It contains easy to understand concepts and delivers them in a way more efficient than hours of Youtube tutorials.
Anyone who touches a computer, mobile or otherwise, can benefit from reading this book.
It contains easy to understand concepts and delivers them in a way more efficient than hours of Youtube tutorials.
Anyone who touches a computer, mobile or otherwise, can benefit from reading this book.
June 25, 2023
For non technical background this book gives an high level insight into the world of developers. Each topic can later be picked and be read in-depth however the much needed direction and basics for starters are covered really well for tech based products' product manager.
October 3, 2023
A bit too dry of a read for me, tries to cover a lot in a superficial manner. Which makes sense because perhaps the topic is such. Rather could've tried to introduce something and urge the reader to dig deeper.
December 2, 2023
Delivers on its promise. Very concise and easy to understand. A lot of the stuff felt basic after so many years as a PM, but still helped in filling up some gaps.
Would have been immensely useful when I was starting my career.
Would have been immensely useful when I was starting my career.
April 27, 2025
Tech Simplified for PMs and Entrepreneurs
Will write a review soon.
Will write a review soon.
May 22, 2022
Covers tech topics as explained to an 8th grader. Awesome book for anyone with non CS background looking to learn about technology.
May 26, 2022
Skimmed through, good depth.
August 27, 2022
A good book to get architectural understanding of digital technologies.
October 8, 2022
Think of this book as a glossary. It does a good job of curating the concepts and terms you should be familiar with if you work for a tech company.
March 8, 2023
if you’re preparing for PM interviews, this is your book
April 10, 2023
Must read for non-tech folks who are working in tech space or startups!
Good refresher/overview for folks with basic-intermediate tech knowledge
Light read for tech experts
Good refresher/overview for folks with basic-intermediate tech knowledge
Light read for tech experts
May 14, 2023
Too many edit related errors in the book and BUT a holistic overview of tech for some basic products we use every day.
September 10, 2023
Good book for those who doesn’t know anything about PM. It picks up the right topic and dissect it logicallyy
November 10, 2023
Must read for techie as well as non-techie
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews