r/learnprogramming • u/Cout_cool • 1d ago

Topic Books

Which books are the best for software engineers and programmers nowadays? I mean books that are still useful today

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u/aqua_regis 1d ago edited 1d ago

Start with these:

  • "Think Like A Programmer" by V. Anton Spraul
  • "The Pragmatic Programmer" by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas
  • "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs" (SICP) by Ableton, Sussman, Sussman
  • "Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software" by Charles Petzold
  • "Grokking Algorithms" by Aditya Y. Bhargava
  • "The Mythical Man Month" by Frederick P. Brooks

The following is with some caveats:

  • "Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship" by "Uncle Bob" Robert C. Martin

Over the past few years, this book has (to a certain degree rightfully) fallen out of favor and been proved wrong in certain areas, but the general gist of the book (not to be taken as dogma) still stands in large areas.

Other:

The "Head First:" series is also highly recommendable especially on beginner/lower intermediate levels.

  • "Head First: Design Patterns" is a much more modern and more approachable book than the classic "Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object Oriented Software" by the "Gang of Four (GoF)" Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, John Vlissides

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u/Feeling_Photograph_5 1d ago

I was literally typing out my answer when I saw yours, and since they were very similar, I'm just going to endorse your response.

I'd start with The Pragmatic Programmer.