C# and the .NET Platform by Andrew Troelsen - This
should be
the book you start with if you are interested in
learning C# and .NET. If you want to do web based database applications
you should also check out
Building Web Solutions with ASP.NET and ADO.NET by Dino Esposito .
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The C++ Programming Language Special 3rd Edition
- The
ultimate reference for C++. Not the place to start but
this is a must have for any C++ programmer that wants to truly understand
the language.
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Effective C++: 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your
Programs and Designs- The This book can take
you a long way towards writing bullet-proof C++ programs. The sequel is
also worthwhile but not as generally useful.
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 Effective
C# - 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your C# Just
as valuable as the C++ version. |
 Code
Complete, Second Edition by Steve McConnell
- The single best book on the craft of writing software
has gotten even better, the Second Edition is now out. Code Complete
McConnell has read several years worth of computer science literature
and distilled it into an extremely readable format. It is a hefty 800+
pages but you will rip through it and enjoy every minute. McConnell
combines wit and valuable information into a gem of a technical book. If
you program and you haven't read this book you are doing yourself a
great disservice. |
Cocoa(R) Programming for Mac(R) OS X (2nd Edition)
- If you want to program for Mac OS X you
need this book. A clearly written tutorial style introduction to
the most important elements of the Mac Framework. All the major
components are covered and the examples and challenges are
well-designed. A great book, but who would expect anything less from a
New College graduate! |
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Great Fiction |
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 Double
Whammy by Carl Hiaasen -There are so many rip roaringly funny books
by this man you can't go wrong. Don't let the fact that they made
a horrible movie out of Striptease prevent you from reading Hiaasen.
Sort of cross between John D. McDonald and Tom Robbins.
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 Still
Life With Woodpecker - Tom Robbins
Well, we just had to include one of the best, funniest, and most
thought-provoking books ever written. The only strange thing is he keeps
talking about something called a typewriter.
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 Thank
you for Smoking - Christopher Buckley
This book is a funnier than thou, hilarious send up of the merchants
of death.
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 Night
of the Avenging Blowfish - John Welter
OK, the full title is Night of the Avenging Blowfish : A Novel of Covert
Operations, Love, and Luncheon Meat. In addition to being another very
funny book, you should read it just because it has the best novel title
of all time. |
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Great Non-Fiction |
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 Made
in America -Bill Bryson - a highly amusing (although not
entirely pleasing to language history pedants) romp through American
history by examining the evolution of our language.
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 Ship
of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea - Gary Kinder Ten years in the writing,
this historical, suspensful telling of the sinking and recovery of the
SS Central America 200 miles of the US Coast in 8,000 feet of water is
educational and entertaining. This book is as much fun as any
non-fiction suspense novel I have read. The fact that it is a true story
just makes it educational and more fun. |
Outdoors/Sports
 Into
Thin Air - Jon Krakauer - The telling of the ill-fated Everest
expedition of a few years ago that cost about a dozen people their lives
including the talented leaders of two expeditions, Rob Hall and Scott
Fisher. Come on, everyone else you know has already read this, what are
you waiting for?
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 The
Perfect Storm - Sebastian Junger - Into Thin Air for fisherman.
People that live or have lived in New England will probably remember
this storm of the century. |
