Recommended Books for Programming
Books are everything, digital or printed. Who else don’t love books? Learning programming using textbooks is a good choice, it has no battery to consume and no digital distractions from social media notifications. However, our generation nowadays are spontaneously growing so e-books are now most preferred way to learn programming for both beginners and experienced tech enthusiasts. E-books are versatile, it can be brought anywhere and anytime. It can also be stored in memory of your different types of end devices such as cellular phones, tablets/ipads, laptops/desktops, and many more.
Disclaimer: The following books are based only on my opinion.
There are many excellent books available for learning and mastering programming. The best book for you depends on your current skill level, your programming interests, and the specific language or technology you want to learn.
Here are some recommended books for different programming topics and skill levels:
1. Python Crash Course
Well actually this book is not completely a tutorial but it’s a guide for programmers. It’s a good choice to study python using this book because it is a comprehensive introduction to Python programming. It’s designed for beginners and covers the fundamentals of Python, including data types, control structures, functions, and classes. It also delves into practical projects, making it an excellent choice for those new to programming. Whether you want to automate tasks, build web applications, or analyze data, this book is a great starting point.
“Automate the Boring Stuff with Python” by Al Sweigart
- If you want to learn Python with a focus on practical applications, this book is a fantastic choice. It teaches you how to use Python to automate various tasks, making it an engaging and useful way to learn the language.
“Fluent Python” by Luciano Ramalho
- This book is more suitable for intermediate to advanced Python programmers. It delves into the nuances of Python and helps you write more Pythonic code. It’s a great resource for those looking to become proficient Python developers.
“Python for Data Analysis” by Wes McKinney
- If you are interested in data analysis and using Python for scientific computing, this book is a must-read. It focuses on tools and libraries like pandas and NumPy, making it a valuable resource for data scientists and analysts.
“Introduction to Machine Learning with Python” by Andreas C. Müller and Sarah Guido
- This book is part of the O’Reilly “Introduction to Machine Learning” series and is a great choice for those who want to explore machine learning using Python libraries like scikit-learn. It’s known for its clear explanations and practical examples.
2. Eloquent JavaScript
The best among the rest, I would say. This book is an approachable introduction to JavaScript. It’s a perfect choice for beginners who wants to develop their front-end development skills — using JavaScript. It starts with the basics and progresses to more advanced topics like working with the Document Object Model (DOM) and asynchronous programming. It also includes interactive coding exercises to help you practice what you’ve learned.
Other recommended books are the following:
“You Don’t Know JS” (series) by Kyle Simpson
- This series of books is a deep dive into the intricacies of JavaScript. I would say, the second of the best JS books out there. Although it is divided into chunks of fundamental parts of JS but it’s amazing to read the book because all elements and concepts are good for both beginners and experienced programmers. It covers topics like scope, closures, prototypes, and async programming. It’s also a great resource for developers who want to master the language and understand its subtleties.
“JavaScript: The Good Parts” by Douglas Crockford
- It’s focused on the essential and most valuable parts of JavaScript, this book helps you write clean and efficient code. It’s a concise guide that highlights the best practices and avoids common pitfalls.
“JavaScript: The Definitive Guide” by David Flanagan
- This comprehensive reference book covers both the JavaScript language and its interaction with the DOM. It’s a valuable resource for web developers who want to understand JavaScript inside and out.
3. Effective Java
If you like to become an effective Java programmer, I would say… considered a must-read for Java developers, this book provides practical advice on writing effective and efficient Java code. It covers best practices, design patterns, and common pitfalls to help you become a better Java programmer.
Other Java recommended books are:
“Head First Java” by Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates
- This beginner-friendly book makes learning Java fun and engaging. It uses a visually rich and interactive approach to teach the fundamentals of Java programming, making it accessible for those new to the language.
“Java: The Complete Reference” by Herbert Schildt
- As the title suggests, this book is a comprehensive reference for Java. It covers a wide range of topics, from basic language features to advanced concepts. It’s a valuable resource for both beginners and experienced Java developers.
4. C++ Primer
The best C++ book I’ve ever read for almost 6 months. It’s a comprehensive guide that covers C++ in depth, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced programmers. This book provides clear and accessible explanations of complex C++ concepts, offering structured learning that covers everything from the basics to advanced topics, including object-oriented programming, templates, and the Standard Template Library (STL). It features practical examples and coding exercises to reinforce learning, making it an excellent resource for hands-on practice. “C++ Primer” also covers the latest features introduced in C++11, C++14, and C++17, ensuring readers are up to date with modern C++ practices. With its depth and coverage, it serves as both a learning resource and a valuable reference, making it an essential companion for anyone seeking to become proficient in C++ programming and useful for those preparing for C++ certification exams.
