Top 10 books to learn coding fast

If you’re itching to learn to code fast, there are a wealth of books on the subject out there, so picking the right one for you can be tricky. There are so many options to choose from that it’s hard to know which ones will help you learn as effectively and efficiently as possible. The market is flooded with blogs, websites, videos, and other versions of content that have all been carefully curated to make sure it’s easy to digest and packed full of all the information you need. Unfortunately, not all these resources are created equal; some will leave you feeling confused, others bored, or even frustrated if they’re not what you need at that moment. Hopefully, this list will help steer you in the right direction for your learning journey!

Why should you code?

Before you start learning to code, you should know why you are doing so. Apart from being one of the hottest job skills in the world, coding is also an immensely useful skill set to have. No matter what field you’re in, coding can open up a world of opportunities for you. These can range from being a better problem solver, and understanding the importance of data, to being able to build your own products. If you want to learn more about the benefits of coding and why it’s important, you can read more in this article.

Which coding language should you pick?

The first hurdle that comes when starting to learn code is the sheer plethora of coding languages available. Furthermore different industry experts recommending different languages add to the confusion.

In order to pick your first coding language, you should first know what you want to build or do. If you want to get into web development, go for HTML/CSS/JavaScript, if you want to make mobile apps, go for Kotlin or Swift depending on your platform of choice. Similarly, if you want to work with big data and ML, go with Python or R. Languages like C#, C++, and Java are great for developing desktop apps and video games. As you can see, choosing a language comes down to what you want to do and achieve.

With that being said, if you’re looking for a general-purpose language that is good for learning the fundamentals of coding and logic-building, you can pick any of these languages without any second thought,

• C
• C++
• Python
• Java
• JavaScript

Top 10 books to learn to code

Now that you know why you’re learning to code and have picked a coding language of your choice, let us look at some of the best books that you can read to learn to code faster. Some of these books and language-specific and some are for building the programming mindset and being a better programmer in general.

The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

Published in October 1999, Andrew Hunt and David Thomas’ book The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master discusses software engineering.

Each chapter includes hints that provide guidance on a variety of topics, including estimating, testing, debugging, how to prototype, how to successfully communicate, best practices for handling exceptions, and much more. The book is also very straight to the point and fun, I think one of the first chapters being called “The Cat Ate My Source Code” says a lot.

The book isn’t focused on any particular language or technology but rather talks about building the programmer mindset, ways of approaching problems, etc.

The Self-Taught Programmer: The Definitive Guide to Programming Professionally

It is often very difficult to determine the extent of what you need to know to have a respectable play around with a programming language in the real world unless you spend time looking up different web tutorials, questions on stack overflow, or a wide range of books. This is often the most frustrating aspect of programming for beginners.

This book by Cory Althoff goes over some computer science fundamentals like data structures and algorithms and teaches you to program in Python 3 along with various concepts like OOP, Git, Bash, regular expressions, etc. This is a great all-around book for anyone wanting to get started with Python or programming in general.

Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship

This book by Robert C. Martin is not just about learning to code, but rather learning to write clean code. Writing good quality and readable code is key for the long-term maintenance of a project. This book goes over some of the patterns and practices of writing clean code, along with some really interesting case studies. This book is for anyone wanting to reach new heights as a programmer or software engineer.

Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software

Charles Petzold’s book on code, which was first released in 2000, is a steadfast favorite in the programming community because it explains how programming and code are embedded within the fabric of daily life in an accessible manner. Petzold uses well-known ideas like Braille and Morse code to explain coding and assembly language to a general audience. Even better, the book is illustrated, making it easier for readers who don’t believe themselves to be code experts to follow along.

Eloquent JavaScript: A Modern Introduction to Programming

Marijn Haverbekedives’s Eloquent JavaScript is one of the greatest books on programming in JavaScript for beginners since it shows them how to create elegant, efficient code. The fundamentals of the JavaScript language’s control structures, functions, and data structures are the first things you learn. Then you’ll study error management and bug fixing, modularity, and asynchronous programming, and finally, you’ll discover how to put all the knowledge to use using JavaScript.

This book also covers a lot of JavaScript-specific things like making basic web applications, manipulating the DOM, etc, making it a must-read for beginners looking to learn JavaScript.

C++ Primer

Stanley B. wrote a book titled C++ Primer that begins by introducing the C++ standard library. Without having to be an expert in every facet of the C++ language, it enables you to develop useful programs. Numerous examples are included in the books, along with instructions on how to utilize them effectively.

This is one of the greatest coding books and is perfect for new developers who wish to learn the fundamental ideas and methods of C++. The book guides your learning by providing examples that highlight the most effective programming languages and methods used today.

Head First Java

If you’re looking to buy a book to learn Java, this should be the book you purchase. It is jokingly referred to by readers as the “bible” of Java programming. If that is not enough to convince you, it is the all-time best-selling Java book. One of the best books for learning programming that provides access to knowledge that every Java programmer needs is Head-First Java. Head First Java has taken into account issues faced by Java novices, unlike the majority of Java books released today that are aimed at advanced developers. Never before has Java training been approached in this way, and the book incorporates old photographs, riddles, coding practice, brain teasers, etc. to facilitate learning. You’ll find the book to be nicely organized, educational, and simple to navigate.

C Programming: Absolute Beginner’s Guide

The authors of the book C Programming Absolute Beginner’s Guide are Greg Perry and Dean Miller. This book explains some fundamental C language fundamentals in simple and understandable steps. The book shows how to structure programs and work with various concepts such as pointers, functions, variables, operators, and I/O.

It is one of the finest books for learning programming since it provides clear instructions for writing trustworthy, effective C code for everything from simple console programs to games and mobile apps.

Introduction to Algorithms

A method or process used to solve a problem is called an algorithm in programming. Learning about popular algorithms and being able to form your own ones are some of the most essential skills to have if you wish to solve complex problems with the help of coding, and this book aims to teach just that. The book is written by Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, and Clifford Stein.

The Introduction to Algorithms book provides in-depth explanations for each algorithm that is covered. They are provided in pseudocode, which is understandable to programmers of all experience levels, including those who are just starting out.

Cracking the Coding Interview

If you want to get a top programming job, this book by Gayle Laakmann McDowell is considered a must-read by the programming and competitive coding community. This book features nearly 200 coding questions asked by top FAANG companies like Google, Facebook, Netflix, etc. Not only that, this book aims to show the software interview world in general; not just about the coding part of it, but also the soft skills and behavioral side of coding interviews. So this book is definitely worth reading if you’re looking to crack a software coding interview.

Conclusion

Learning to code is an incredibly rewarding experience, and something everyone should try at least once in their lives! There are a wealth of books out there to help you get started, but picking the right one for you can be tricky. This guide has been designed to help you navigate the sometimes tricky world of books and find the one that is perfect for you. Hopefully, this guide will help you find a book that will help you start learning to code quickly and effectively, so you can get on with living your dream life! Now it’s time to get reading! Start from the top and work your way down the list until you find the perfect fit for you. And don’t forget to bookmark this article for future reference!

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