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3D Graphics File Formats A Programming Reference by Keith Rule [Recommended with Reservations]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is an excellent book despite these comments. I have criticised the code because I would hate one of you to emulate the author's coding style in the belief that it is of the same quality as the information content of the book.

ANSI & ISO Standard C by P J Plauger & Jim Brodie [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Even at the higher price it is an excellent purchase and belongs on every C programmers bookshelf.

Accelerated C++ by Andrew Koenig & Barbara Moo [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is a strong contender for my 'C/C++ Book of 2000'

Accidental Empires by Robert X Cringely [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
A bit expensive in hardback and I do not know if there are any plans for a paperback version but great fun and worth persuading your local library to get.

Adapting PCs for Disabilities by Joseph Lazzaro [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I am going to be rather extreme here and declare that I think that every technical user of PCs should be familiar with the contents of this book.

Advanced C Struct Programming by John W.L. Ogilvie [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Buy this book, set aside a regular time to work at it, stick to your routine and find yourself becoming far more professional in your programming.

Advanced C++ Programming Styles and Idioms by James Coplien [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Over all the book is a tour de force and well worth working through if you want to improve your fluency with C++.

Advanced Programming Language Design by Raphael A Finkel [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you have the time, I would hope that you would accept the challenge of reading a book such as this one. The subject matter is technically demanding but the author has avoided wrapping it up in overly academic language.

Advanced Windows (3ed) by Jeffrey Richter [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
You know if this book is aimed at you, if it is the sooner you buy it and master it the better.

Algorithms in C by Robert Sedgewick [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to program seriously, Algorithms in C belongs on your desk, if you need to program numerically then so should Numerical Recipes in C.

All the Maths That's Fit to Print by Keith Devlin [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is another book that should nourish the love of mathematics and it is nice to see the original articles given a chance at a wider readership,

Andrew Glassner's Notebook by Andrew Glassner [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The items are fun to read and certainly provide a wealth of potential for programming problems.

Annotated C++ Reference Manual, The by Margaret Ellis & Bjarne Stroustrup [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you need to know what constitutes C++ then you need to have a copy of this book on your shelf.

AntiPatterns in Project Management by William J Brown [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you care about being a good manager you will read this book...

AntiPatterns by William Brown [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are involved at any level of software development from team leader upwards you owe it to both yourself and your employers to familiarise yourself with the material in this book - not just the problems but the potential cures.

Applied Cryptography by Bruce Schneier [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Several of you had noticed this title and volunteered to review it. To each I explained that "they hadn't a hope as I was going to do the review myself." Rank hath is privileges.

Applying RCS and SCCS by Bolinger & Bronson [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Once again, excellent value for those in the target readership, which with the growth in popularity of Linux is a growing band of people.

Art and Science of C, The by Eric Roberts [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is the first book about learning C that I have felt comfortable with.

Art of Computer Programming vol 1 - 3ed Fundamental Algorithms, The by D Knuth [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
While the material in these books is at a fundamental theoretical level no self-respecting programmer should be unaware of it. Some of it may be hard work but if more practitioners were familiar with Knuth's work we would have a better overall quality in our software.

Art of Computer Programming vol 2 - 3ed Seminumerical Algorithms, The by D Knuth [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
While the material in these books is at a fundamental theoretical level no self-respecting programmer should be unaware of it. Some of it may be hard work but if more practitioners were familiar with Knuth's work we would have a better overall quality in our software.

Art of the Metaobject Protocol, The by Gregor Kiczales & Jim des Rivieres & D Bobrow [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The student with more time than he thinks will get a lot of benefit from this book and considering how the ideas might be implemented in C++.

Artificial Life & Virtual Reality by Nadia & Daniel Thalmann [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
What you will find is a number of well written papers on a range of fascinating topics concerned with the cutting edge of subject area.

Artificial Life - An Overview by Christopher G Langton [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want a good overview of the subject I think this book would be an excellent place to start. It is (in computer specialist terms) relatively cheap while having a high quality of content based on a reasonably planned table of contents.

Automated Software Testing by Elfriede Dustin [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...if their concept of testing is 'if it compiles and runs then all is well', you could do worse than invest time in reading this book so that you will be able to promote a viable alternative.

Bandits on the Information Superhighway by Daniel Barrett [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you have an Internet account, are a parent or teacher read this book.

Best C/C++ Tips Ever, The by Anthony Porter [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is a book that needs to be worked at if real benefit is to be gained, but it is worth the money if you have the will to invest the time.

Borland C++ 3.1 - Object-Oriented Programming by Marco Cantu & Steve Tendon [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I hope this is the start of another high quality publishing imprint. Its a good start for them and could be a good start for you.

Bugs in Writing by Lyn Dupre [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is almost essential reading for those who wish to learn to improve their writing, technical or otherwise. I think Addison-Wesley should send a free copy to all whose book proposals they accept.

Build Your Own Home Network by Ron Gilster & Diane McMichael Gilster [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
this is a simple, well-written and well-informed book...

Building Object Applications That Work by Scott Ambler [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Certainly many companies would do better to familiarise themselves with the substance and implications of the contents of this book before rushing headlong into what they will fondly believe is OOP.

C & C++ Code Capsules by Chuck Allison [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Are you serious about C++? Do you think you are already a C++ programmer? If the answer to both questions is 'yes' then I think you should invest some time studying this book. A chapter a week for the next five months should be about right.

C Interfaces and Implementations by David Hanson [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I would encourage serious C programmers to study this book (that means reading and re-reading until understanding occurs). In the short term it is easy to claim that you do not have time to make this kind of effort. In the long term you do not have time not to.

C Mathematical Function Handbook by Louis Baker [Recommended with Reservations]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you work in the area of numerically intensive programming you should have a copy of this book on your shelf.

C Pointers and Dynamic Memory Management by Michael Daconta [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Work through this book and become a better C programmer.

C Programming FAQs by Steve Summit [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...If you haven't already worked it out, I think 'C Programming FAQs' is well worth the extra £1.45.

C Style Standards and Guidelines by David Straker [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I highly recommend this book as a positive contribution towards more maintainable code.

C Traps and Pitfalls by Andrew Koenig [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
An intimate knowledge of this book will reduce the bug rate in your C and low-level C++ code by at least 90%.

C Unleashed by R. Heathfield [Recommended with Reservations]

Francis Glassborow writes:
For the right person this book is very good value for money

C# Programming with Public Beta by Harvey [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
For a limited time, and for a limited readership this book is as good as you will get.

