Recommended reading

Non-fiction

The Unwritten Laws of Engineering. This specific book isn't necessary; there are plenty of PDFs out there that summarize this material too.

The Elements of Style aka "Strunk and White." Engineering tends to de-emphasize writing compared to the sciences; I learned about this book in an oceanography course!

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way. ESR's writing can be a little abrasive but the instructions in this article are a great guideline for troubleshooting technical problems.

Fiction

Hieroglyph collection of short stories. I love that this premise got published: each story is a collaboration between a sci-fi author and an Arizona State professor to develop a feasible concept that a dedicated researcher might be able to realize in their career.

Vernor Vinge, A Deepness in the Sky (and pretty much everything else by Vinge).

Neal Stephenson, The Diamond Age (and pretty much everything else by Stephenson).

Despite the recommendations above, my favorite fiction author is Lois McMaster Bujold.