TL;DR#
While school teaches the basics, books help fill the gap to real-world tech skills. These are my favorite publishers for learning technology and coding beyond the classroom.
Introduction#
What you learn in school or college is only a small part of what you’ll need in real life. One good way to fill those gaps is by reading books. Books are still one of the best tools for getting a clear and deeper understanding of technology whether it’s about algorithms, AI, or software development.
In this post, I’m sharing my go-to tech book publishers along with two recommended titles from each. Which could make excellent additions to your personal reading list.
List of Publishers & Sample Books#
O’Reilly Media#
Famous for the animal illustrations on their book covers, O’Reilly publishes a wide range of titles covering software engineering, AI, cloud computing, DevOps, and leadership in technology.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Software Architecture: A Modern Engineering Approach | Software Architecture: The Hard Parts: Modern Trade-Off Analyses for Distributed Architectures |
Packt Publishing#
Known for practical, hands-on guides and tutorials. Great for developers looking for clear, practical, and easy-to-follow content.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| A Developer’s Essential Guide to Docker Compose | Mastering Linux Administration |
Manning Publications#
Widely known for its “in Action” book series, offering clear, practical, and hands-on content for developers of all levels.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Writing for Developers: Blogs That Get Read | Build a Large Language Model (From Scratch) |
Apress#
Focused on applied software development, machine learning, data engineering, and practical guides for both beginners and seasoned professionals.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Go: The Complete Guide to Programming Reliable and Efficient Software Using Golang | Introduction to Computational Thinking |
Kodeco (formerly Ray Wenderlich)#
Specializing in mobile development and multiplatform frameworks like iOS, Android, and Flutter. perfect for app developers.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Dart Apprentice: Beyond the Basics | Flutter Apprentice (Fourth Edition) |
No Starch Press#
A popular publisher known for beginner-friendly, accessible tech books. often with a fun, approachable style.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| DevOps for the Desperate: A Hands-On Survival Guide | MySQL Crash Course: A Hands-On Introduction to Database Development |
Notes#
Of course, there are many other great tech book publishers out there that you can check out, including Elsevier, Wiley, DK (Dorling Kindersley), MIT Press, and more.
This list is based on my personal preferences and titles I’ve found helpful.