Ask HN: Which textbooks did you enjoy reading the most and why?

#1

Post by optbuild » Tue, Jul 11, 2023, 10:59 AM UTC

Textbooks that really helped you learn the subject .

Re: Ask HN: Which textbooks did you enjoy reading the most and why?

#2

Post by jtode » Tue, Jul 11, 2023, 11:11 AM UTC

K&R. Simple, clear writing about very basic and fundamental operations. Short, but contains enough information to run the entire digital world with one kernel. It frankly is one of the best and most important books in human history.

Re: Ask HN: Which textbooks did you enjoy reading the most and why?

#3

Post by surprisetalk » Tue, Jul 11, 2023, 12:06 PM UTC

SICP, along with the free YouTube lectures!

[0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J_xL4IGhJA&list=PLE18841CAB...

Re: Ask HN: Which textbooks did you enjoy reading the most and why?

#4

Post by cpach » Tue, Jul 11, 2023, 12:34 PM UTC

surprisetalk wrote: post #3

SICP, along with the free YouTube lectures! [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J_xL4IGhJA&list=PLE18841CAB...

Same here.

Why? To me, it explains the very foundation of programming, using the simplest possible syntax (Scheme). That book was incredibly helpful when I tried to grokk how programming actually works. (There are other models too, but this one really resonated with me. YMMV.)

Re: Ask HN: Which textbooks did you enjoy reading the most and why?

#5

Post by VoodooJuJu » Tue, Jul 11, 2023, 2:36 PM UTC

Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship. Has great illustrations, important for understanding something so physical and practical. Also has a great binding and paper quality.