C++ Answer Book, The by Tony L Hansen [Recommended with Reservations]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I have reservations but I believe that this book is good value for money and works well even with the updated version of Stroustrup's book.

C++ Components and Algorithms by Scott Robert Ladd [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think many C++ programmers could gain quite a lot of benefit by actually working through this book not just browsing. I know I did.

C++ Gems (Programming Pearls from the C++ Report) by S Lippman [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
There is such a wealth of material in these 600 pages that I can do very little more than suggest that serious C++ programmers should either have read the originals or they should invest in this book and read an article a day.

C++ IOStreams Handbook by Steve Teale [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Those seeking to impress others with their knowledge of C++ will find that a covet reading of this book will allow them to greatly enhance their reputations.

C++ Power Paradigms by Mark Watson [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are serious about programming in C++, buy this book, read it, do a code inspection and at least one maintenance pass over the provided code. The end result will be that you have widened your programming expertise and will have some fair tools.

C++ Primer 3rd ed by Stanley B Lippman & Josee Lajoie [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Thanks to the authors we have an introductory text that sets a standard for others to aspire to.

C++ Programming Language (Second Edition), The by B. Stroustrup [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are already a reasonably fluent programmer you will find The C++ Programming Language helpful and the tutorial element is much stronger in this edition than in the original.

C++ Programming Language Special Edition, The by Bjarne Stroustrup [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
When your current copy of The C++ programming Language falls to pieces replace it with a copy of this edition.

C++ Solutions - Companion to The C++ Programming Language Third Edition by David Vandevoorde [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
A book worthy of your study if you are anything less than a C++ expert.

C++ Standard Library, The by Nicolai Josuttis [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I find it hard to see how anyone else will manage to better this book.

C++ Strategies and Tactics by Robert B Murray [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Get a copy, read it and pass it on. Get your own copy if you want to keep ahead of your colleagues.

C++ and C Debugging, Testing, and Reliability by D Spuler [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think that both these books are ones that you should make the effort to get and read. If I were your manager I would not accept any excuses.

C++ and C Efficiency by David Spuler [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you have ambitions to being a craftsman rather than just someone who knocks up a solution then this is a book that you should read and pass on.

C++ and C Tools, Utilities, Libraries and Resources by David Spuler [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
None-the-less I think this is a good book, worth having, not least because it will give you some ideas as to what else you might look for to add to your toolkit.

C++ for Professional Programmers by Stephen Blaha [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I find it very difficult to say much more about this book because I think it is a well designed first reference on C++ programming.

C++: An Introduction to Computing by Adams [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is an excellent book and one well suited to a general computing/programming course.

C/C++ Multimedia Cyber Classroom by Deitel & Deitel [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I can say that it won't cause mass unemployment among course presenters but it is an excellent product for those who cannot afford professional training fees.

C/C++ Treasure Chest by Victor Volkman [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
For students and hobbyists with the right attitude this is well worth a look.

CWEB System of Structured Documentation, The by Knuth & Levy [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book must be about the shortest ever published - the main text is slightly under 11 quarto pages...

Calendrical Calculations by Nachum Dershowitz & Edward M Reingold [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
In conclusion, I think this book deserves to be widely read even if the Lisp content is heavy going. Good selective reading style will allow you to enjoy the information in this book while skipping the Lisp. You can hone your programming skills by implementing various calendars in the language of your choice.

Capability Maturity Model, The by Various [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The contents of this book need to be widely known at all levels of the software industry. Until CMM, or something like it, is widely adopted by the software industry, we will continue to drift in a search for a non-existent silver bullet.

Case of the Killer Robot, The by Richard Epstein [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Try to get your management to read it, because one day the main themes of the story are going to happen for real (actually several already have) and you do not want to be working for the company that learns the lesson the hard way.

Century of Mathematics, A by John Ewing [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book should be readily available in our schools as well as on the shelves of those that love maths.

Code Book by Simon Singh [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
a highly readable over-view of the broad subject of secret communication

Code Complete by Steve McConnell [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is about writing good source code so that you will finish up with a sound, robust product.

Compiler Construction by Niklaus Wirth [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is an extremely interesting book. In a world where books are expected to have hundreds of pages it has less than two hundred...
...It won't even turn you into an excellent programmer. However the author believes that it will lay foundations on which you will be able to build skills based on insight and understanding. I think he has a view worth considering.

Compilers & Compiler Generators by P D Terry [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Three groups of people should check this book out: enthusiasts curious about the subject, students who are finding their current course book unhelpful and those responsible for courses on the subject. I do not think that any of those will be disappointed.

Complete C++ Training Course, The by Deitel & Deitel [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I would very much like to hear the experiences of genuine novices who use this package to learn C++

Complete Java 2 Training Course, The by Deitel & Deitel [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Over all this is a good package for those that wish to learn Java by themselves...

Component Software by Clemens Szyperski [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to learn more about the technical and business issues at stake in this area will benefit from taking time to read this book.

Computer Image, The by Alan Watt & Fabio Policarpo [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is the most comprehensive overview of the subject that I have yet seen.

Computer User's Survival Guide, The by Joan Stigliani [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Buy a copy, read it and if you are not satisfied that your management is providing you with a safe working environment, give a copy to your manager.

Computing Concepts with C++ Essentials 2nd ed by Cay Horstmann [Recommended with Reservations]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think he has a sane balance between using the language and understanding it.

Computing Concepts with C++ Essentials by Cay Horstmann [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
It is not a book about object-orientation. It is a book intended for the novice programmer who has had no serious exposure to programming before (there are quite a few who might profit from pretending that they were in this group).

Concurrent Programming in Java - Design Principles by Doug Lea [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
However it is also a (much) better than average book on the subject of concurrency. The author does not assume you know about the subject in general and merely want to implement it in Java.

Concurrent Programming, The Java Programming Language by S Hartley [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book seems to be a better than average place to start your study of concurrent programming.

Conference Proceedings of OOPSLA 96 by Various [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Nothing will substitute for being there, but at least this will give you a sense of what those out in new territories are doing.

Well worth the cost.

Constantine on Peopleware by Larry Constantine [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Do yourself a favour beg, borrow or buy this book and read it.

Core Python Programming by Wesley Chun [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you would like to add Python to your programming tools, this seems to be a good place to start.

CorelDRAW 8 Bible by Deborah Miller [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I came across some truly amazing things in CorelDRAW 8 Bible. I would never even have thought of scanning Whipped cream and I am not even sure what 'personal lubricant' is though I will take the authors word that you can suspend things in it. Clearly, there is a whole different world out there.

