Updated July 11, 2023
Best Books to Learn C Programming
C Programming is one of the most imperative languages in terms of programming languages made in 1972. Knowing C is the one-way ticket to make your way through other languages such as Java, Python, C++, and C# without any added. What has made c stand out is its ease, simplicity, and machine-independent nature.
Key highlights
- Great for absolute beginners with detailed and task-oriented learning.
- Provides foundational basics for hacking C Linux programs, a good base for C++.
- Presents the material uniquely and engagingly, making learning C more accessible and enjoyable.
- Highlights the use of pointers, compiling, and developing command-line tools.
10 Must-Read C Programming Books
Below is the list of books to get to know the C language more precisely.
|
Sr.No |
Books | Author | Published |
Rating |
| 1. | C Programming Absolute Beginner (Absolute Beginner’s Guide) | Greg Perry, Dean Miller | 2013 | Amazon: 4.5
Goodreads: 4.1 |
| 2. | C: The Complete Reference | Herbert Schildt | 2017 | Amazon:4.4
Goodreads:4.1 |
| 3. | HEAD FIRST C | David Griffiths, Dawn Griffiths | 2012 | Amazon: 4.3
Goodreads:4.2 |
| 4. | C Programming 2e: A Modern Approach | K N King | 2008 | Amazon:4.4
Goodreads: 4.3 |
| 5. | C Programming in easy steps, 5th edition | Mike McGrath | 2018 | Amazon:4.5
Goodreads: 3.7
|
| 6. | EXPERT C PROGRAMMING | VAN DER LINDEN | 1994 | Amazon: 4.3
Goodreads: 4.3
|
| 7. | Learn C the Hard Way | Zed Shaw |
2015 |
Amazon 4.2
Goodreads- 4.0
|
| 8. | Computer Fundamentals and Programming in C | Reema Thareja | 2016 | Amazon 4.5 Goodreads -4.1
|
| 9. | Low-Level Programming: C, Assembly, and Program Execution on Intel® 64 Architecture | Igor Zhirkov | 2019 | Amazon 4.4 Goodreads- 3.6
|
| 10. | The C Programming Language | Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis Ritchie
|
2015 | Amazon: 4.4
Goodreads: 4.4 |
Let us discuss the reviews and takeaways of the C Programming Books:-
1. C Programming Absolute Beginner’s Guide
Author– Greg Perry, Dean Miller
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Book Review
Get ready to deal with the absolute best programming book regarding detail on the nitty gritty of the C language—an excellent book for reviewing relevant background information when you are stuck doing an online course.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Peppered with tasks throughout the book to make the learning challenging.
- Work on data structures and have an interactive experience with data entry routines crisply and concisely.
2. C: The Complete Reference
Author- Herbert Schildt
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Book Review
If you are planning to get a book equipped with new C features, points, operators, etc., then this book is the right fit for you. It cracks people’s concepts by making the C foundational basics easy for hacking C Linux programs and proving to be a good foundation for C++.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Overview of C’s dynamic allocation, argc, and argv-Arguments to main(), structure assignments briefly.
- Covers content on Console I/O, File I/O, and the preprocessor and comments in great detail.
3. Head First C: A Brain-Friendly Guide
Author- David Griffiths, Dawn Griffiths
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Book Review
A comprehensive yet entertaining book covering the overall concepts of C in a remarkable hands-on approach that tells you what you can do with the language itself. The presentation of written material can be tedious to comprehend at times due to its odd nature of writing, but it offers a lot more when you are diligent in maximising its full use.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Highlights the use of Pointers, compiling, and use of developing command line tools to expand your thinking outside the box
- Explore GCC, piping data from an RSS feed, etc, with the help of assessments after every few reading materials.
4. C Programming: A Modern Approach
Author- K N King
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Book Review
Clear and concise from the beginning and focuses more on user understanding above everything else. It is a very powerful book to learn programming, attached with some of the best illustrations to keep readers hooked.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Lays out information on modern C99 standards, pointer arithmetic, multidimensional array, etc., in a way that is easy to impression on one’s mind for a longer duration.
- Meant for beginners as well as advanced users.
5. C Programming in easy steps, 5th Edition
Author- Mike McGrath
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Book Review
A contemporary guide for beginner to medium-level programmers looking to extend their C proficiency. Meant to be a worthwhile read with suitable examples along with vivid screenshots.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Store variable values and constant values and build valuable structures in C programming
- Manipulate strings and operations and create employing functions skillfully.
- The book contains online documentation.
6. Expert C Programming: Deep Secrets
Author- PETER VAN DER LINDEN
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Book Review
Though it has got to be the oldest book present here on this list, the book’s shine has not faded in the least. Matched with a good wit in this van der Linden book, you will learn more about activation records, debugging linker errors, and some fun puzzles to keep you hooked until the very end.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Learn more about declarations, dynamic linking, and the intel 80×86 family to enhance your knowledge further.
- Generate glyphs from bit patterns, index a slice, and abstract extracting in an entertaining methodology never seen before.
7. Learn C the Hard Way
Author- Zed A. Shaw
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Book Review
A logical and practical takeaway centring more around a hands-on approach over everything else. Enforce defensive programming techniques with context based on debugging, memory allocation, and automated testing.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Carry home with you the learnings on library data structures, C environment basic syntax and idioms, illegal memory access, and many more.
- Each line of the code is thoroughly explained to understand the purpose of each code block. It is paired with good online resources available on the web.
8. Computer Fundamentals and Programming in C
Author- Reema Thareja
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Book Review
Presenting a book catered to the needs of university students looking to dive deep into the vastness of all that is C. The book does a good job in serving scholastic enriched with plenty of case studies.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Helpful notes and tips spread throughout the book to provide supportive guidance.
- Includes data structures as well as fundamentals of C described in full.
9. Low-Level Programming: C, Assembly, and Program Execution
Author- Igor Zhirkov
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Book Review
Giving a general overview of all the software stack implemented in C to refresh your memory with the workings of assembly language and modern c usage in a well-defined manner.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- The linking and loading of the code section are very advantageous to learn thoroughly from here.
- Activate your potential in virtual memory, compilation pipeline, and basic interrupt learnings.
10. The C Programming Language (2nd Edition)
Author- Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis Ritchie
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Book Review
Considered a refinement by many for improving the bestseller first edition material into a more comprehensible and exhaustive reference guide for the general public. The code blocks teach the user to be more tech-savvy, while the outputs are given to reassure them that they are going on the right path.
Key Takeaways from that Book
- Ready yourself to parse c codes with the newest addition of ANSI along with the UNIX system interface and standard line input and output.
- Be good at operators, control flow, program structure, etc.
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