The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software
by Charles Petzold
Recommended by Scott Hanselman
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Amazon availability
Recommended by 1 source and appears in Programming, Technology, and Science.
What do flashlights, the British invasion, black cats, and seesaws have to do with computers In CODE, they show us the ingenious ways we manipulate language and invent new means of communicating with each other. And through CODE, we see how this ingenuity and our very human compulsion to communicate have driven the technological innovations of the...
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Why recommended
Recommended by 1 source and appears in Programming, Technology, and Science.
People and public figures who have recommended this book.
Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.
Scott Hanselman
“The second edition of Petzold's seminal work "Code" is available on Kindle for just $20! This book is glorious and it's now celebrating a second edition with 70 new pages, a companion website, and new custom diagrams #ref”
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Consider Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug. Recommended by 15 sources.
“Krug’s guide feels like a witty, no-nonsense conversation over coffee. It’s packed with practical advice on why users scan, not read, and how to make navigation obvious. The book shines in its brevity and memorable maxims—you’ll finish it in an afternoon and likely revisit its core principles. However, if you seek deep interaction design theory or modern mobile-first patterns, you’ll find it light. Its dated screenshots and web-centric focus may also irk app-only designers. A quick, opinionated primer, not an exhaustive textbook.”
Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.
