This article showcases our top picks for the Best Books To Read On Computer Science. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below).
We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.
The User Experience Team of One by Leah Buley
This product was recommended by Serg Valencia from Charming Perfumes
Computer science is a broad and complex subject. Newcomers eager to launch their website or learn more about computing can be overwhelmed by the sheer number of existing topics. In my opinion, this book is one of the best introductions to designing applications and computer programs that are of value to people. Clear in its concepts; it motivates rather than confuses.
Code by Charles Petzold
This product was recommended by Devon Fata from Pixoul
For a good overview of programming as a whole, check out Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzold. This one will introduce you to computational thinking and some of its historical sources and uses.
The Search by John Battelle
This product was recommended by Devon Fata from Pixoul
So much of our modern computing environment is driven by the power of search, which makes The Search by John Battelle essential reading.
The Algorithm Design Manual by Steven S Skiena
This product was recommended by Devon Fata from Pixoul
One of the technical texts I still reach for regularly is The Algorithm Design Manual by Steven S S. Skiena. It’s great for beginners as well as experienced coders.
Clean Code by Robert Cecil Martin
This product was recommended by Christen Costa from Gadget Review
Clean Code remains one of the best books on programming by far. Instead of going over a particular language, it lays out the fundamentals of programming as a language. It teaches you basic rules to follow and shows you how to structure and document your code the first time around and how to refactor your code when you find a better way to do something.
The Pragmatic Programmer by Andy Hunt
This product was recommended by Jeremy Yamaguchi from Lawn Love
This is an older book, releases in 1999. It’s as relevant today as it was back then, though. Even as new software is developed and new programming languages become popular, this book helps you get into the mindset of a programmer. It gives you a practical approach that’s broken down into concrete, measurable steps.