Data & lakehouses
Begin with Apache Iceberg: The Definitive Guide, then Architecting an Apache Iceberg Lakehouse.
O'Reilly, Manning & Packt Author · 77 Books Published
Discover Books by
Alex Merced
Author of the flagship titles Apache Iceberg: The Definitive Guide (O'Reilly), Apache Polaris: The Definitive Guide (O'Reilly), and Architecting an Apache Iceberg Lakehouse (Manning), and Building the Software Factory (Packt). Browse the full catalog spanning AI engineering, economics, philosophy, and fiction to find your next read.
77
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4
Categories
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Choose your first book
Start with the subject you want to explore, or follow a fiction series in order.
AI for everyday work
Start with AI and Agents for Normal People; move to the practical engineering titles when you are ready to build.
Fantasy trilogy
The Worlds Between Home
A ten-book space opera. Read from the beginning:
Publisher Titles
The four flagship books published with O'Reilly Media, Manning Publications, and Packt Publishing.
Apache Iceberg: The Definitive Guide
A comprehensive guide to Apache Iceberg and modern lakehouse architecture, covering table format internals, schema evolution, partitioning, and integration with major query engines.
Apache Polaris: The Definitive Guide
A guide to open catalogs for Apache Iceberg lakehouses, covering Polaris catalog architecture, configuration, and governance.
Architecting an Apache Iceberg Lakehouse
Architecture patterns and best practices for building production-grade, Iceberg-based data platforms from the ground up.
Building the Software Factory
Scaling reliable AI coding practices from individual developers to teams. Co-authored with Benedikt Stemmildt, it covers context engineering, AI-TDD, harness design, and the frameworks that take teams from vibe coding to disciplined agentic engineering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Alex Merced book should I start with?
If you work with data, start with Apache Iceberg: The Definitive Guide (O'Reilly) — it's the foundational book on modern lakehouse architecture. If you're building a full Iceberg-based platform, follow up with Architecting an Apache Iceberg Lakehouse (Manning). For open catalogs and governance, read Apache Polaris: The Definitive Guide (O'Reilly). Non-technical readers can start with AI and Agents for Normal People.
What is the difference between the Apache Iceberg books?
Apache Iceberg: The Definitive Guide (O'Reilly) teaches the Iceberg table format itself — internals, schema evolution, partitioning, and query engine integration. Architecting an Apache Iceberg Lakehouse (Manning) focuses on end-to-end architecture patterns for building production Iceberg-based data platforms. The other Iceberg titles are shorter, self-published practical guides covering specific angles like Python tooling, agentic AI, Dremio, and avoiding vendor lock-in.
Where can I buy the books?
All 77 books by Alex Merced are available on Amazon in Kindle and (where offered) print editions. Every book page on this site links directly to its Amazon listing.