Top Backend books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Backend books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Backend

Understanding the concepts of Backend starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

The Joy of PHP: A Beginner's Guide to Programming Interactive Web Applications with PHP and MySQL

Have you ever wanted to create dynamic, professional-grade websites but thought programming was too daunting—or just plain boring? Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to expand your web development skills, The Joy of PHP by Alan Forbes makes learning PHP both accessible and fun!

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software (Addison-Wesley Professional Computing Series)

Patterns allow designers to create more flexible, elegant, and ultimately reusable designs without having to rediscover the design solutions themselves. Highly influential, Design Patterns is a modern classic that introduces what patterns are and how they can help you design object-oriented software and provides a catalog of simple solutions for those already programming in at last one object-…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Microservice APIs

Microservice APIs teaches you practical techniques for designing robust microservices with APIs that are easy to understand, consume, and maintain. You'll benefit from author José Haro Peralta's years of experience experimenting with microservices architecture, dodging pitfalls and learning from mistakes he's made. Inside you'll find strategies for delivering successful API integrations, imple…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Python Crash Course: A Hands-on, Project-based Introduction to Programming

If you've been thinking about learning how to code or picking up Python, this internationally bestselling guide to the most popular programming language is your quickest, easiest way to get started and go! Even if you have no experience whatsoever, Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition, will have you writing programs, solving problems, building computer games, and creating data visualizations in no…

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Designing Data-Intensive Applications: The Big Ideas Behind Reliable, Scalable, and Maintainable Systems

In this practical and comprehensive guide, author Martin Kleppmann helps you navigate this diverse landscape by examining the pros and cons of various technologies for processing and storing data. Software keeps changing, but the fundamental principles remain the same. With this book, software engineers and architects will learn how to apply those ideas in practice, and how to make full use of…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Building Microservices: Designing Fine-Grained Systems

Microservice technologies are moving quickly. Author Sam Newman provides you with a firm grounding in the concepts while diving into current solutions for modeling, integrating, testing, deploying, and monitoring your own autonomous services. Youâ??ll follow a fictional company throughout the book to learn how building a microservice architecture affects a single domain.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Additional Backend Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Backend, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

Eloquent JavaScript: A Modern Introduction to Programming

JavaScript lies at the heart of almost every modern web application, from social apps like Twitter to browser-based game frameworks like Phaser and Babylon. Though simple for beginners to pick up and play with, JavaScript is a flexible, complex language that you can use to build full-scale applications.
This much anticipated and thoroughly revised third edition of Eloquent JavaScript dives …

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Java: The Complete Reference, Twelfth Edition

Fully updated for Java SE 17, Java™: The Complete Reference, Twelfth Edition explains how to develop, compile, debug, and run Java programs. Best-selling programming author Herb Schildt covers the entire Java language, including its syntax, keywords, and fundamental programming principles. You’ll also find information on key portions of the Java API library, such as I/O, the Collections Framew…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

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