Designing Machine Learning Systems versus The Coming Wave.
Both show up on every "best" list. They're not competitors. They're a sequence. Here's which one to read first, and when.
Reviewed by Ashish Sheth · Updated May 2026
Author
Chip Huyen
Mustafa Suleyman, Michael Bhaskar
Pages
368
352
Published
2022
2024
Publisher
O'Reilly Media
The Bodley Head (Penguin UK)
Level
intermediate
beginner
Amazon Rating
4.6/5 (933)
4.2/5 (4,924)
Goodreads Rating
4.44/5 (1,102)
3.8/5 (15,674)
Designing Machine Learning Systems
Strengths
+ Covers the entire ML lifecycle from data to monitoring
+ Focuses on principles that outlast specific tools
+ Clear and accessible writing for complex topics
+ Production-focused, not just academic theory
Caveats
− High-level overview may feel shallow for experienced ML engineers
− Limited LLM coverage (published pre-ChatGPT in 2022)
− Not enough specific code examples or tool recommendations
The Coming Wave
Strengths
+ Insider authority — Suleyman has built the labs he's writing about
+ Bigger frame than most AI books — covers biotech and robotics together
+ Concrete proposals, not just hand-wringing
+ Accessible to non-technical readers
Caveats
− Some readers find the tone alarmist or self-serving (Suleyman runs Microsoft AI)
− Less hands-on than developers might want — strategic, not technical
− Containment proposals are debated and not universally seen as practical
The verdict
Read The Coming Wave first to build foundations, then move to Designing Machine Learning Systems for advanced concepts.
Designing Machine Learning Systems
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The Coming Wave
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Frequently asked
Which is better, Designing Machine Learning Systems or The Coming Wave?
Read The Coming Wave first to build foundations, then move to Designing Machine Learning Systems for advanced concepts.
Is Designing Machine Learning Systems still relevant in 2026?
The core principles of data management, evaluation, and monitoring apply to any ML system, including LLMs. But for LLM-specific topics, pair it with the author's newer book, AI Engineering.
Is The Coming Wave technical?
No. It's a strategic and policy book aimed at general readers. You won't write better code after reading it. You will think differently about where the field is going.