Crafting a Compiler with C by C. N. Fischer & R.J. LeBlanc Jr [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I like it a lot and feel that one or two of those currently producing compilers for us could benefit from being sat down and required to complete all the exercises before being allowed to confuse us with yet another bug-ridden version of their compiler.

Cultivating Successful Software Development by S Donaldson & S Siegel [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is about how to move towards regularly delivering good software that meets clients' needs on time. If you are managing software development the sooner you read this book, or one like it, the sooner you will stop seeking the 'Silver bullet' and start implementing the changes that will allow your company to thrive and prosper well into the next decade.

DNS & BIND by Paul Albitz & Cricket Liu [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are, or are about to be, an administrator of an Internet domain you should have this book and you should work through it to make the knowledge in it part of your personal information resource.

Data Abstraction and Problem Solving with C++ by F Carrano [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
There are many professional programmers who would profit from reading this book, if only they could find the time to do so (and in too many cases, the humility to admit that they still have much to learn).

Data Structures Using C by Tenenbaum & Langsam & Augenstein [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you need a good reference on standard data structures and the algorithms involved then Data Structures Using C should find a place on your bookshelf.

Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis (2nd ed) by M Weiss [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Many programmers fail to appreciate how important correct algorithm selection is to efficient programming.

Data Structures and Program Design in C by Kruse & Leung & Tondo [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you really want to learn about data structures and programming with them, have the time for a lot of hard work and those around you are willing to give you the time and space then you will find Data Structures and Program Design in C a book to get your teeth into.

Data Structures in C++: Using the STL by Timothy Budd [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you do anything but the simplest of low level programming you should have access to this book. Either buy your own copy or ensure that your workplace has a copy available.

Data Structures, Algorithms & Software Principles in C by Thomas A Standish [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Which ever one you read, you will be a better programmer for having read it...

Data Structures, Algorithms and Performance by Derick Wood [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The book is excellent value for money (particularly as it is in hardcover) but not for the dilettante.

Data Structures, Data Abstraction by Mitchell L Model [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to learn about writing data structures in C++ this is definitely a book that you should seriously consider.

Design Patterns for Object-Oriented Software Development by W Pree [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to start the journey early and are well motivated this is a good place to start...

Design and Analysis of Algorithms by Jeffrey D Smith [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think this is one of the best tutorial books on algorithms that I have had over my desk.

Design and Evolution of C++, The by Bjarne Stroustrup [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Bjarne Stroustrup's book is a carefully worked description of his view of the development of C++.

Designing Components with the C++ STL by Ulrich Breymann [Recommended with Reservations]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you have already got a start with the STL by reading something such as Leen Ammeraal's excellent STL for C++ Programmers this book would make an excellent study to take you on to higher things.

Designing and Building Parallel Programs by Ian Foster [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you have an interest in parallel processing (and that would seem to be important for the future) this is a book you should look at.

Designing and Coding Reusable C++ by Martin Carroll & Margaret Ellis [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you haven't already guessed, this is one of the books I chose to review because I want the book on my reference shelves.

Developing C++ Software, (Second edition) by Russel Winder [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Are you serious about learning to develop software in C++? If yes, are you willing to do some work learning to do it well? If yes then go out and buy this book.

Developing Java Software by Russel Winder & Graham Roberts [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to learn to program this is an excellent book as long as you keep in mind that Java is not going to meet all the programming needs of all programmers... Very much recommended. By the way both the authors will be speaking at our conference in September 1998 and on the evidence of this book, both should be well worth listening to.

Developing Your Own 32-Bit Operating System by Richard Burgess [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Rest assured that the title is not a joke. The author leads you through writing your own 32-bit OS based on the one he wrote for himself.

Digital Woes by Lauren Ruth Wiener [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
A good antidote for the view of software as magic.

Discrete Mathematics Using Latin Squares by Charles Laywine & Gary Mullen [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Over the centuries a considerable amount of material has built up on the subject of Latin Squares. You might be surprised how extensively they can be used.

Discrete Mathematics by Richard Johnsonbaugh [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The book is primarily about mathematics, but that particular area of mathematics that is of particular importance to those preparing to be experts in computing, programming and program languages.

Dust or Magic by Bob Hughes [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
this is a well-written and highly readable book

Dynamics of Software Development by Jim McCarthy [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to understand some of the disasters that Microsoft has experienced you may find it between the lines of this book. Actually the book is quite a good read and does highlight a number of valuable lessons that many developers would do well to learn.

Effective C++ 2ed by Scott Meyers [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I was delighted to see that this book is now in a second edition. The original was an excellent study for C++ programmers...
...Unless you are sure you understood the first edition, you can probably benefit from reading this new one.

Effective C++ by Scott Meyers [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I thoroughly recommend this book.

Efficient C++ by Dov Bulka & David Mayhew [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think this is a book that should have been read by the majority of serious C++ programmers.

Enough Rope to Shoot Yourself in the Foot by Allen I Holub [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
From time to time he had me bouncing up and down with fury shouting 'idiot, you cannot do it like that' but at other times I found myself purring to find someone who agreed with me.

Evolution of C++, The by Jim Waldo [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The papers are often about contentious proposals about the language and are part of a continuing debate about the way that things should progress.

Exceptional C++ by Herb Sutter [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I chose to make this a joint winner of 'FG's C/C++ Programming Book of 1999'.

Expert C Programming, Deep C Secrets by Peter van der Linden [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think that both these books are ones that you should make the effort to get and read. If I were your manager I would not accept any excuses.

Extending DOS (Second Edition) by Ray Duncan & Charles Petzold [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book does a good job of demystifying the subject area.

Feynman Lectures on Computation by Richard P Feynman [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Feynman always brought his own unique perspective to whatever he did and this is abundantly evident in this book. He was one of those rare scientists who could write and speak fluently about his work.

File Formats Handbook, The by Gunter Born [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
What can I say about this book? Well you are not having my copy for starters...

File Structures (Second Edition) by M J Folk & W Zoellick [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
In simple terms, if you are writing a program whose performance is affected by access to storage devices this is a book that you ought to read and keep on your shelf afterwards.

File Structures, An Object Oriented Approach with C++ by M. Folk [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is a book about designing and using file structures. As such it makes an excellent study of this important subject area.

Foundations of Computer Science (C Edition) by Aho & Ullman [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...a first class book on the foundations of Computer Science

Fourth European Conference on Artificial Life by Phil Husbands & Inman Harvey [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
To be honest books like this one make me wish I was forty years younger. I find the material exciting and full of potential but I doubt that I will be around to see much of it realised.

