IT Career Advice >> Browse Articles >> A Guide to InsideTech

+36

50 Books Every Geek Should Read

50 Books Every Geek Should Read

Eric Dahl / InsideTech
















Crypto

Codebook_max200w

“The Code Book,” Simon Singh
Comprehensive, engaging, and full of amazing stories and sample decryptions, “The Code Book” is everything you could ask for as an intro to cryptography and code breaking. Plus, if you read it on a commute, there’s a good chance you’ll get to spend a suspenseful work day wondering how exactly Kasiski cracked the Vigenere cipher for really long keyphrases. Good times.

Cryptonomicon_max200w

“Cryptonomicon,” Neal Stephenson
Sure, this one probably belongs in sci-fi, but Stephenson’s novel about a team of hackers working to build an island-based data haven draws its inspiration from real-life events: The cryptographers at England’s Bletchley Park, Haven Co’s operation on Sealand, etc.

Crypto_max200w

“Crypto,” Steven Levy
Cryptography’s a tough business. And before Ron Rivest, Whitfield Diffie, Martin Hellman, and Ralph Merkle came along, it was a damn near impossible business for anyone outside of government agencies. Levy recounts how pioneers like Diffie and Hellman brought cryptography out into the public, and developed the systems that make secure Internet transactions possible.


+36
  • Photo_user_blank_big

    yoddel

    3 days ago

    232 comments

  • 20095121211083512005_max50

    maidioljoin

    11 days ago

    56 comments

    sorry to disturb u. just take u a little time.
    If you are in need,

    please come to : http://www.maidi2008.net

    50%off ca,ed hardy t-shirt$15 jeans,coach handbag$33,air max90,dunk,polo t-

    shirt$13,,lacoste t-shirt $13 air jordan for sale,$35,nfl nba jersy for sale

    puma gucci$35,nike jordans six ring,yeezy$%5!!

    new era caps$13 gucci handbags jeans,t-shirts sunglass,caps

    true religion jeans$35,ca,ed hardy jeans$35

    LV,CHANAL,HANDBAGS$35

    NIKE SHOX+AIR MAX+TL3+OZ+NZ ONLY $35

    UGG TIMBLAND+LACOSTE SHOES+ED HARDY SHOES$35

    DIESEL T-SHIRT,GSTAR T-SHIRT,CA T-SHIRT,50% OFF FOR SALE $15

    DIOR SUNGLASS,DG SUNGLASS$15

    Ladies and Gentlemen,please beleive in us.Quality is our Dignity; Service is our

    Lift.

    our website: http://www.maidi2008.net

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    sbxt185

    about 1 month ago

    6 comments

    Nice List, I need to read up.

  • Ima42_max50

    mitchster

    about 1 month ago

    6 comments

    What an excellent list. Thank you. I scored pretty good too. Hmmm.
    Many of these classics can be had for free on the internet.
    Shameless plug coming up...
    Enjoy them in style ... try out...
    www.retroreader.net
    Before Dec. 10th use the coupon code ...
    insidetech
    and it's free.

  • Ca75_helena_max50

    usshelena

    2 months ago

    2 comments

    Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is a must. Not a lot of useful, current techn advice but fun as hell!

  • Vong4_max50

    TheDragonDo2009

    2 months ago

    10 comments

    Anyone tried ExamForce.com owned by Adaptive Learning calims to be owner of the Exam Cram books. Well I bought into their three of their lifetime package which has no money back gaurantee. I have not used any of it so far but they claim that their education program is the best way to get certified in anything that is out there from CCNA, MCSE, Comptia A+, etc. It cost me a lot of dough. i don't what possessed me to go with the marketers pitch. Maybe I didn't care if my credit goes rock bottom at the time and I am sitll unemployed and semi-self-employed or at least lightly working on it.

  • Brick100x95_max50

    tbbrick

    2 months ago

    2 comments

    Remove Hitchhikers Guide, what a long, slow, miserable slog that was. Replace with Dune or 2001: A Space Odyssey.

  • Fullimg

    PureEvil

    5 months ago

    196 comments

    its not a book, but its awhole lot of comic books, but read transformers.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    dodland

    7 months ago

    18 comments

    Neuromancer was really cool, and weird as hell. Loved it!

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    Jmachado

    7 months ago

    10 comments

    i study java as well.. in our class we are using a book called starting out with java and its written by dan gaddis. the book is explains things well but it keeps changing its programming style and it throws me off big time. im so confused..

  • Untitled_max50

    danman1453

    7 months ago

    26 comments

    i would like to suggest the book: "Physics of the Impossible", by Michio Kaku. Published by DoubleDay.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    dandoocha

    8 months ago

    6 comments

    Hi,
    im new to java programming!
    this is the 3rd semester (starts tomorrow!!)
    and last semester i took data structures and algorithms and this semester
    i have to write a game and im not good in java programming but i really llike it!! i know its a bit weird but what books could really help me get into it ( the programming i wanna program as if im writing my name) ????

    what really works with me is practice soo????????

    thanks for the great article!!!

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    Mentatstrategy

    11 months ago

    2 comments

    I would like to add DUNE the the must reads

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    larry_blac

    11 months ago

    4 comments

    peteyv, there are many excellent tutorial books for C++ available, and as it is not used en masse for development, many of them are availailable at super super discounted prices. You can get something like "master C++ in 21 days' (ha ha ha ha ha...let me know how that works for you, should you try it), but there are legit programming references such as the C++ Developers Bible, which are excellent syntatical and vocabulary references; however, if you are a true novice programmer, it would be wise to first 'get your head' around the concepts of OOA&P as the language and syntax will avail you nothing if you do not understand the fundamental concepts of OOP....you will be able to write code, but should anyone ever have to come behind you to perform modifications or updates to your code, they will likely seek you out and shoot your porch light out each year for the remainder of your life!!!! A word to the wise from an old SE...take it for what it is worth.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    peteyv

    12 months ago

    2 comments

    Hi. I'm a novice at programming. Can any of you suggest a book that will help me to get my head around the thinking process/logic that is necessary to really know what I'm doing? I feel like much of what I do is guess work or trial and error. My current challenge is C++. Thanks for any suggestions.

Request More Information from the University of Phoenix

What's the Scoop?

Post a link to something interesting from another site, or submit your own original writing for the InsideTech community to read.

Report News Here


IT Career Advice

Sf-skyline-main_sq32

Top 25 Cities for Tech Jobs

Now more than ever, it’s important to get the best bang for your buck. And there’s no question about ...

Hotcareers-250_sq32

10 Recession-Proof IT Careers

Companies are cutting back spending, shrinking staff sizes, and making tough layoffs at a rate that most of us ...

50books_sq32

50 Books Every Geek Should Read

Ever find out one of your friends hasn't read "Neuromancer" or doesn't know what a Babelfish is or why ...

Recent Activity

Scifi_fantasy_the_last_warrior_someone4fn_jpg_rzd_59354_max30
angus posted in: "Think Fast Let it Pass", about 2 hours ago.
100_0419_max30
lynda_seagle received the quiz result of "Ahead of the Pack", about 3 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
Psikez gave a thumbs down to The Article "Study: Firefox Most Vulnerable Browser, IE8 Among the Safest", about 3 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
Psikez gave a thumbs down to The Article "Why Many Stores No Longer Accept Personal Checks", about 3 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
Psikez gave a thumbs down to The Article "IT Ethical Dilemma: To Use or Not to Use Neighbor's Free ...", about 3 hours ago.