Recommendations for good technical books for vacation ?

Question

I will soon be taking a long overdue vacation. Under duress, I have had to promise that I won't take my laptop.

Any recommendation for good technical books given that,

1. I won't have access to a computer (won't be able to run through code samples, etc., so no point in taking my copy of 'WPF Unleashed' )

2. Have to carry the book around Thailand

Answer 1

Leave the books home. Enjoy Thailand.

Answer 2

Print out some of those RFCs you have been meaning to read for the plane.

Answer 3

Don't Make me Think, Steve Krug.

Fun reading, lots of pictures, don't have to concentrate on it, and it will significantly improve your UI design skills.

Answer 4

I like reading the about the softer side of programming on holiday to pump up my motivation when I return. I've enjoyed Practices of an Agile Developer and Software Estimation on tour so far. Both are fairly slim and very readable.

But remember to enjoy the trip!

Answer 5

Lonely Planet, Thailand and Lonely Planet, Thailand's Islands and Beaches

Answer 6

Generally when I travel I like to have some trashy piece of fiction (Dan Brown or the like), but if you must have a technical book I'd recommend something in the realm of the theoretical. I'd go for The Mythical Man-Month or Code Complete. Also, eat lots of spicy food.

Answer 7

I'm with @ocdecio, but for some technical-flavored fiction look at these questions:

• http://stackoverflow.com/questions/133556/best-programming-novel-to-take-on-holiday

• http://stackoverflow.com/questions/160328/what-works-of-entertaining-fiction-best-depict-programmers

Answer 8

ocdecio has great advice, but if you're determined to read anyway, find a book on philosiphy of development not on coding. Some suggestions:

• Code Complete (good but big for packing around)
• Mythical Man Month
• Peopleware (especially if you are or want to be in a leadership position)

Enjoy Thailand.

Answer 9

Bring a novel to read on the plane. Leave it in your hotel room while you enjoy your vacation.

Answer 10

read a good biography, that always recharges me

Answer 11

Check out the books at the airport... you just might find the one your after.

Answer 12

Shouldn't you be playing towers of Hannoi instead? ;)

Edit: Wrong country there! Damn geography... on my next vacations I should read an atlas!

Answer 13

I'm currently enjoying Pragmatic Thinking and Learning. Easy to carry, fun & interesting.

Answer 14

Here is my list with good recently published books related to .NET and Web development:

http://www.riaguy.com/books/

Also there is an RSS feed.

Answer 15

Though I up-voted Otavio's answer, I'd usually have the same hitch as you, so here's a few semi-technical books I'd recommend you to read. Semi-technical, as they are IT- or hackerdom-related but are not necessarily technical books riddled with details. For this kind of vacation, I like historical/autiobiographical books where you learn from the insight more than from the technical bits.

Here it goes:

• lightweight (MUST READ and historical w/ great reviews! My favorites!)
  • Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution
  • Dealers of Lightning: Xerox PARC and the Dawn of Computer Age
• potentially heavyweight (interesting and easy read, mostly historical as well)
  • Beautiful Code
  • Dreaming in Code
  • The Cathedral and the Bazaar: Musings on Linux and Open Source by an Accidental Revolutionary
• ultra heavyweight (but also ultra good... and technical, with varying levels of details)
  • Concepts, Techniques and Models of Computer Programming

Then you can go for some classics as well, though not recommended for everyone, like:

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

I wouldn't recommend bringing Knuth's Art of Computer Programming with you in your backpack, except if you want an extreme work-out.