Top Programming 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 Programming books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Programming

Understanding the concepts of Programming 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.

Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code

Refactoring is about improving the design of existing code. It is the process of changing a software system in such a way that it does not alter the external behavior of the code, yet improves its internal structure. With refactoring you can even take a bad design and rework it into a good one.

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The Art of Unix Programming

The Art of Unix Programming by Eric S. Raymond is a book about the history and culture of Unix programming from its earliest days in 1969 to 2003 when it was published, covering both genetic derivations such as BSD and conceptual ones such as Linux. The Art of Unix Programming. Author.

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System Design Interview - An Insider's Guide: Volume 2

This book provides a step-by-step framework for how to tackle a system design question. It also includes many real-world examples to illustrate a systematic approach, with detailed and well-explained steps you can follow. What's inside? - An insider's take on what interviewers really look for and why.

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Think Like a Programmer: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving

Anton Spraul breaks down the ways that programmers solve problems and teaches you what other introductory books often ignore: how to. Each chapter tackles a single programming concept, like classes, pointers, and recursion, and open-ended exercises throughout challenge you to apply your knowledge.

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The Well-Grounded Rubyist

The Well-Grounded Rubyist, Second Edition is a beautifully written tutorial that begins with your first Ruby program and goes on to explore sophisticated topics like callable objects, reflection, and threading. The book concentrates on the language, preparing you to use Ruby in any way you choose.

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Effective Java

Since this Jolt-award winning classic was last updated in 2008, the Java programming environment has changed dramatically. Java 7 and Java 8 introduced new features and functions including, forEach() method in Iterable interface, default and static methods in Interfaces, Functional Interfaces and Lambda Expressions, Java Stream API for Bulk Data Operations on Collections, Java Time API, Collec…

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Additional Programming Reading

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

The Pragmatic Programmer

The main qualities of what the authors refer to as a pragmatic programmer are being an early adopter, to have fast adaptation, inquisitiveness and critical thinking, realism, and being a jack-of-all-trades.

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Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World

From acclaimed tech writer Clive Thompson comes a brilliant anthropological reckoning with the most powerful tribe in the world today, computer programmers, in a book that interrogates who they are, how they think, what qualifies as greatness in their world, and what should give us pause.

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Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software

Previously undocumented, these 23 patterns allow designers to create more flexible, elegant, and ultimately reusable designs without having to rediscover the design solutions themselves. The authors begin by describing what patterns are and how they can help you design object-oriented software.

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Test-Driven Development by Example

In short, the premise behind TDD is that code should be continually tested and refactored. Kent Beck teaches programmers by example, so they can painlessly and dramatically increase the quality of their work.

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Cracking the coding interview

"Cracking the Coding Interview" presents problems requiring versatile reasoning and proposes multiple solution approaches. It encourages readers to develop multiple solutions for each problem. The book provides explanations, example problems, and solutions to solve coding interview questions related to these topics.

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Code Complete

Widely considered one of the best practical guides to programming, Steve McConnell’s original code complete has been helping developers write better software for more than a decade. Now this classic book has been fully updated and revised with leading-edge practices—and hundreds of new code samples—illustrating the art and science of software construction. Capturing the body of knowledge avail…

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Specializations and Deeper Programming Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. Programming is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

The Pragmatic Programmer: Your Journey to Mastery, 20th Anniversary Edition

Written as a series of self-contained sections and filled with classic and fresh anecdotes, thoughtful examples, and interesting analogies, The Pragmatic Programmer illustrates the best approaches and major pitfalls of many different aspects of software development.

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

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