Fractal Music, Hypercards and More by Martin Gardner [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you enjoy programming and have even a rudimentary feeling for creative mathematics treat yourself to a copy of this book.

Future Does Not Compute, The by Stephen L Talbott [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Make the time to read this book, you owe it to yourself as well as to the future.

Future of Software, The by Derek Leebaert [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think anyone who develops software for use by anyone other than strictly their own use would benefit from reading this book.

Fuzzy Information Engineering by Didier Dubois & Henri Prode & Ronald Yager [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is not about programming but the ideas you find in it might change the way you program solutions for some classes of problem. I do not recommend it as a book to be read in a couple of weeks, it is a book to be read and studied in small doses.

Game Design - Secrets of the Sages by Marc Saltzman [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The publishers deserve to be congratulated on getting so many games designers to participate in the project.

Garbage Collection by Richard Jones & Rafael Lins [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Those interested in management of (dynamic) memory should read this book. To the best of my knowledge there are no competitors.

Gems of Hubble by Jacqueline Mitton & Stephen Maran [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
It is not a large book but each picture is a reminder of the staggering achievements of the last quarter of the Twentieth century.

Generative Programming by Krzysztof Czarnecki & Ulrich Eisenecker [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
you owe it to yourself, to your employers and to your customers and clients, to read this book, to study it and to try to grasp the gestalt

Generic Programming and the STL by Matthew Austern [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I will just conclude by re-iterating my belief that this is the C++ programming book of 1998.

Getting Started with Unix and X by Andreasson & Skansholm [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are using X the slight extra cost of 'Getting Started with Unix and X' will be money well spent.

Graphic File Toolkit, The by Steve Rimmer [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is an excellent overview of the problems together with the tools to fix a large number of them.

Graphics File Formats by Murray & van Ryper [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you need to know about the format of a graphics file (PCX, GIF, FAX etc.) this book is as close to a definitive reference volume as you will find.

Graphics Gems II by James Arvo [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are serious about graphical program techniques then these books should certainly be part of your reference library.

Graphics Gems III by David Kirk [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This series of books should be part of the tools of your trade.

Graphics Gems IV by Paul S Heckbert [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you have any serious work to do with graphics (not just pretty pictures scanned in - but real programming) this series should be on your reference shelf.

Graphics Gems by Andrew S Glassner [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are serious about graphical program techniques then these books should certainly be part of your reference library.

Guide to Latex, A by Helmut Kopka & Patrick Daly [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you wish to prepare high quality documents with complete control over the typography, layout, indexes and tables of contents this book with appropriate software will fill your needs.

HTML 3 Interactive Course by Kent Cearly [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Over all I think each of the books is good value for money and certainly should be one that you check out if you are looking to learn the relevant topic.

Hacker Crackdown, The by Bruce Sterling [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Get a copy, read it and pass it on.

How to Write and Present Technical Information by C Sides [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you do any technical writing, and if you program that should include you, go out and buy it, read it and act on the author's guidance.

ISO and ANSI Ergonomic Standards for Computer Products by Wanda J Smith [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
To those that need it, worth every penny (think of the advantage of marketing your wordprocessor as ISO 9241 compliant.

Image Lab by Tim Wegner [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
By the time you surface some time the day after Boxing Day everyone else will be too exhausted to avoid your demo's of stunning graphical displays.

Implementing Elliptic Curve Cryptography by Michael Rosing [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...if you are interested in providing strong cryptography in a product this would be an excellent book to study.

Implementing the IEEE Software Engineering Standards by Michael Schmidt [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
if you think you are an engineer, you should be familiar with the broad contents of this book.

Industrial Strength C++ Rules & Recommendations by Henricson & Nyquist [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is about coding style for C++. As such it should be on the reading list of every professional C++ programmer, and it would serve as a good basis for a coding standard for your programming group.

Information Warfare and Security by Dorothy E Denning [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is a well written and highly readable book on an important subject.

Inside the Windows NT File System by Helen Custer [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you need to know about this topic then read this book.

Internationalization - Developing Software for Global Market by Tuoc Luong [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I do wish that all the US software providers would buy this book, read it and apply what they learn...

Internet Complete Reference, The by Hahn & Stout [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I am going to say very little about this book...
...Need I say more?

Introduction to the Personal Software Process by Watts Humphrey [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
You want my honest opinion? If you have any pretensions to being a professional software engineer you will read this book and try incorporate the contents into your skill set.

Java Application Programming Interface, Vol 1, The by James Gosling [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are serious about Java, are already a fluent programmer (not necessarily in Java) and can afford over £70 then these volumes belong on your reference shelf.

Java Application Programming Interface, Vol 2, The by James Gosling [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are serious about Java, are already a fluent programmer (not necessarily in Java) and can afford over £70 then these volumes belong on your reference shelf.

Java Class Libraries--An Annotated Reference, The by P Chan & R Lee [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
And like a good dictionary you can learn something by browsing it while your development package chews away at your latest product.

Java Developers Almanac 1999, The by Patrick Chan [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are a serious Java developer I think you need this book.

Java Gems (collected and introduced by) by Dwight Deugo [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think this is one of those books that you read because you want to think rather than because you want to be told.

Java Language Reference by Mark Grand [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
'Java Language Reference' is, in my opinion, as good as The Java Programming Language (Arnold & Gosling). It is also somewhat cheaper.

Java Network Programming by Elliotte Rusty Harold [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are serious about this aspect of programming, then this should certainly be on your reading list.

Java Power Reference by David Flanagan [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
For its intended audience this is a cost effective solution, though with the way Java has been growing you may need to replace it next year.

Java SIG's 100 Best Applets by unknown [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Even if you have a full Internet connection this book is probably a cost effective study aid in that you can use it without paying dial-up charges.

Java Security by Gary McGraw & Edward Felten [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you care about the integrity of your system and have a WWW connection you owe it to yourself to buy and read this book.

Java Tutorial, The by Mary Campione & Kathy Walrath [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you have some (but not necessarily much) programming background this is a carefully planned course to turn you into a thoughtful Java programmer. About as good as you will get for individual study.

Java/C++ Cross-Reference Handbook, The by Frederick F Chew [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
In the meantime if you work in a mixed Java/C++ environment having this book to hand would fairly quickly pay for the cost of purchase.

Journey of the Software Professional by Luke Hohmann [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Read this book. Do your community a favour and get your local library to stock a copy.

