To prepare you for this new venture, we have prepared a list of 9 helpful computer programming books to add to your toolkit. These books will teach you the syntax and semantics of programming languages and develop your thinking and problem-solving  skills needed to become a good programmer. Let’s dive in!

Can you learn how to code by reading programming books for beginners?

Reading programming books is a great way to improve and test your programming, but reading alone is rarely sufficient for beginners. Let’s be honest, teaching yourself how to code by reading books would require immense investment in time to enable you to go through multiple books and websites to find content that is most effective in helping you to pick code. Not all of us have the time.

When you’re starting, you need to know the questions to ask and experiment with different methods of learning. Once you’re no longer a beginner and can apply scientific methods of formulating a hypothesis and testing it, you can now use books to advance your skills.

The best programming books don’t have a single focus but contain lots of interesting challenges. It’s not about merely reading a programming book but savoring and practicing different sets of problems. Books can easily expand your programming knowledge and skills and help you solve niggling problems.

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9 top programming books for beginners: Must read

1. Think Like a Programmer: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving by V Anton Spraul

Problem-solving is a critical skill in programming, and this book will help you develop it. You can use the knowledge in the book to advance your programming skills in every language. It will help you simplify problems by breaking them into smaller pieces and learning to choose among many data structures. Also, it will turn you into an innovative and creative problem solver that can handle complex tasks using the best approach.

2. Coding All-In-One for Dummies by Nikhil Abraham

Top programming books for dummies are known for being easy to follow, and this one doesn’t disappoint. You don’t require expertise in programming to follow content in the text. You’ll learn the basics of web language and develop a strong foundation in designing websites and apps. This easy read will give you knowledge on languages that power data science and help you solve problems that arise when fixing or writing code.

3. Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Harold Abelson and Gerald Jay Sussman with Julie Sussman

The widely-adopted book provides insight into introductory programming. It teaches basic fundamental concepts of programming and coding. It’s a great read with multiple examples and practice questions. Although some of the concepts in the book are a bit advanced for beginners, you can learn many valuable things about programming if you take the time. If you manage to complete the book, you’ll emerge as a better programmer.

4. Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code by Martin Fowler

If you have basic programming knowledge, this is one of the programming books for beginners you can use to sharpen your skills. Beginners can use this book to learn principles and guidelines for refactoring code, making it easy to comprehend and change. You also learn new methods of writing code, how to write friendly code created by people, and how to rewrite code into more flexible and user-friendly codes.

5. The Self-Taught Programmer: The Definitive Guide to Programming Professionally by Cory Althoff

The author is a self-taught programmer that went on to work at eBay. It provides a roadmap on how to code a program, the fundamentals, best practices, and programming tools. Topics include object-oriented programming for beginners and fundamentals of computer architecture and algorithms. In addition, the book teaches beginners how to interview for a job in programming and how to function in a team.

6. Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship by Robert C. Martin

The book uses examples to train beginners, so be ready to handle multiple assignments. It is ranked as one of the best programming books for beginners because it contains helpful tricks and tips that will boost your ability to create good code, analyze code, and understand good and bad programming techniques. While the book mostly focuses on java-based coding, the principles discussed can be applied to other coding languages.

7. Beginner’s Step-By-Step Coding Course: Learn Computer Programming the Easy Way by DK

If you’re the kind of learner that appreciates reading small pieces and implementing the concepts before proceeding, this book is the perfect match. It contains plenty of examples and photos to help you visualize tasks and make coding feel less complicated. It provides ways to explore problems and work through the solution. In the end, reading such books about coding will make you think like a programmer.

8. Get Coding! Learn HTML, CSS, Javascript & Build a Website, App & Game by Young Rewired State

The book was originally for kids but it’s a good resource for up-and-coming programmers. It is easy to follow and contains numerous quests designed to teach the basics of coding for games and apps. Some of the learning points in the book are real-life coding tasks and solutions and how to build a game or create an app using code.

9. Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction by Steve McConnell

If you’re looking for books about programming with fully-illustrated guides that beginners can use to learn software development. It has hundreds of examples of codes that make the learning process more friendly. In addition to learning the basics, you’ll learn must-know principles of programming, how to build high-quality codes, debug problems efficiently, and develop creative designs without complexity.

