6 Books That Got Me Into Computer Science
STEM books don't have to be boring.
Hey there, I’m Qasim Khawaja, a tech geek who loves to read! I’m passionate about the ever-changing nature of technology. This same ever-changing nature of our tech-powered world demands that we change along with it. Grow with it. So, what’s the best way to grow? Reading!
That’s why, today, I’m going to give you a run-down of my six favourite books that inspired my interest in STEM and Computer Science.
1. Cosmos by Carl Sagan
This was one of the books that changed my life more than any course I’ve ever attended despite being one of my first reads. The book explores the concept of humans and cosmic evolution through a neutral eye. Sagan effectively summarizes 15 billion years of history into a single book. The book covers everything from cosmetology to anthropology and everything in between.
Sagan enforces that the sheer vastness and complexity of the universe permits the existence of many intelligent alien life-forms, but there is little evidence that any of them ever visited earth. Unlike many scientific writers, Sagan is a superb writer who makes this book fascinating from start to finish.
2. A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
Originally published in 1988, A Brief History of Time has sold over nine million copies worldwide. When initially released, the book covered everything there was to know about the universe. As technology grew, many of Stephen Hawking’s predictions and theories about the world that Hawking had predicted almost a decade ago. This was the very book that kindled my interest in the world of quantum physics, which only pulled me in further as the years went by.
Although the success of this book is not unprecedented by any means whatsoever, throughout the book, you get a glimpse of the rarely seen side witty, humorous side of Stephen Hawking. Making this book the perfect read for any novice venturing into the complex world of quantum physics.
3. Leonardo DaVinci by Walter Isaacson
Out of the all the DaVinci biographies I’ve read to date, this one certainly does justice to Leonardo and his art. DaVinci, the engineer, is often overshadowed by DaVinci, the artist. This book dissects Leonardo’s personality in its all glory, highlighting the traits that made him one of the most famous men in the history of humanity.
It emphasizes how traits like passionate curiosity and observation of the world around him allowed him to surpass his own potential. These are skills that we can use in our repetitive, mundane lives to be better versions of ourselves. The book beautifully ties together Leonardo’s art and engineering, which are often regarded as different aspects of his personality.
4. Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom
I read this book when I was in high school, and it definitely had a profound impact on me. The math was way beyond my understanding at the time, but I tried my very best to take notes and Google all that I couldn’t understand. The book answers a very fundamental question, can robots surpass humans in the future? A sentiment that Hollywood loves to exploit.
Nick Bostrom also does a wonderful job of explaining how we can stop a potential robot take-over by building fail-safes within artificial intelligence itself. This book is perhaps the book that inspired me to pursue computer science and, in particular, the field of machine learning.
5. Creativity Inc by Ed Catmull
This book showcases how Ed Catmull, a computer scientist, revolutionized the animation industry with Pixar. His inspiring story was the initial push that drove me into the field of computer science.
In this book, he explores how he managed to streamline his office into a creativity-hub. Ed also gives the reader an insider view of meetings and the production process that has made Pixar arguably the best animations company in the world.
6. The Code Book by Simon Singh
The Code Book narrates the story of one of humanity’s most treasured concepts. In this book, Simon Singh traces the origins and development of the art of cryptography and code. Along with providing plenty of ciphers to decode along the way. Singh points out big names in history throughout the book, who managed to write or crack complex codes.
These books have allowed me to see the world in a whole new light!
I would love to know what books you feel like shaped you the most.
