5 good computer science books to start if you don't know how to start
Published: 2022-04-09 22:08:20

Computer science is the study of computers and computational systems. It is also a branch of engineering, mathematics, and science.

Computer scientists research and develop new computer technologies. They design software, networks, and other computer-based tools for people to use. Computer scientists may develop programs that help solve specific problems or automate processes. They may create games or other types of entertainment software that people can use to have fun on their own or with others.

Some computer scientists work on the design of chips (the microchips that are found in devices like laptops). They may work in teams to develop new chips for smartphones or tablets. Other computer scientists work on improving the security features of computers and networks so they can help protect information from being stolen by hackers.

**1_ How Computers Really Work**

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How Computers Really Work is a hands-on guide to the computing ecosystem: everything from circuits to memory and clock signals, machine code, programming languages, operating systems, and the internet.

But you won’t just read about these concepts, you’ll test your knowledge with exercises, and practice what you learn with 41 optional hands-on projects. Build digital circuits, craft a guessing game, convert decimal numbers to binary, examine virtual memory usage, run your own web server, and more.

Explore concepts like how to:

•Think like a software engineer as you use data to describe a real world concept
•Use Ohm’s and Kirchhoff’s laws to analyze an electrical circuit
•Think like a computer as you practice binary addition and execute a program in your mind, step-by-step

**2_ Introduction to Computer Organization **

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Introduction to Computer Organization gives programmers a practical understanding of what happens in a computer when you execute your code. You may never have to write x86-64 assembly language or design hardware yourself, but knowing how the hardware and software works will give you greater control and confidence over your coding decisions. We start with high level fundamental concepts like memory organization, binary logic, and data types and then explore how they are implemented at the assembly language level.

The goal isn’t to make you an assembly programmer, but to help you comprehend what happens behind the scenes between running your program and seeing “Hello World” displayed on the screen. Classroom-tested for over a decade, this book will demystify topics like:

•How to translate a high-level language code into assembly language
•How the operating system manages hardware resources with exceptions and interrupts
•How data is encoded in memory
•How hardware switches handle decimal data
•How program code gets transformed into machine code the computer understands
•How pieces of hardware like the CPU, input/output, and memory interact to make the entire system work.

**3_ Complete A+ Guide to IT Hardware and Software**

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This is your all-in-one, real-world, full-color guide to connecting, managing, and troubleshooting modern devices and systems in authentic IT scenarios. Its thorough instruction built on the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1001) and Core 2 (220-1002) exam objectives includes coverage of Windows 10, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS, Android, iOS, cloud-based software, mobile and IoT devices, security, Active Directory, scripting, and other modern techniques and best practices for IT management.

Award-winning instructor Cheryl Schmidt also addresses widely-used legacy technologiesmaking this the definitive resource for mastering the tools and technologies youll encounter in real IT and business environments. Schmidts emphasis on both technical and soft skills will help you rapidly become a well-qualified, professional, and customer-friendly technician.

Learning Objectives and chapter opening lists of CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Objectives make sure you know exactly what youll be learning, and you cover all you need to know

Hundreds of photos, figures, and tables present information in a visually compelling full-color design

Practical Tech Tips provide real-world IT tech support knowledge

**4_ Computer Science Illuminated, 7th Edition**

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Fully revised aDesigned for the introductory computing and computer science course, the student-friendly Computer Science Illuminated, Seventh Edition provides students with a solid foundation for further study, and offers non-majors a complete introduction to computing. Fully revised and updated, the Seventh Edition of this best-selling text retains the accessibility and in-depth coverage of previous editions, while incorporating all-new material on cutting-edge issues in computer science. Authored by the award-winning team Nell Dale and John nd updated, the Seventh Edition of the best-selling text Computer Science Illuminated retains the accessibility and in-depth coverage of previous editions, while incorporating all-new material on cutting-edge issues in computer science. Authored by the award-winning Nell Dale and John Lewis, Computer Science Illuminated’s unique and innovative layered approach moves through the levels of computing from an organized, language-neutral perspective. 

**5_ Computer Systems, 5th Edition**

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Computer Systems, Fifth Edition provides a clear, detailed, step-by-step introduction to the central concepts in computer organization, assembly language, and computer architecture. It urges students to explore the many dimensions of computer systems through a top-down approach to levels of abstraction. By examining how the different levels of abstraction relate to one another, the text helps students look at computer systems and their components as a unified concept.