Other recommended books of C++ are the following:
“Accelerated C++” by Andrew Koenig and Barbara E. Moo
- If you want to learn C++ quickly, this book provides a fast-paced introduction. It focuses on practical programming and is an excellent choice for those with some programming experience.
“Effective C++” by Scott Meyers
- This book offers a collection of guidelines for writing efficient and robust C++ code. It covers a wide range of topics, including memory management, object-oriented design, and operator overloading.
“The C++ Programming Language” by Bjarne Stroustrup
- Written by the creator of C++, this book is a thorough reference on the language. It covers the C++ language and its standard library, making it an indispensable resource for serious C++ developers.
5. HTML & CSS — design and build websites
It’s a top-tier web development guide, good for beginners. HTML and CSS covers lots of elements and properties, which can be confusing to memorized it one by one. However, reading this book helps visually to understand the functionalities and features of HTML and CSS. With its beautifully illustrated approach, this book teaches the fundamentals of HTML and CSS. It’s suitable for visual learners and provides a solid foundation for web design.
Other recommended books that I suggest to read it to:
“Learning Web Design” by Jennifer Robbins
- This book is an ideal starting point for those new to web design. It covers the basics of HTML, CSS, and web design principles in an accessible and beginner-friendly manner.
“JavaScript and JQueryInteractive Front-End Web Development” by Jon Duckett
- This book complements the previous one by delving into JavaScript and jQuery, allowing you to create interactive and dynamic web content.
“Node.js Design Patterns” by Mario Casciaro
- If you’re interested in server-side JavaScript development with Node.js, this book is a valuable resource. It explores design patterns and best practices for building scalable and maintainable Node.js applications.
6. Hands-On Machine Learning with Scikit-Learn, Keras, and TensorFlow
It’s an exceptionally practical guide to machine learning. It emphasizes hands-on experience with real-world projects, leveraging popular Python libraries like scikit-learn, Keras, and TensorFlow. I promise you that you’d fall in love with Machine Learning after reading it. This book covers a wide range of machine learning topics, from foundational concepts to advanced techniques, and includes hands-on projects such as image classification, sentiment analysis, and recommendation systems. Clear explanations, best practices, and insights on project management and deployment make it accessible and invaluable for both beginners and experienced practitioners, ensuring readers can build robust and effective machine learning models and apply them to real-world problems.
Other books that I suggest you to read it are:
“The Elements of Statistical Learning” by Trevor Hastie, Robert Tibshirani, and Jerome Friedman
- This advanced book is for those with a strong mathematical background. It covers statistical learning, machine learning, and predictive modeling in depth, making it a comprehensive reference for data scientists and statisticians.
“Python for Data Science Handbook” by Jake VanderPlas
- This book is a comprehensive resource for data analysis with Python. It covers data manipulation, visualization, and machine learning, making it a valuable asset for data scientists and analysts.
7. Introduction to Algorithms
Often referred to as “CLRS,” this book is a comprehensive and widely-used resource in the field of algorithms. It provides a thorough understanding of algorithms and data structures and is suitable for a wide range of readers, from beginners to advanced learners.
Other recommended books:
“Algorithms” by Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne
- This book offers a practical and hands-on approach to learning algorithms and data structures. It includes clear explanations, practical examples, and code in Java, making it accessible and engaging for many readers.
“Cracking the Coding Interview” by Gayle Laakmann McDowell
- While primarily aimed at job interview preparation, this book covers common data structures and algorithms, making it an excellent resource for practicing and applying these concepts. It’s particularly useful for those preparing for technical interviews in the software industry.
8. Android Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide
If you’re a go-to Android, you definitely must pick this book. It is an excellent resource for those interested in Android app development. It covers the fundamentals of Android programming and provides hands-on exercises to help you build your own Android apps.
Aside from Android, I also suggest for IOS and other mobile app development books available out there:
“iOS Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide” by Joe Conway and Aaron Hillegass
- For iOS app development, this book is a great choice. It guides you through the process of creating iOS apps using Swift and Xcode. It’s well-regarded for its practical approach and real-world examples.
“Flutter in Action” by Eric Windmill
- If you’re interested in cross-platform mobile app development, Flutter is a popular choice. This book is a comprehensive guide to Flutter, a framework developed by Google for building natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase.
“React Native in Action” by Nader Dabit
- React Native is another popular framework for cross-platform app development, and this book provides a hands-on approach to building mobile apps using React Native. It covers both the basics and more advanced topics for creating cross-platform apps.