Joy of C (3 ed), The by Lawrence Miller & Alexander Quilici [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Right from the start the authors encourage a style that leads to warning free compilations (and not because you switch them off)...
If you are still trying to get to grips with C, or want a suitable text to give to someone who wants to learn then you will not go far wrong by buying this one.

Large Scale C++ Software Design by John Lakos [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I believe that this book provides an excellent starting point from which to develop good coding habits.

Latex for Linux by Bernice Sacks Lipkin [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you use Linux and write any form of documentation you should give serious consideration to learning to use LATEX.

Learning C++ A Hands on Approach (2ed) by Eric Nagler [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want a simple exposition of the syntax of C++ and are willing to postpone details of appropriate use for serious programming this is the book for you.

Learning Python by Mark Lutz & David Ascher [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you do not already know Python I strongly urge you to buy this book and spend a few valuable hours correcting that. I do not think you will be disappointed

Learning XML by Erik Ray [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I would definitely recommend this book to programmers wanting to get to grips with XML

Lex & yacc (2nd edition) by Mason & Brown [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Far too many spend valuable time re-inventing wheels. A considerable number of useful applications fit nicely into the domain of problems well tackled with lex and yacc.

Lex & yacc by Mason & Brown [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
lex and yacc are designed to make development of tools for these simple little mini-languages easy.

Linkers & Loaders by John Levine [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Highly recommended reading if the subject interests you

Lion Hunting and Other Mathematical Pursuits by G Alexanderson & D Mugler [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Another book that is full of fun as well as threads leading to exploration of the World of Mathematics.

Little Audio CD Book, The by Bob Starrett & Josh McDaniel [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to burn CDs from your collection of music, this book will prove a great help

MFC Answer Book, The by Eugene Kain [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...you should find a spot for this book within comfortable reach of your work area.

Managing A Programming Project (3rd ed) by Philip Metzger & John Brodie [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are struggling as an inexperienced manager or aspire to moving to management this is undoubtedly one of the books that you should read.

Managing the Testing Process by Rex Black [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
One of the things that repeatedly amazes me is the extent to which Microsoft Press manage to publish books which, if followed by Microsoft's internal development organisation, would have to be reflected in more robust products.

Mathematical Circus by Martin Gardner [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Mathematical Circus is all that you might expect from the author and is, among other things, a source of material for computer programs.

Mathematical Cranks by Underwood Dudley [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you enjoy mathematics read this book, it is an eye opener as to just how bizarre some people can be.

Mathematical Writing by Donald Knuth & Tracy Larrabee & Paul Roberts [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I would love to see our technical sixth-formers put through the kind of experience that this report describes.

Microsoft Guide to C++ Programming, The by K Christian [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Overall an excellent book well up with standard set by other Microsoft Press publications.

Microsoft Sourcebook for the Help Desk by Microsoft [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
One of the great mysteries of life is that Microsoft Press so often produce excellent books on subjects such as this one.

Microsoft Windows NT4 Server Resource Kit by Various [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Fundamentally if you use either version the Resource kits are the books to buy. They contain just about all you need to know and quite a lot that you do not.

Microsoft Windows NT4 Workstation Resource Kit by Microsoft Corporation [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Fundamentally if you use either version the Resource kits are the books to buy. They contain just about all you need to know and quite a lot that you do not.

Minimalism, Beyond the Nurnberg Funnel by John M Carroll [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are responsible for learning materials or have any influence on the documentation (including computer based) for your company's products I think you should know both about this book and its predecessor.

Modelling Systems by John Fitzgerald & Peter Gorm Larsen [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This seems to be an excellent book for those in its target readership (unfortunately, many who should be at least aware of such tools are not and claim to lack the time to learn about them.)

Models of Computation & Formal Languages by R Gregory Taylor [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...either would be a valuable study for those aiming at mastery of Computing Science.

Models of Computation, Exploring the Power of Computing by Savage [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...either would be a valuable study for those aiming at mastery of Computing Science.

Modern C++ Design by Andrei Alexandrescu [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
By the time you have finished reading and thinking about this material you will wonder why you ever doubted the power of C++ templates.

Modern Compiler Implementation in C by Andrew Appel [Recommended with Reservations]

Francis Glassborow writes:
In summary this is a good, well written book that will more than pay for the effort you put in reading it. It won't turn you into a programmer capable of implementing a C++ compiler--that is really hard work--but it will extend your general programming skills.

Modern Compiler Implementation in Java by Andrew Appel [Recommended with Reservations]

Francis Glassborow writes:
In summary this is a good, well written book that will more than pay for the effort you put in reading it. It won't turn you into a programmer capable of implementing a C++ compiler--that is really hard work--but it will extend your general programming skills.

More Effective C++ by Scott Meyers [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I could go on at length, but those who have already bought 'Effective C++' will be lining up to buy this volume.
...Scott knows his subject and the clarity of his writing is an example to all.

More Mathematical Morsels by Ross Honsberger [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
It is packed with those things that give the young mathematician a warm glow.

More Programming Pearls, Confessions of a Coder by Jon Bentley [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are serious about your programming you should make an opportunity to read this book and then give it to someone else.

More Programming Pearls by Jon Bentley [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you have any pretensions to being a serious programmer you will have well thumbed copies of both this book and its companion somewhere in your work space.

More Windows 98 Secrets by Brian Livinston & Davis Straub [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book supplements 'Windows 98 Secrets' with further discoveries made by the authors together with the changes that are introduced in Windows 98 Second Edition.

Mother of All Windows 95 Books, The by Woody Leonhard & Barry Simon [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you do and have to use Windows 95 you will need little encouragement from me to buy this book.

Mother of All Windows 98 Books, The by W. Leonhard & B Simon [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The advice and information he gives on all aspects are worth every penny you pay.

Multi-Paradigm DESIGN for C++ by James Coplien [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to broaden your perspective and are willing to risk facing a world in which OOP is not always the best then you should take the time to read this book.

Mythical Man-Month, The by F Brooks Jr [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you have never read it before, put everything else aside and remedy this serious omission at once.

NetLearning: Why Teachers Use the Internet by Serim & Koch [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are a parent as well as a C/C++ user you need to know about this book so that you can point it out to those responsible for teaching your children.

New Hackers Dictionary (3rd ed), The by Eric S Raymond [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The definitions are usually written with humour as well as a wide knowledge and the text is occasionally interrupted with a page of cartoons...
Good value for money.

Newnes C Pocket Book (2nd ed), The by Conor Sexton [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Anyone who uses this book as the basis for learning C will get a much better than average start. Even at twice the price it would be good value for money.

