Best Computer Books For The Smart

You'll remember last week, I asked for recommendations of the Best Websites for developers. This was a -great- thread and in the story, I mentioned that I was planning on doing the same regarding books this week. So here it is. What do you, the slashdot reader consider seminal works? What would you consider great introductions to technical topics? If you are interested, check it out... As part of this I'm looking for books on C, C++, Perl, Python, PHP , System Administration, anything...you name. As before I have opinions on great books, but I want to see what you think. Also, what do people think is a great introductory book for people new to linux.

Comments

I don't know why

[Mordant]

you're asking for book recommendations for the 'smart' - since smart people don't do things like ask for book recommendations on Slashdot, it's unlikely you'll be able to comprehend any of the answers you receive.

Re:Again

[chippcom]

I actually enjoy perusing a thread like this. Try clicking the 'back' button (it's on the upper left of your browser) and see if you can find something more to your liking.

The only good book you need

[Laplace]

is the bible.

We're all sinners.

first anti-Knuth post

[Theodore Logan]

Really, people, before you mod all these pretentious karma whores up, remember the following: they never read Knuths magnum opus. Noone ever did, TAoCP is to CS what Atlas Shrugged is to world litterature. People just say they read it and consider it their awakening because

a) they are supposed to
b) it makes them sound cool

I'm so sick and tired of all people who shamelessly promote his books as essential and good introductions to CS. Knuth has become god around here, but I'll say what noone else dares: his books are milestones, full of amazing insights, and delve right into the core of what CS is about. But they are nonetheless amazingly boring, extremely difficult, and simply not worth their time. For mortals, that is.