Quote:
Originally Posted by theDoomedOne  I have about 20-30 books on my reading list that I just haven't got a good chance to sit down and read yet. These are books on computer-related stuff like PHP,SQL,Excel,C++,Linux,Postfix,Apache,Regex (this could easily be one whole year of reading) and also some material to higher mathematics related stuff (which could easily be one more year in addition). So I was thinking that with this knowledge under the belt I could more rapidly advance in a career either in the software industry or the banking industry (or both combined). Both I'm interested in. |
You won't need to know everything in all of those books.
Seriously. Even the smartest geeks I know, and I know a few, will know the "what" of those books but won't necessarily have even opened them more than once.
Also you'd quickly find that you aren't applying the knowledge, and will forget it. You'd probably get a similar benefit from speed reading each book, and then using them as a reference if you find you need to use that... honestly that's what most people do.
For example, I know about regular expressions. I used them on a maybe 2 weekly basis - but very simple ones. I know what I can do with them, and if I can't remember the syntax, I look it up.
A lot of the knowledge in the books will be transferable. Once you *really* understand a couple of programming languages, the rest are like learning how to cook in a different kitchen - you still have knives, but you need to work out which are sharper, you still have an oven, but don't know how the controls work, etc. Sometimes the kitchen will be very well equipped. Other times you have to learn how to use a microwave for almost everything... but the way you think about it will stay pretty similar.
Maths is another area where understanding what exists is important, but you don't need to know exactly HOW unless you are intending to study further.
If you want to rapidly advance in finance, get a very good engineering degree and work your arse off. Not a path I chose to take, and despite the occasional pangs of jealousy over financial sector pay, I'd take my broader life any day.