Reading programming books as a beginner is worth it!

In fact, there are a lot of computer programming books for beginners online. But the 9 best programming books featured here provide valuable insights for beginners in programming. No matter the kind of coding or programming that you wish to pursue or how new you are to the space, these books have something that will help you.

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Instead of looking at the commonly banned books, let’s look at the books banned most in 2022 alone. You may be surprised by the results. 

“Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe

With a whopping total of 41 bans, “Gender Queer: A Memoir” was the most banned book in the US in 2022. The author wrote a memoir of their life to try and explain what it means to be both nonbinary and asexual. Not only is it a story of their life, but it helps people who are trying to understand themselves. 

The book was released in 2019 and has been constantly banned since then. Most of the reasons behind the bans are graphic images of the author exploring their sexual side. 

“All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson

Yet another one focused on gender and sexuality, “All Boys Aren’t Blue” is a series of personal essays that explore the author’s childhood through his college years in New Jersey and Virginia. George M. Johnson is well-known as an LGBTQIA+ activist, and they show it clearly in their book. The book is often described as a “Memoir-manifesto” and is written with queer and black kids in mind. 

The book was banned 29 times in 2022 alone and has been published since 2020. The reasons for banning it include mentions of sexuality, masturbation, and profanity. 

“Out of Darkness” by Ashley Hope Perez

“Out of Darkness” is a book focused on a romance that was forbidden in 1937 in Texas due to segregation. The book was banned 24 times in 2022, which puts it just a little behind the previous book on this list. 

The romance was between a Mexican-American girl and a black boy. The book is full of sexually explicit content, violence, and racism that both the main characters face. 

“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison

“The Bluest Eye” is another banned book that focuses on race and gender while also looking at classism. Toni Morrison manages to broach the subjects with grace and tact, despite their sensitive nature, but that didn’t stop the book from being banned 22 times. The book focuses on an 11-year-old black girl in America who spends her days praying for her eyes to be blue so she can fit in and be beautiful. 

The book is full of sexually explicit details, graphic descriptions, and language. It was also banned for having an underlying socialist-communist agenda. This book was published in 2007, but it is still getting banned. 

“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas

Banned 17 times, “The Hate U Give” is a book that explores police brutality, bias, and racism. The story focuses on a black girl who attends a private school full of mostly white and elite students.

It was adapted into a movie with a powerful message, but that didn’t stop it from landing in the 8th spot of most banned books in 2017 when it was published. 

“The Lawn Boy” by Jonathan Evison

Tied with “The Hate U Give”, “The Lawn Boy” was also banned 17 times in 2022. This book is semi-autobiographical and is about a boy trying to overcome the hardships he faced growing up. The author, Jonathan Evison, was sent death threats over his book. 

The book was banned due to homoerotic content. During a flashback, the main character recalls a sexual encounter with someone of the same gender when he was younger. 

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is a story that focuses on race and perception. It is a story about a Native American who wanted to be a cartoonist and left his reservation to attend a white school to try to make something out of his future. 

Like the previous book, it is semi-autobiographical and was banned 16 times in 2022. Some reasons it was banned include its focus on bullying, alcohol, sexuality, profanity, and slurs. Despite its dislike in schools, it did receive a National Book Award in 2007. 

“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jessie Andrews

Breaking away from race, gender, and class issues, “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” was banned 14 times in 2022. The reasons were its focus on death, drug use, and sex. It focuses on the story of two high school friends who make friends with a girl dying of cancer. 

The story is heartbreaking and unforgettable but, apparently, considered too much for children despite being focused on high school students. Despite being banned, many people expect it to be an instant classic. 

If you are starting to have the desire to pick up a new book, we don’t blame you. If you live in a big city, don’t worry about having to walk or take several cars to accommodate your whole group. Instead, look at getting transportation with group transportation New York. That way, you and your whole crew can pick up new books at a local bookstore or go to a local library.

The post What Are the Most Commonly Banned Books in the United States in 2022 and Why? first appeared on Opensquares.