For programming, I think starting with a project and using that to decide what books to read my work best. Assuming you want to learn to program rather than learn Computer Science, the books that will be helpful will depend highly on the area in which you’re interested.
Do you just generally want to see if you’ll be good at programming? Even if so, is there a specific area which you’d be interested in writing a program, e.g. an operating system, a server, a web app, etc.?
I agree with the comment below that SICP is a good “Why” book but did want to note that I personally didn’t find SICP nearly as enlightening when I started programming as many others seem to. I’ve gone back to it since and loved it, but it definitely was not the thing that motivated me to practice programming a lot. Like everything else, it depends on your personality.
Other than suspecting I may have an aptitude, my interest in computer programming is driven by finding two fields cool and fun sounding: data science and applications of blockchain technology to stuff like verifying carbon sequestration and other changes in reality. Quite a bit of social science I deeply admire has been done using data science, and I have a couple of friends working to improve the world using blockchain technologies whom I also admire. I want to see if I am good at programming to see if I can participate in these endeavors I admire—or at least use my skills as a wordsmith and communicator to aid such endeavors.
If it is relevant, my own background is in social sciences and math.
For programming, I think starting with a project and using that to decide what books to read my work best. Assuming you want to learn to program rather than learn Computer Science, the books that will be helpful will depend highly on the area in which you’re interested.
Do you just generally want to see if you’ll be good at programming? Even if so, is there a specific area which you’d be interested in writing a program, e.g. an operating system, a server, a web app, etc.?
I agree with the comment below that SICP is a good “Why” book but did want to note that I personally didn’t find SICP nearly as enlightening when I started programming as many others seem to. I’ve gone back to it since and loved it, but it definitely was not the thing that motivated me to practice programming a lot. Like everything else, it depends on your personality.
The 3 books technique includes a project or practice.
Whoops, will edit my comment to reflect that.
Other than suspecting I may have an aptitude, my interest in computer programming is driven by finding two fields cool and fun sounding: data science and applications of blockchain technology to stuff like verifying carbon sequestration and other changes in reality. Quite a bit of social science I deeply admire has been done using data science, and I have a couple of friends working to improve the world using blockchain technologies whom I also admire. I want to see if I am good at programming to see if I can participate in these endeavors I admire—or at least use my skills as a wordsmith and communicator to aid such endeavors.
If it is relevant, my own background is in social sciences and math.