Computer science textbooks build useful skills, while computer science fiction can be fascinating, fun, and informative all at once. Computer science books about philosophy provide insight into the relationship between computers, logic, and the human experience. Here’s our recommended reading for computer science to get you started.
Craft: The best teaching computer science books
Computer science textbooks and nonfiction build understanding of computer systems, processes, and technologies. They also provide advanced information to enhance your knowledge as you explore the newest ideas in computer science. Computer science books range from comprehensive to extremely niche. From training manuals to textbooks, works like these occupy space on computer science students, professionals, and hobbyists’ shelves.
Fiction: The most fun books about computer science
Computer science knowledge isn’t only in textbooks. Novels explain the history of computer science, its role in present society, and how it could influence our futures. Computer science fiction books may give you insight into a new aspect of the field or explain something you couldn’t quite grasp in textbook form. They can also bend your mind, provide a sense of escape, and make you think about the relationship between humans and computers in completely different ways.
Philosophy: Required reading for computer scientists
Why pair philosophy and computer science? Philosophy uses logic and reason to answer humanity’s greatest questions and look at the human experience — goals shared by some computer scientists. Both philosophy and computer science find their foundations in logical reasoning. The former looks at words, while the latter applies numbers and symbolic forms. Books about computer science and philosophy explore how the two disciplines relate to and inform each other and how they can advance together.
Buyer beware — and enjoy
The computer science books on this list give you differing perspectives on the discipline. Some are more technical, while others are intended for general audiences. Reviews can help you decide whether each book belongs on your to-read list. Older computer science textbooks can be difficult to find, so make sure you use a reputable seller or publisher. Some sellers may offer cheaply produced scanned and printed or digital editions. Always check reviews (and ensure they match the product being sold) before purchasing a book from a third-party seller. Most importantly — enjoy diving deeper into computer science.
