How to learn computing^W^W^W Ten books I like
Meme du jour: ten books about computing. I think the meme’s name is misleading. To “learn computing” one has to keep in mind that:
- It takes ten years. For real.
- Books are necessary but not sufficient. You have to program, to read good programs, and to read bad programs.
- Computing ≠ computers ≠ programming.
But, FWIW, my ten books:
- GEB, for the same reason ricbit suggested: if you don’t like reading it, you won’t like computing (good one ricbit!)
- How to think like a computer scientist: Learning with Python. If needed, google for python tutorials to help.
- Data Structures and Algorithms in Python or any other algorithms book. Being python, this one has the advantage of succinctness.
- Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs as the first computing book for adults. Ask help ;) Related reading: The little schemer & The reasoned schemer.
- Concrete mathematics: now we’re talking seriously. If I have to choose one math book for computer scientists, this gotta be the one.
- Computer architecture: a quantitative approach. It’s good to know a bit about computers.
- The C Programming Language, by the authors of C. This wonderfully-written little book is the antidote to Java and C++ behemots. Read with the architecture book to learn to deal with memory.
- Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach: Best intro to AI evar. AI techniques will do wonders to enlarge your horizons as a computing guy, and then you can enlarge them even more with…
- Probability and Computing: Randomized Algorithms and Probabilistic Analysis. Who said the best algorithms are deterministic?
- And The practice of programming, to polish your taste.
New: suporte experimental a encomendas internacionals! (thx ademar)
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