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Discover Computer science

The ideas behind computing, from algorithms and programming to the theory of what computers can and can’t do.

Essential reading

The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 1: Fundamental Algorithms

The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 1: Fundamental Algorithms

Donald E. Knuth info

First published 1968

Cover of Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction

Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction

Richard S. Sutton info, Andrew G. Barto info

First published 1998

Cover of Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs

Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs

Harold Abelson info, Gerald Jay Sussman info

First published 1985

Cover of Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach

Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach

Stuart Russell info, Peter Norvig info

First published 1995

Cover of Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software

Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software

Charles Petzold info

First published 1999

Cover of Deep Learning

Deep Learning

Ian Goodfellow info, Yoshua Bengio info, Aaron Courville info

First published 2016

Cover of The C Programming Language

The C Programming Language

Brian W. Kernighan info, Dennis M. Ritchie info

First published 1978

Cover of Introduction to Algorithms

Introduction to Algorithms

Thomas H. Cormen info, Charles E. Leiserson info, Ronald L. Rivest info, Clifford Stein info

First published 1990

Cover of Introduction to the Theory of Computation

Introduction to the Theory of Computation

Michael Sipser info

First published 1996

The classics

Cover of The Mathematical Theory of Communication

The Mathematical Theory of Communication

Claude E. Shannon info, Warren Weaver info

First published 1949

Cover of Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid

Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid

Douglas R. Hofstadter info

First published 1979

The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 1: Fundamental Algorithms

The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 1: Fundamental Algorithms

Donald E. Knuth info

First published 1968

Cover of Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction

Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction

Richard S. Sutton info, Andrew G. Barto info

First published 1998

Cover of Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs

Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs

Harold Abelson info, Gerald Jay Sussman info

First published 1985

Cover of The C Programming Language

The C Programming Language

Brian W. Kernighan info, Dennis M. Ritchie info

First published 1978

Hidden gems

Cover of The Annotated Turing

The Annotated Turing

Charles Petzold info

First published 2008

Cover of The Mathematical Theory of Communication

The Mathematical Theory of Communication

Claude E. Shannon info, Warren Weaver info

First published 1949

Popular

Cover of Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach

Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach

Stuart Russell info, Peter Norvig info

First published 1995

Cover of Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software

Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software

Charles Petzold info

First published 1999

Cover of Deep Learning

Deep Learning

Ian Goodfellow info, Yoshua Bengio info, Aaron Courville info

First published 2016

Cover of Introduction to Algorithms

Introduction to Algorithms

Thomas H. Cormen info, Charles E. Leiserson info, Ronald L. Rivest info, Clifford Stein info

First published 1990

Cover of Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid

Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid

Douglas R. Hofstadter info

First published 1979

Vintage

Cover of The Mathematical Theory of Communication

The Mathematical Theory of Communication

Claude E. Shannon info, Warren Weaver info

First published 1949

Where are you starting from?

At school or university

Teaching yourself

16 Computer science books, chosen by hand. Search them, sort them and filter them.

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