Newnes C++ Pocket Book by Conor Sexton [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Excellent value for money.

No Bull Object Technology for Executives by William Perlman [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
definitely a book worth the time of managers with inadequate software development background

Numerical Recipes in C (Second Edition) by W Press & [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If numerical algorithms play any part in your work you will go and buy this book even if you already have the first edition.

Numerical Recipes in C by William H. Press & Brian P. Flannery & Saul A. Teukolsky & William T. Vetterling [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to program seriously, Algorithms in C belongs on your desk, if you need to program numerically then so should Numerical Recipes in C.

OS/2 Certification Handbook by Halberg & Ivens [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
OS/2 Certification Handbook is a book that those that need it must have.

OS/2 Warp Administrator's Survival Guide by Bret Curran [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are a serious user chapters such as the one on fine- tuning and tweaking will soon justify your purchase of this book.

Obfuscated C and Other Mysteries by Don Libes [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Buy it to enjoy for yourself or for mining for code to pass on to the firms over serious C programmer.

Object Solutions by Grady Booch [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are involved in software development, buy this book, read it then do all you can to get others managing your work to read it as well.

Object-Oriented Multithreading Using C++ by Cameron Hughes & Tracey Hughes [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is, without doubt, the best and most comprehensive book I have read on the subject of multithreading. If you view yourself as a programmer rather than a component assembler then you need to know about this topic.

Object-Oriented Programming by Peter Coad & Jill Nicola [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
You will rapidly make up the time you take to read this book by being a better organised programmer.

Object-Oriented Software Construction (2ed) by Bertrand Meyer [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Getting full value from this book will be hard work (not because it is hard to read but because you will need to digest what you read) but it will be worth the effort.

Object-Oriented Type Systems by Jens Palsberg & Michael Schwartzbach [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If it matters to you this is a book that you should know about.

OpenGL Reference Manual by unknown [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are already using OpenGL in your work I would assume that you knew about this book and have a copy on the shelf above your desk.

OpenSources by Chris DiBona & Sam Ockman & Mark Stone [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Obviously I like this book and enjoyed reading it. I think you will too.

Outlook Annoyances by Woody Leonhard [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you use Outlook 98 (or 97) you really should have a copy of this book. Not only will you have the consolation of knowing that you are not alone but you will also learn quite a few ways of thwarting Microsoft by actually getting a product to work the way you want.

PC First Aid Kit by Marty Jerome & Wendy Taylor [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Definitely if you use an IBM PC clone this is a book to sit (hopefully gathering dust) beside your machine.

PC Interrupts by Ralf Brown & Jim Kyle [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you do much PC clone programming using interrupts, system level resources, which must work with other packages and so on this book is a valuable reference.

PERL 5 Interactive Course by Jon Orwant [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Over all I think each of the books is good value for money and certainly should be one that you check out if you are looking to learn the relevant topic.

PEXlib Programming Manual by Tom Gaskins [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:

PEXlib Reference Manual by Various [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are in the target readership your money will be well spent.

Pattern Almanac 2000, The by Linda Rising [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is easy to review because by itself it is almost useless, but with the appropriate shelf of references it is invaluable.

Pattern Languages of Program Design 2 by Vlissides [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...so if you want a long term place in software engineering do yourself a favour and start reading and make sure this book is somewhere on your reading list.

Pattern Languages of Program Design 3 by Robert Martin [Recommended with Reservations]

Francis Glassborow writes:
A book packed with a rich collection of excellent material, but one that demands a great deal of study. With regret I think that the writing in most cases is a hindrance to understanding.

Pattern Languages of Program Design by Neil Harrison & Brian Foote & Hans Rohnert [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The book is well-structured and many of the papers are surprisingly readable.

Pattern-Oriented Software Architecture Vol 2 by Douglas Schmidt [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is one of the more important contributions to the literature on 'patterns'

Patterns Handbook, The by Linda Rising [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Definitely one for your bookshelf.

Peer-to-Peer Harnessing the Power of Disruptive Technologies by Andy Oram [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you would like to know more about the current struggle to return the Internet back to its origins...then read this book

Photoshop in a Nutshell 2nd ed. by Donnie O'Quinn [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you can afford to buy the product then buying this book will hurt very little and help quite a lot.

Playing God by Bernie Roehl [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is another great book from the Waite Group Press in an area that they are rapidly making their speciality.

Pointers on C by Kenneth Reek [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Let me stick my neck out and declare that this is the best introductory text on C programming that I have seen.
The author understands the needs of his readership and lays an excellent foundation.

Portable C++ by Patricia Giencke [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...If you can do this and need to write applications either for many platforms or for a long lifetime reading this book will quickly repay the cost in time and money.

Practical C++ by Mark Terribile [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The author is one of the very few real experts on C++ and there are very few professional users of C++ who would not benefit from reading this book.

Practical Computer Ethics by Duncan Langford [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think that a module on ethics should be a part of any student's course whatever their main subject of study.

Practical Data Structures in C++ by Bryan Flamig [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The author knows more than most and his chapter on Data Structure Design in C++ is considerably above the average.

Practical Software Requirements by Benjamin Kovitz [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you need to prepare requirements documents or provide guidance to a neophyte this book will be well worth its price.

Practice of Programming, The by Brian Kernighan & Rob Pike [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Whatever language you program in I think you will benefit from reading this book

Pragmatic Programmer, The by Andrew Hunt & David Thomas [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
For me this is a great book to start the new century, I think you will agree.

Presenting JavaBeans by Michael Morrison [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want/need to do serious work with Java you need to know about JavaBeans and this book is a good place to start.

Primes and Programming by Peter Giblin [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are curious about this subject and mechanisms that are used for prime number searches this is the book for you.

Process Patterns, Building Large-Scale Systems Using Object Technology by Scott Ambler [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you work in the software industry you should take time to read this book, thoughtfully.

Professional Awareness in Software Engineering by C Myers [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is one of those books that serious computer professionals should take the time to read.

Programmer's Guide to SCSI, The by Brian Sawert [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you dabble in hardware programming you will need this book if you want to write programs that make use of SCSI features. This book includes information on SCSI-2 and SCSI-3 as well as the Advanced SCSI Programming Interface (ASPI).

Programming Illustrated by D F Scott [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
It is the kind of book that I would expect to find in a school library (but too often do not).

Programming Interviews Exposed by John Mongan & Noah Suojanen [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
It will not get you a job, but it will help you prepare for the process better.

