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Top 13 Computer Science Books For Beginners Updated 03 /2024

Dennis Lehane
  Mar 29, 2024 7:12 AM

Here we ranked and reviewed the top 13 Computer Science Books For Beginners that are highly rated by 6,229 customers.

 


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1
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    9.6
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    Workman Publishing Company
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    DK
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    Wiley
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    Mascot Books
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    9.2
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    Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
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    Pearson
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    Jaxson Media
9
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    8.8
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    Independently Published
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    8.8
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    8.6
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    Packt Publishing
12
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13
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    Independently Published

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Computer Science Books For Beginners

It's not yet at the level of AI in the Matrix, but computer fluency and computer science are industries that are always going up. People who study computer science look at how computers work, both in an engineering sense and also in terms of how they work in the world at large. In this field, you learn about everything from how computers work (hardware and programming) to how we should treat them and our relationship with them. The field of computer science is used in almost every single job out there. The idea that you could work in computer science as a job or learn how to do it on your own can be scary for a lot of people. However, don't worry! A lot of important computer science books are in this list. This will help you get started.

To make it easier for you to read, this article is broken into three parts: Learning to Code, Reference and Theory, and Bonus. You don't have to believe me when I say this. I talked to Dr. David Dittman, who has a PhD in computer science with a focus on data mining and bioinformatics [1].

To make a quick note about diversity, this list isn't very different from what it should be. Four decades ago, some of the most important books on coding were written. Many of them are still used in the work place, though. These were mostly made by a small group of people. You should know that computer science is a lively field with people from all kinds of backgrounds, genders and abilities.

Books On Learning To Code

The first skill you will need to learn is how to code. In order to help you figure out what you might want to do first, we've broken this down into computer language. Code is a skill that you have to learn by doing, not just by reading a book. A day won't teach you how to hack. Make sure you do the exercises and practice, even if you make a mistake at the first time you try. The doctor said, "I've been coding for about 15 years, and I still make mistakes."

C and C++ Difficulty: Medium to Difficult

It's likely that if you were to major in computer science at a college, you'd have to take a class in either C or C++. Both C and C++ are the most useful languages in the industry, and that's why they're often used as the first languages. C++ is a kind of extension of C, but it is still its own language and has its own rules. There are a lot of old systems that still use C and C++ [2].

First Edition: Head First C: A Brain-Friendly Guide As cheesy as it is, it does a good job of making first-time programming simple and easy to learn. A lot of the important things are in this book, but it doesn't use a lot of dry language.

The C Programming Absolute Beginner's Guide is a real, step-by-step computer science book. It was written by Greg Perry and Dean Miller (3rd Edition). I think it's a great book for someone who wants to learn about computer science for the first time. It has simple language with a lot of extra tips and code that is marked up.

If you already know C, you can learn C++ on your own. Stanley Lippman, Josée Lajoie, and Barbara E. Moo wrote a book called C++ Primer (5th Edition) and we think it's a good book for that. This is, to be honest, a little dry. But it's also a good way to learn how to do basic computer programming for the first time. It also has detailed explanations with real-world applications in it.

Where better to learn a language than from someone who made it? In college, Bjarne Stroustrup came up with C++ because sometimes you want to play around with a computer language for a while. He's also the author of a lot of C++ books as a result. Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ is one of them (1st Edition). It's dry and a little dense, but it will take you from being a beginner and teach you some more complicated things as well!

Python Difficulty: Easy

This scripting language is not only easy to learn, but it also has a lot of strong online communities. You'll be able to look up quick fixes or advice as you go, so you can do that as you go. Python can be used in a lot of different industries, and it is also used a lot for text mining. It is very useful for quickly changing and putting things into place. If you want to learn computer science, you'll have to learn more than just Python.

Eric Matthes has written a book called Python Crash Course: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming, and if you're a person who learns best when things are used right away, give it a try! The book is broken down into different types of code and has detailed, easy-to-follow guides for every line of code.

When you use Al Sweigart's book, Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python (4th Edition), you can learn how to write code by making small games as models for it. You can turn your study into a game with this book. For people who want to get into games and game design, this might be a good first text.

In the future, as you become more skilled at programming, you may need to quickly look up information when problems arise and you need to fix them quickly. Consider getting a copy of Python Cookbook, Third Edition by David Beazley and Brian K. Jones as you get more used to the language and learn more. For new Python programmers, this isn't a good book. As you become more skilled, keep this in mind.

JAVA Difficulty: Medium to Difficult

Companies want people who know JAVA as well as C and C++. A lot of people use it when they're working on software and when they're having problems with it. If you see "Please Update Java" on the bottom right of your computer screen every now and then, that's Java. If you have an Android phone, you can use it for a lot of simple, quick things. If you're still having trouble, keep in mind that computer science books might help.

Take a look at Java: Learn Java in One Day and Learn It Well: Java for Beginners with Hands-on Project by Jamie Chan. An easy-to-follow guide that will help you learn how to code right away. You really will be able to write programs in hours and do simple math functions before you know it, and it will happen quickly.

Joshua Bloch's Effective Java (3rd Edition) might not teach you how to code in a day, but it will give you a good foundation in JAVA. It also has very good, detailed explanations of different codes and how they work. This is for someone who is just starting to learn how to code and wants to learn more advanced programming.

SQL Difficulty: Medium to Difficult

Working with data means that you'll have to work with databases. In order to work with databases, you're going to need to know how to use SQL. : It's a language that helps you structure and organize data. From your local library's catalogue to the library of Congress to a lot of genetic information, this can be a lot of information. Most programmers will at least learn how to write a SQL query to get the data they need. It doesn't matter what you do, you're going to need some basic knowledge of SQL.

The book Head Head First SQL: Your Brain on SQL—A Learner's Guide by Lynn Beighley makes it pretty easy to learn SQL. It's a simple and mostly fun computer science book for people who want to learn how to use SQL for the first time. Beighley makes programming easy to understand by using simple language, diagrams, and many examples to help people understand what they need to do.

To learn how to do simple SQL database queries, John L. Viescas and Michael J. Hernandez's SQL Queries for Mere Mortals: A Hands-On Guide to Data Manipulation in SQL (3rd Edition) can get you there in no time. If you just want to learn how to use database queries, the first half is for you. Having this guide around when you need to look up complicated operations is a good idea.


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