5 ms·

This book profoundly changed how I look at computers (and other things). http://www.charlespetzold.com/code/ http://www.charlespetzold.com/code/ Petzold's sty

This book profoundly changed how I look at computers (and other things). http://www.charlespetzold.com/code/ http://www.charlespetzold.com/code/ Petzold's style is narrative, but make no mistake: every sentence is carefully chosen. I recommend resisting the urge to skim, lest you have to backtrack later...

daveloyall 12y ago
NB the diagrams weren't legible in the Kindle version I paid for (some years ago; hopefully it's been updated). The diagrams were fine in the PDF version that I found somewhere.
kasbah 12y ago
Thanks for reminding me of this one. I had a brief skim of this years ago when I was short on money and time. Now with a bit more of both I have ordered a paperback copy.
koepked 12y ago
I concur, as strongly as I can, with this. This book gave me sight in a lot of areas I in which I was previously blind. Also, I couldn't put it down. I was high on insight the entire time I read it. I should point out, though, that while I did already program when I read this, I hadn't taken any CS courses, so YMMV. That being said, this book was enough to get me on the path to self-taught assembly and embedded programming.
drtse4 12y ago
Beautifully crafted book, i've read it a few months ago and i would have loved something like this when i was in high school (i still enjoyed it, even if there wasn't much i didn't already know).
fapjacks 12y ago
100%. The advice against skimming is sound. Read this like you would read the bible if you were a priest.
WickyNilliams 12y ago
I never got all the way through this book. Started reading it and loved it. The narrative and conversational style is very welcoming. At the time I had a friend who was starting to learn programming so I loaned it to him hoping it would help/inspire him. I had completely forgot I owned this book, thanks for reminding me! My friend has since given up on programming so I'll definitely get it back :)
sanderjd 12y ago
God yes. This is the only book about computers that I recommend to my non-technical family and friends. It is the only way I've found for people to understand the love of computing as opposed to just understanding why it may be a good job.

daveloyall 12y ago

NB the diagrams weren't legible in the Kindle version I paid for (some years ago; hopefully it's been updated). The diagrams were fine in the PDF version that I found somewhere.

kasbah 12y ago

Thanks for reminding me of this one. I had a brief skim of this years ago when I was short on money and time. Now with a bit more of both I have ordered a paperback copy.

koepked 12y ago

I concur, as strongly as I can, with this. This book gave me sight in a lot of areas I in which I was previously blind. Also, I couldn't put it down. I was high on insight the entire time I read it. I should point out, though, that while I did already program when I read this, I hadn't taken any CS courses, so YMMV. That being said, this book was enough to get me on the path to self-taught assembly and embedded programming.

drtse4 12y ago

Beautifully crafted book, i've read it a few months ago and i would have loved something like this when i was in high school (i still enjoyed it, even if there wasn't much i didn't already know).

fapjacks 12y ago

100%. The advice against skimming is sound. Read this like you would read the bible if you were a priest.

WickyNilliams 12y ago

I never got all the way through this book. Started reading it and loved it. The narrative and conversational style is very welcoming. At the time I had a friend who was starting to learn programming so I loaned it to him hoping it would help/inspire him. I had completely forgot I owned this book, thanks for reminding me! My friend has since given up on programming so I'll definitely get it back :)

sanderjd 12y ago

God yes. This is the only book about computers that I recommend to my non-technical family and friends. It is the only way I've found for people to understand the love of computing as opposed to just understanding why it may be a good job.