Programming Language Pragmatics by Michael Scott [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is one book that I wish I had had the experience and breadth of knowledge to have written myself.

Programming Languages - Structures and Models by Dershem & Jipping [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is a book about computer languages rather than programming. I think that many students (both those that are still in formal education and those who want to go on learning, even if informally) would benefit from reading this book.

Programming Microsoft Visual C++ 5ed by D Kruglinski [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think that if you intend to do much programming for MSWindows you might find Programming Microsoft Visual C++ worth the considerable cost.

Programming Pearls 2nd ed. by Jon Bentley [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
if you do not have a copy of the first edition, buy this one and read it. If you already have the earlier edition re-read that.

Programming Pearls by Jon Bentley [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Like Brooks' The Mythical Man Month and the first three volumes of Knuth's The Art of Computer Programming it has a place on every programmers bookshelf.

Programming Principles in Computer Graphics (Second Edition) by Leendert Ammeraal [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are trying to get to grips with graphics programming this is a book that is well worth your consideration.

Programming Python by Mark Lutz [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you already use C or C++, check out Python. It has something to offer you. I think that the time you spend will come back with interest during the following year.

Programming with curses by John Strang [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you have, or intend to get, one of the public domain versions of curses that are readily available it is well worth including the cost of this book(let) in your planned spending.

Projects in Scientific Computation by R E Crandall [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Were I still regularly teaching, I would want this book on my shelves to trawl for things to inspire my students.

Putting Metaclasses to Work by Ira Forman & Scott Danforth [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I guess it will be a number of years yet before the ideas presented in this book come into widespread use, but if you want to stay ahead of the pack this would be an excellent book to study.

Python Essential Reference by David Beazley [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Good references are vital for good work and I see every sign that this is such a book.

Quick Python Book, The by Daryl Harms & Kenneth McDonald [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This latest addition is very welcome.

Rapid Development by Steve McConnell [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is of absolutely no use to the tiny minority of software developers who know how to meet deadlines with software that is up to specification. Everyone else involved in software development needs to read it.

Ray Tracing Creations by Wells & Young [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you would like to explore the mysteries of rendering, texture and much, much more buy this book.

Ray Tracing Worlds with POV-RAY by A Enzmann [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you haven't already tried POV-RAY but own a PC with reasonable graphics resources it is time you did.

Responsible Software Engineer, The by Various [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you think you are, or have pretensions to becoming, a professional software engineer you should read books such as this one.

Rise & Resurrection of the American Programmer by Edward Yourdon [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to stand back and take a look at a broader view of the software industry this book is well worth your attention.

Ruminations on C++ by Andrew Koenig & Barbara Moo [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I am not going to say anything more about this book because I think it should be read by every C++ programmer. You will be a rare person if you neither enjoy reading it nor learn anything from the process.

Running Linux (2nd ed) by Matt Welsh & Lar Kaufman [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Running Linux is the usual excellent O'Reilly quality book. They are particularly good at the core of unix type operating systems and tools.

STL Tutorial and Reference Guide by David Musser & Atul Saini [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are serious about your C++you need to work through the first part of this book and have a compiler that provides you both the STL and proper support for it.

Safer C by Les Hatton [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you aspire to writing robust code this is a book that you must read (even if the publishers cannot spell my name correctly).

Schaum's Outlines Essential Computer Mathematics by Seymour Lipschutz [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I was very happy to find that the C++ book and the Essential Computer Mathematics books were much more what I expect from a Schaum Outline.

Schaum's Outlines Fundamentals of Computing with C++ by John Hubbard [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I was very happy to find that the C++ book and the Essential Computer Mathematics books were much more what I expect from a Schaum Outline.

Secrets & Lies by Bruce Schneier [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are concerned about computer security... ...this book will provide you an extensive understanding

Secrets of the Borland C++ Masters by Ed Mitchell [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I am almost tempted to say that if you do have a copy, skip the rest of this review and go out and buy this book.

Secrets of the C++ Masters by Jeff Alger [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
There are many more specialist topics on the use of C++ but this book is an excellent starting point for those who have ambitions to becoming master technicians with C++.

Security in Distributed Computing by Glen Bruce & Rob Dempsey [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Do you consider Fax and Voicemail a security threat? No? Well read this book.

Sed & awk by Dale Doherty [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Do you have a need to carry out specific types of edit on text files regularly? If so you would almost certainly find the time spent learning to use sed was well spent.

Small Memory Software Patterns for Systems with Limited Memory by James Noble & Charles Weir [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is a model of what books on optimisation should be about

Social Issues in Computing by Huff & Finholt [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I would like to encourage you to read it. Not all the writers are equally readable but the material is important and generally of a good standard.

Software Engineering - A Practitioners Approach 4ed by Roger Pressman [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you consider yourself a professional developer you should have this book near the top of your reading list. Even if you have read an earlier edition you should still read this one.

Software Failure: Management Failure by Stephen Flowers [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...for some the final chapter that explores ways by which we can learn from the past and institute measures to avoid repetition will be of inestimable value. Well it would be if only we could get our management to take it seriously.

Software Maintenance Concepts and Practice by Armstrong Takang & Penny Grubb [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The only excuse for not reading a book such as Software Maintenance Concepts and Practice is that you already have a sound understanding of maintenance and how it effects your work from the moment you start doing the design (or even before that).

Software Quality by Joc Sanders & Eugene Curran [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think that this is a book that should be read by all who are in a position of managing software development as well as by those who are doing development and have reservations about the potential benefits that a well planned software QA scheme might bring to their work.

Software RX Secrets of Engineering Quality Software by Rodney C Wilson [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Somehow you are going to have to persuade your colleagues and managers to read books like this one. Not just read them, but read it thoughtfully. Unfortunately, too many of those that share our environment are about as capable of being thoughtful as you are of flying.

Software Requirements & Specifications by M Jackson [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I hate to say it, but this is another book that I would encourage you to read. Many more of these and you will be working over time to pay your book bill.

Software Test Automation by Mark Fewster & Dorothy Graham [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The only downside to reading this book is that it is likely to increase your sense of frustration with the widespread low quality of software development process and the resulting defective products.

Space is the Machine by Bill Hillier [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think you might like to read this book before starting your own theory of programming.

Standard C++ IOStreams and Locales by Angelika Langer & Klaus Kreft [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you feel ready to take the plunge into learning about how to use 'Standard IOStreams and Locales' this book is an excellent source to study.

Standard C, A Reference (new version) by P J Plauger & Jim Brodie [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you program in C (even if you use a C++ compiler) do yourself a favour and get a copy of this book for your reference shelf (don't forget to read it, you may be surprised by what you find out).

