# Model Context Protocol: The Builder's Playbook
Build AI Agents That Connect to Everything

- Price: $12.99 (Kindle ebook)
- Level: Intermediate
- Pages: 195
- Best for: Building MCP servers for clients
- You finish with: Ship an MCP server, sell it for $3K-$5K
- Series: Client-Ready AI Agents, book 1 of 3
- Buy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/41vHKUc
- Web page: https://youcanbuildthings.com/books/mcp-playbook

## What you get

Ship your first MCP server this weekend, then sell it for $3K-$5K per client. The complete system for building AI agents that talk to any API.

MCP is the protocol that lets AI agents talk to everything. This playbook takes you from zero to shipping MCP servers and selling them as consulting packages.

## Chapters

1. The Protocol That Changes Everything: Why MCP is the missing piece for AI agents.
2. Your First MCP Server in 30 Minutes: From npm init to a working server.
3. Resources, Tools, and Prompts: The three building blocks of every MCP server.
4. Connect to Any API: Turn any REST API into an MCP server.
5. Database Integration: Give your AI agent a memory.
6. Multi-Server Orchestration: Chain MCP servers for complex workflows.
7. Build a Client Application: Ship a product on top of your MCP servers.
8. Testing and Debugging: The tools that save you hours of guessing.
9. Sell MCP Consulting: The $3K-$5K per client business model.
10. Deploy to Production: From localhost to real users.
11. Security and Auth: Don't ship a vulnerability.
12. The MCP Ecosystem: Where this is going and how to stay ahead.

## Free guides from this book

- [How to Build a Multi-Agent MCP Pipeline in Python](https://youcanbuildthings.com/articles/mcp-multi-agent-orchestration-python.md): Chain three MCP servers into one automation pipeline with a Python coordinator script. Includes token cost controls, error recovery, and cron scheduling.
- [How to Build Your First MCP Server in Python](https://youcanbuildthings.com/articles/build-mcp-server-python.md): Build your first MCP server in Python from scratch. Start with a 20-line hello world, then add database and GitHub tools using the modular server pattern.
- [How to Connect MCP to PostgreSQL, GitHub, and Slack](https://youcanbuildthings.com/articles/mcp-server-database-github-slack-integration.md): Build one MCP server wired to PostgreSQL, GitHub, and Slack with a modular Python architecture. Includes SQL safety, typed error handling, and rate limits.
- [How to Debug MCP Servers (10 Common Bugs Fixed)](https://youcanbuildthings.com/articles/mcp-server-not-working-debug-errors.md): Fix the 10 most common MCP server bugs with tested code patches, plus a 7-step production debug checklist. Real solutions from shipping 30+ MCP servers.
- [How to Price and Sell MCP Server Projects](https://youcanbuildthings.com/articles/mcp-freelance-consulting-pricing.md): Three pricing tiers for MCP freelance projects at $1K, $3K, and $5K per engagement. Scope templates, discovery call scripts, and where to find clients.