Entry-Level Programming Books?

[Joe]

I got asked a really good question the other day by my cousin, who's son wants to start programming. She asked what book(s) she should get him for Christmas. I drew a blank, since the best book I've ever found is Google, but you can't give Google for Christmas (yet).

Does anyone have suggestions? Keep in mind that he's 13, so it has to be something hands-on or it'll get shelved in 5 minutes. I'm guessing he's pretty motivated though, since he wants to be a programmer, not a fireman.

Thanks

[Sidoh]

The "Head First" books are excellent introductory material.  They're engaging, entertaining, and an overall good way to learn something new.

http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596004651

A few of the people I worked with a while ago needed to learn Java, and they used this book (along with trial and error) to do it.  They weren't exactly the most prolific programmers in the world when it was said and done, but they were definitely competent enough to say they were "familiar" with Java.

[Camel]

When I was 13, I'd have reinvented the wheel long before opening a book.

[Joe]

I'm not sure if I understand your metaphor. Reinventing the wheel is fun.

[Newby]

I'm not sure if I understand your metaphor. Reinventing the wheel is fun.

That's pretty much what he meant.

[MyndFyre]

I'm not sure if I understand your metaphor. Reinventing the wheel is fun.

That's pretty much what he meant.

LoL +1.

Here.

[Joe]

You want me to give him a Pascal book more than twice as old as him?

[MyndFyre]

You want me to give him a Pascal book more than twice as old as him?

More important than Pascal are the data structures and algorithms part.

[Sidoh]

You want me to give him a Pascal book more than twice as old as him?

More important than Pascal are the data structures and algorithms part.

I think there are probably better books on the subject.

However, unless the kid is also interested in abstract thinking (indicated by an interest in, for example, mathematics), it's probably better to stick with something that just teaches him to program.

I'd definitely agree that it's much more important to know how to think abstractly and know your data structures than to knowing how to program, but more important than both of them is an interest in the general subject and the willingness to learn.

Some dry academic book is going to scare him off. lol

[rabbit]

That was the book I used in my Data Structures class :P