Standard C by P J Plauger & Jim Brodie [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
It should be better known and copies ought to sit on every C programmers work bench. I'll say no more.

Style Guide for the Computer Industry, A by Sun Technical Publications [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are responsible for your own documentation, user guides etc. and cannot persuade your employer to get it written professionally by a company that is willing to work at doing it properly (assuming that such exist) then this book would help you do something better than the average.

Supercomputing and the Transformation of Science by William J Kaufmann III & Larry L Smarr [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I almost offered this book as a prize for a Programming Challenge but I like it too much so I'll hang on to it.

Surviving Object-Oriented Projects by Alistair Cockburn [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are manager in the software development domain, read this book. If you are one of those being managed finding a tactful way to get your managers to read it might be the best thing you did for your employer.

Talk Java to Me by Harry McIntosh [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This publication is a worthy attempt at making use of modern multimedia facilities. The price is surprisingly reasonable for such an innovative product.

Taming C++ by Jiri Soukup [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you think you are a good C++ programmer you might give yourself a shock by reading 'Taming C++'. If you think your self- esteem can stand it, go for it.

Time Bomb 2000 by Edward Yourdon & Jennifer Yourdon [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think this book provides a balanced view, avoiding both complacency and prophecies of doom. The advice is sensible. It is about preparing for the possible consequences of unfixed computers, computer software and the domino effect of others not fixing theirs even when you have.

Tom Swan's Code Secrets by Tom Swan [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think this is an excellent book for the amateur programmer and many professionals would benefit from working through some of the chapters before chasing up some of the more heavy weight tomes.

Trouble with Computers, The by Thomas Landauer [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think that The Trouble with Computers is well worth reading, and will help to bring technophiles down to earth.

Two Level Functional Languages by F Nielson & H R Nielson [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
In the meantime this is an excellent book for people in its target readership, however that is a very limited group of people.

Twofish Encryption Algorithm, The by Bruce Schneier [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to find out about Twofish, read this book.

TypeSense by Susan Wheeler & Gary Wheeler [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
One of the problems with the wide availability of DTP packages is that a large number of totally untrained individuals (like me) try to do a job that was hitherto the domain of professional type-setters and page layout specialists. This book is aimed at improving the quality of work produced by us amateurs.

UML Distilled by Martin Fowler [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If Object-Oriented Analysis and Design methodology is important to you you will need to get to grips with UML. So all I can say is, start here. At least you can be certain that the skills you develop will be portable.

Underground Guide to Word for Windows, The by W Leonhard [Highly Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is written with authority and is packed with information from the true meaning of MS applications reporting 'Out of Memory' (no, I won't tell you, buy the book) to details of customising your package for your own needs.

Undocumented Windows by A Schulman [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Recommended to serious developers and good old fashioned code hackers.

Unicode Standard, The by The Unicode Consortium [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you need to understand Unicode or be able to look up the symbol referenced by a code this book belongs on your shelf.

Unified Modelling Language Reference Manual, The by Rumbaugh & Jacobson & Booch [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are going to make regular use of the UML (and if you are serious about software development, it would be hard not to) you probably need access to this book.

Unix Haters Handbook by Simson Garfinkel [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
The Unix aficionados will hate it. I can see them all bouncing up and down with fury...

Unix Power Tools by Jerry Peek & Tim O'Reilly & Mike Loukides [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...But if you are an adventurer always curious to learn something new this will prove to be a valuable addition to your baggage.

Unix in a Nutshell by Daniel Gilly [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
...if you are dabbling with a Unix type OS much of this book will be appropriate and at the price you can hardly loose.

Upgrading and Repairing PCs (6ed) by Scott Mueller [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are a serious hardware dabbler this book will be well worth its price.

Using email Effectively by Linda Lamb & Jerry Peek [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are part of the new comms community you owe it to both yourself and the rest of the community to get hold of this book and read it attentively.

Virtual Reality Madness by Wodaski [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Both are good value for money, informative and fun.

Virtual Reality and the Exploration of Cyberspace by Hamit [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Both are good value for money, informative and fun.

Visual C++ 5 Bible by Paul Yoo & Richard C Leinecker [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I would recommend this book as a first introduction to Windows programming with VC++. Actually it would work pretty well with other development packages that use MFC as it is surprisingly free of IDE specifics (perhaps that is why I like it).

Whole Internet 2nd ed, The by Ed Krol [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This new edition is a substantial revision of the first edition with a considerable amount of extra material more than 150 pages to cover more recent developments.

Whole Internet, The by Ed Krol [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you want to join the information systems of the 1990s go out and buy a copy of this book, you will not regret it.

Win32 Programming by Brent Rector & Joseph Newcomer [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If I were in the business of writing efficient, robust Win32 applications I would want this book within easy reach. Even if you normally rely on MFC, OWL or some third-party library you would still find this book a great asset.

Windows 95 Bug Collection by Bruce Brown [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If your employer insists on putting Windows 95 on your work machine buy this book and demand that your employer subscribe to BugNet.

Windows 95 in a Nutshell by Tim O'Reilly & Troy Mott [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This is a thoroughly useful book. It is not a substitute for hours of experience but couple experience with this book and you will greatly improve your use of Windows 95.

Windows NT 3.51 Unleashed by Robert Cowart [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
This book is a valuable tool for the full time system administrator.

Windows Undocumented File Formats by Pete Davis & Mike Wallace [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you need to interact with Microsoft generated files then you almost certainly need this book. It is as simple as that.

Writing Compilers and Interpreters by Ronald Mak [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
If you are looking for something to hone your skills between contracts, while unemployed or to take you that extra step as a student then this book would be a worthwhile investment.

Writing Solid Code by Steve Maguire [Recommended with Reservations]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Microsoft should give every one of their programmers a copy of this book for Christmas and then require them to sit an exam on it in the new year.

X Window System and Motif, The by J D Newmarch [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I found Jan's book to be exactly what I needed. The first three chapters on the X environment taught me enough so that I felt much happier with my tentative experiments of loading, using and quitting X.

XML Handbook 2ed, The by Charles Goldfarb & Paul Prescod [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
I think that such technologies as XML are ones that professionals in the software field need to acquire because they are going to become increasingly important in the future.

eXtreme Programming Explained by Kent Beck [Recommended]

Francis Glassborow writes:
Even if you do not then adopt it, I think you will be a better programmer for having read this book.

Please note that opinions are those of the individual reviewers.