How was this Computer Science books list created?

We searched for "best Computer Science books", found the top 5 articles, took every book mentioned in 2+ articles, and averaged their rankings.

How many Computer Science books are in this list?

There are 15 books in this list.

Why did you create this Computer Science books list?

We wanted to gather the most accurate list of Computer Science books on the internet.

15 Best Computer Science Books of All Time

Our goal: Find what the internet ranks as the best Computer Science books (instead of one person's opinion).

Our process:

Search for "best computer science books" and study the top 5 articles.
Add only the books mentioned 2+ times.
Rank the results neatly for you here! 😊
(This took a long time, but we do the research so you don't have to!)

(Updated 2023)

1
i
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
Harold Abelson
Appears in 3 articles
3recommenders
2
i
Algorithms to Live By
The Computer Science of Human Decisions
Brian Christian
Appears in 3 articles
1recommender
3
i
Code Complete
A Practical Handbook of Software Construction
Steve McConnell
Appears in 3 articles
1recommender
4
i
Code
The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software
Charles Petzold
Appears in 3 articles
MOST RECOMMENDED!
5
i
Superintelligence
Paths, Dangers, Strategies
Nick Bostrom
Appears in 2 articles
6recommenders
6
i
Don't Make Me Think
A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
Steve Krug
Appears in 2 articles
5recommenders
7
i
The Second Machine Age
Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies
Erik Brynjolfsson
Appears in 2 articles
2recommenders
8
i
The Pragmatic Programmer
From Journeyman to Master
Andrew Hunt
Appears in 2 articles
2recommenders
9
i
The Search
How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture
John Battelle
Appears in 2 articles
2recommenders
10
i
Modern Operating Systems
Andrew S Tanenbaum
Appears in 2 articles
1recommender
11
i
Clean Code
A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship
Robert C. Martin
Appears in 2 articles
12
i
Algorithms
Robert Sedgewick
Appears in 2 articles
13
i
Explain the Cloud Like I'm 10
Todd Hoff
Appears in 2 articles
14
i
Intro to Python for Computer Science and Data Science
Learning to Program with AI, Big Data and The Cloud
Paul Deitel
Appears in 2 articles
15
i
Types and Programming Languages
Benjamin C. Pierce
Appears in 2 articles

Sources

FAQ

How was this Computer Science books list created?
We searched for "best Computer Science books", found the top 5 articles, took every book mentioned in 2+ articles, and averaged their rankings.
How many Computer Science books are in this list?
There are 15 books in this list.
Why did you create this Computer Science books list?
We wanted to gather the most accurate list of Computer Science books on the internet.