How to Master ServiceNow in 10,000 Hard and Painful Steps - Practical

In this review the bottom line is simple: this book is for people who want to become deeply competent in ServiceNow by embracing trial, error and practical storytelling. Anders Figenschow writes as a practitioner and Certified Master Architect, and the single biggest reason to buy is the book's candid, hands-on perspective that mixes technical ambition with personal anecdotes. It is not a quick reference or a polished tutorial; it is an experimental, often messy learning companion for readers willing to learn by doing and thinking differently about mastery.

Key Features

• Author perspective: A Certified Master Architect shares real-world experiences and odd stories that illustrate how to approach long-term learning.
• Mindset work: Chapters about adjusting mindset help readers adopt the persistence needed to tackle complex ServiceNow projects from first principles.
• Technical depth: Walkthroughs like building a search engine or a predictive intelligence component show how to design solutions from scratch.
• Live-coding diary: The author documents a live-coding attempt while writing the book, offering raw insights into problem solving and iteration.
• Storytelling techniques: Practical advice on using storytelling helps consultants and architects communicate design choices and influence stakeholders.

Who It's For

This book is best for ServiceNow administrators, developers and architects who already have some platform familiarity and want to move toward mastery through deliberate practice and experimentation. Readers who enjoy memoir-style technical writing and can tolerate an unvarnished, sometimes wandering narrative will get the most value.

It is less suitable for absolute beginners seeking a step-by-step beginner tutorial or those who want a concise reference for specific platform features. If you need quick how-to commands or a structured course outline, a focused manual or classroom training may be a better fit.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Unique first-person voice that makes technical lessons memorable and human.
• Concrete, ambitious examples such as building a search engine from scratch give readers a clear challenge to practice on.
• Practical mindset guidance supplements technical content and encourages persistence.

Cons

• The informal, diary-like structure may feel disorganized for readers expecting a tightly structured textbook.
• Not a quick reference for platform commands or API details; it emphasizes learning approach over exhaustive specs.

Specifications

Title	How to Master ServiceNow in 10,000 Hard and Painful Steps
Author	Anders Figenschow
Focus	ServiceNow mastery, mindset and hands-on projects
Notable content	Live-coding diary, search engine and predictive intelligence examples
Intended audience	Developers, administrators and architects
Tone	Candid, anecdotal and practical

Our Verdict

How to Master ServiceNow in 10,000 Hard and Painful Steps is a worthwhile purchase for motivated ServiceNow practitioners who want a candid, practice-driven roadmap to higher skill. It offers uncommon examples and mindset advice that extend beyond platform mechanics, so it represents good value for readers prepared to work through messy experiments rather than expecting polished, prescriptive tutorials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for beginners?
The book presumes some ServiceNow familiarity and focuses on deepening skill via practice rather than teaching absolute basics.

Does it include practical coding examples?
Yes; the author includes a live-coding diary and detailed examples such as building a search engine and elements of predictive intelligence.

Will this prepare me for certification?
It complements certification study by improving practical thinking and architecture skills, but it is not a certification study guide with exam-specific content.