I'm also a so-called self-taught programmer. I thought about this very question a while ago and came across this definitive answer by Joel Spolsky: http://stack

I'm also a so-called self-taught programmer. I thought about this very question a while ago and came across this definitive answer by Joel Spolsky: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/414779/what-should-a-self-taught-programmer-with-no-degree-learn-read/4473810#4473810 http://stackoverflow.com/questions/414779/what-should-a-self... He also nails it again in his post, "The Perils of JavaSchools" - http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/ThePerilsofJavaSchools.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/ThePerilsofJavaSchool...