Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship (Robert C. Martin Series)
While I don't agree with all the advice in this book, I found it a very
entertaining read and I kept an open mind. It has changed several aspects
of my programming style. I must admit I still prefer
the leading underscore
_memberName
convention as opposed to no convention that this
book proposes. In fact the examples frequently end up using a
prefix of "its" which to me is a much uglier, less readable convention
than "_". But that's a minor nit
compared to some of the gems you'll find here. The book uses Java for the
samples, which I don't speak, but for the most part as long as I
remembered it was Java and not C# it wasn't a problem and 98% of the
advice is still relevant.
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Agile Principles, Patterns, and Practices in C# (Robert C. Martin Series)
A denser read, than Clean Code, but still enjoyable and the payoff of
practical applications of Agile techniques and patterns is bigger. The
examples are all in C#, however they read like they were translated by
someone who wasn't a C# expert, and I found dozens of errors in the July
2008 version. Still I found the book well worth the time to read. |
Thesis Statement
I listen to a lot of music and it's not too often I can be bothered to
write a review but it was a no-brainer for this CD. Anyone that's on the
prowl for new and interesting music that exhibits great song writing,
superb musicianship, and excellent engineering will want to grab a copy of
this CD. The music freely traverses a multitude of genres including jazz,
funk, showtunes, pop, classical, and a few more, yet remains suprisingly
accessible. One track evokes Paul Simon, the next Jason Mraz (on a very
good day), another the Beatles, and yet it never sounds derivative or
loses cohesiveness. This is the kind of CD you like on the first listen
and you like it even more on the 100th listen. Those just don't come
around very often. I sure hope Silas Durocher and Everybody knows can
continue to "make that sound...it's profound". |
 
Visions of an Inner Mounting Apocalypse: A Fusion Guitar Tribute
A few years back I bought a Mahavishnu album that had been re-released on
CD. I was dissappointed, the music sounder much harsher and grating than I
remembered and I had a hard time listening to it. This tribute on the other
hand sounds superb and with Vinnie Colaiuta on drums how can you possibly
not own this! If you play guitars or drums do yourself a favor and go buy
this, simply incredible.
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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.
|
 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.
|
 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?
|
 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. |
