leoboiko’s computing log

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.