For this kind of thing, I recommend the book "Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software" by Charles Petzold. http://www.amazon.com/Code-Lang

For this kind of thing, I recommend the book "Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software" by Charles Petzold. http://www.amazon.com/Code-Language-Computer-Hardware-Software/dp/0735611319 http://www.amazon.com/Code-Language-Computer-Hardware-Softwa... Being a CS major, I bought this book for the sheer amazement at how the gist of everything I had learned about computers in the university could be conveyed in one book in such easy and fun manner. The learning curve is so gentle, it just couldn't be easier. I cannot recommend this book enough to _every_ person who really wants to understand how computers work.