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Throughout time, millions of books with different content have been released around the world. One of my favorite topics nowadays is computer science and technology.
Given that, are you looking for computer science audiobooks to help you with your project or studies in technology? Well, here are the best audiobooks for computer science that you can listen to right now.
If you prefer to read instead of listening, we also have compiled a more extensive list of the best computer science books for your pleasure.
Which are the most popular Audible audiobooks about computer science?
The audiobooks on this list are included in Audible and are cherry-picked. They are well-regarded, and you will enjoy them. Please remember that pure coding books are not an “easy” listen, and that’s why you will not find such books in Audible. Instead, you will find many audio books on technology and computer science.
So, let us start!
Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies
Did you know Superintelligence is one of Elon Musk’s favorite books?
Top marketing and branding expert Nick Bostrom effectively lays the foundation for a better understanding of intelligent life and the future of humanity. Bostrom asks and tries to answer difficult questions like What can happen when humans are surpassed in terms of general intelligence by machines? Is it possible that artificial agents can destroy or save humanity from a particular situation?
Also, this book tries to relay the possibilities when artificial intelligence happens to exceed the power of the human mind. It provides predictions about what artificial intelligence can do beyond what the human mind can do.
What We Like Less:
✖ I think it may not be for everyone. It is largely philosophical and for some maybe pessimistic. Other than that its good to have an idea on the dangers of AI (even if you never need to see them happening).
Why You Are Going to Like it:
✔ If you love sci-fi (why not if you ask me), Superintelligence will feed your mind with lots of information about technological advancement and its potentialities.
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Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution
Here is another technology audiobook you can use to gather information about hacking and its history. “Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution” is worth reading, for it has lots of information about hacking and iconic people from Silicon Valley.
Pioneers that hacked and pushed through the world in a new radical direction. The author, Steven Levy, traces the computer exploits that started the revolution as original hackers. Also, the latest edition has updated material, which includes the insights of modern hackers such as Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates.
What We Like Less:
✖ Sometimes the book becomes too wordy and long as it explores the backgrounds of various early computer science pioneers not widely known. If you are not interested in the topic, maybe it is not for you.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
✔ All in all, this audiobook is indeed great, and you will like it because it has insights from the considered modern hackers nowadays like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, and Richard Stillman.
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Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions
If you are fond of algorithms in computer science, this book will do well with you. Brian Christian and cognitive scientist Tom Griffiths describe how algorithms like those used by computers can aid our decision making in life.
You will learn astonishing things, for example, how to deal with overwhelming choices or when to leave something to chance, even for simple things in life.
What We Like Less:
✖ The book may be found boring by other readers. Also, if you do not have a strong foundation of understanding computer algorithms, it might be hard to pick the lessons relayed by the book.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
✔ But all in all, this book is outstanding and worth reading, as it has quite a lot of thought-provoking information about how algorithms can apply to real-world scenarios.
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The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution
After his award-winning biography of Steve Jobs and becoming a finalist of the 2015 Audie Award for Non-Fiction, Walter Isaac wrote his newest book, “The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution.”
The Innovators is all about revelations of the people behind the computer and the Internet, which brought life-changing possibilities in today’s era. This book served as computing’s definitive history of the 21st century.
You will have the chance to read about Ada Lovelace, computer programming pioneer Alan Turing, Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, and Larry Page, among others.
What We Like Less:
✖ Technically, this book has flaws such that it misses some critical threads in the history of computing and using the premises- innovation came from collaboration.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
✔ “The Innovators” is exceptional in telling computer science majors about the history of the digital revolution and how innovation happened.
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The Soul of a New Machine
Since 1981, computers have changed. Tracy Kidder recorded the good and bad days of a company’s effort to provide the market with a new microcomputer.
The high-tech industry’s feverish pace is the only thing that has not changed. The cult that pursued technological innovations and the go-for-broke approach helped a lot of computer companies to win.
Kidder’s book is considered an essential chapter that tackles the history of the machine and its contribution to the world revolution in the 20th century.
What We Like Less:
✖ It is not for everyone. If you are interested in the nostalgic and classic history of the computer revolution, then “The Soul of a New Machine” would be an excellent audiobook for computer science!
Why You Are Going to Like it:
✔ I recommend it if you want to read about the wonders of the computer revolution that brought many global changes and improvements.
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Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet
Written by amazing authors Matthew Lyon and Katie Hafner, this book tackles the origin of the internet. You will read about the building of ARPANET and all the details about the people and processes that brought us today’s internet.
The audiobook is an interesting listen to stories of how the internet became necessary and why we use the @ in email addresses.
What We Like Less:
✖ At some points, it’s difficult to keep up with some technology and computer engineering jargon. But even if you are not an engineer, you will be able to follow up, and as a bonus find out what happens when you stay late in the Internet realm 🙂
Why You Are Going to Like it:
✔ If you are looking for a concise read on the origin of the internet and how hackers changed the computer industry, then Lyon and Hafner’s book is excellent.
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Alan Turing: The Enigma
This book inspired the film “The Imitation Game,” which led it to be a nominee for an Academy Award. It is one of the most recommended computer science audiobooks not only because it got a spot in the Top 50 Essential Books in The Guardian but also because of its quality and outstanding style.
Hodges goes into great detail on Turing’s life. Turing’s life context is crucial to understanding the difficulties behind his scientific contributions.
What We Like Less:
✖ The book is far too long and complicated! The mathematical intricacies in the book are way too advanced, so if you are fascinated by coding, you may find it exciting.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
✔ This is a great listen if you have the time and will help you understand the difficulties a man who contributed so much to computer science had to cope with.
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The Pragmatic Programmer: Your Journey to Mastery
The Pragmatic Programmer is one of the rare tech audiobooks that will make you re-listen its content. Hunt and Thomas provide a lot of information about programming and best practices, and it is a valuable read regardless of whether you are a junior or a senior engineer.
You may use the book as a fresh reminder of the importance of clean code, communication, refactoring, and other aspects of programming.
What We Like Less:
✖ There are two caveats, however. First, the book was written in 1999, and second, its authors are sometimes quite wordy. It may also sound too apparent if you read the book further in your career.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
✔ It is a must-read compared to most modern books, bringing you back to universal programming basics.
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The Complete Software Developer’s Career Guide: How to Learn Programming Languages Quickly, Ace Your Programming Interview, and Land Your Software Developer Dream Job
For the last highly recommended computer science audiobook, I wanted to add The Complete Software Developer’s Career Guide. Sonmez wrote it as a guide for studying computer science and programming languages.
The audiobook is easy to listen to and written in a personal voice (narrated by the author).
Sonmez covers many topics if you want to pursue a career in software development, though the most commonly missing tools for developers today are soft skills. The book can give you some tools and tactics to work towards those skills, like better communicating with your manager and co-workers.
What We Like Less:
✖ Some of the things he describes may sound obvious, but it is never wrong to have some reminders and bookmarks that are worth it.
✖ The book’s format is closer to a podcast, so if you get it in an audiobook, you would be better far off from the printed version.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
✔ Be prepared; the book is long and wordy at times, but you will find some gold nuggets of advice in this computer science audiobook.
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Before you go…
Even if you start your computer engineering career today or are already an achieved professional, those technology and computer science classics are a must-read! They contain timeless information that we may forget from time to time.
Before you go, check out Elon Musk’s Favorite Book List. It includes classics such as “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”