9. Introduction to Game Design, Prototyping, and Development: From Concept to Playable Game with Unity and C#
If you want to develop games and be an effective game developer, start reading this book because this is a comprehensive guide to game design, prototyping, and development. It helps you to build and publish games efficiently. It introduces you to the principles of game design, and then guides you through the process of building games with Unity and C#. It’s a great choice for those looking to learn both the design and technical aspects of game development.
Other game development books are:
“Game Programming Patterns” by Robert Nystrom
- This book focuses on the programming patterns commonly used in game development. It provides insights into common problems and solutions, helping developers write cleaner and more efficient game code. It’s an excellent resource for programmers looking to improve their game development skills.
“The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses” by Jesse Schell
- While not a technical guide, this book is highly regarded for its insights into game design. It covers a wide range of topics related to game design, including player psychology, mechanics, aesthetics, and more. It’s a valuable resource for aspiring game designers who want to understand the creative and conceptual side of game development.
“Game Engine Architecture” by Jason Gregory
- It is a great choice for developers who want to create their own game engines or gain a deeper understanding of the inner workings of existing engines. This comprehensive book delves into the intricacies of game engine development, making it an ideal choice for those interested in the technical side of creating game engines. It covers topics such as graphics, physics, audio, and scripting systems, providing in-depth knowledge about the architecture of game engines. While it’s a complex read, it’s considered an essential resource for understanding how game engines work.
10. Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship
It is a seminal work that provides practical guidance on writing clean, maintainable, and efficient code. It’s one of the fundamental book for most of the programmers because this book covers essential concepts, such as code clarity, SOLID principles, testing, refactoring, and the importance of software craftsmanship. It’s a must-read for software developers at all levels, offering valuable insights into improving coding skills and producing high-quality software.
Other top-tier Software Engineering books out there that you MUST read are:
“Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software” by Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, and John Vlissides
- This classic book introduces fundamental design patterns that help solve common software design problems. It’s a valuable resource for software architects and developers looking to create more maintainable and flexible systems.
“The Pragmatic Programmer: Your Journey to Mastery” by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas
- This book offers practical tips, techniques, and best practices for becoming a more effective and pragmatic software developer. It covers various aspects of the software development process and is full of useful advice.
“Introduction to the Theory of Computation” by Michael Sipser
- For those interested in the theoretical foundations of computer science and software engineering, this book provides a comprehensive introduction to formal languages, automata, and complexity theory.
“Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code” by Martin Fowler
- This book focuses on the important practice of refactoring, which involves improving the structure and design of existing code without changing its external behavior. It provides insights and techniques for making code more maintainable and readable.
“Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction” by Steve McConnell
- This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of software construction, from design and coding to testing and maintenance. It’s a valuable resource for software engineers at all experience levels.
“The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering” by Frederick P. Brooks Jr.
- A classic in the field, this book explores the challenges and complexities of managing software projects. It offers timeless insights into project management and software engineering practices.
“Continuous Delivery: Reliable Software Releases through Build, Test, and Deployment Automation” by Jez Humble and David Farley
- This book focuses on the principles and practices of continuous integration and continuous delivery, emphasizing the importance of automating the software delivery process.
Additional:
I’d also like to include this in my blog that Database Management books are also important concept in
“Database Management Systems” by Raghu Ramakrishnan and Johannes Gehrke
- This book is a comprehensive and widely used resource for learning about database management systems. It covers both fundamental concepts and advanced topics, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced professionals.
“SQL Performance Explained” by Markus Winand
- If you want to focus on SQL and optimizing database performance, this book is an excellent choice. It provides in-depth insights into writing efficient SQL queries and improving database performance.
“Designing Data-Intensive Applications” by Martin Kleppmann
- This book delves into the world of data and how modern data-intensive applications are designed and managed. It covers a wide range of topics, from databases to data pipelines and distributed systems, making it a valuable resource for those building complex data-driven applications.
“NoSQL Distilled: A Brief Guide to the Emerging World of Polyglot Persistence” by Pramod J. Sadalage and Martin Fowler
- This book is an excellent resource for those interested in NoSQL databases, a category of databases that have gained popularity for handling large volumes of unstructured or semi-structured data. It provides an overview of various NoSQL database types and their use cases, making it a valuable guide for understanding the evolving database landscape.
Conclusion:
To sum it up, those books I suggested you to read is just based on my opinion and experience. Although, there are lots of best and top-tier books out there, not limited in my list here but it can be helpful for you to be a better programmer if you know how to search for more available sources. Again, books can be just guide, do not rely by just reading, learn to understand the concepts, apply it in your practice of coding, and practice discipline to read and finish one book one at a time. Lastly, I hope this blog helps you to gain insights and motivates you to continue learning the world of technology!
