In this area, I am going to provide you with an ongoing, regularly updated list of computer books that I find useful. I will give you a title, author, and a short description of the contents. Then, I will tell you why I liked this particular book.

Windows Programming In C And C++ by Herbert Schildt

This book provides you with an introduction to programming Windows applications using the native Windows API. I like this book because of its simplicity and its practical outlook.

MFC Programming From The Ground Up by Herbert Schildt

This book provides you with an introduction to programming Windows applications using the Microsoft Foundation Classes. I like this book because of its simplicity and its practical outlook.

Advanced Windows by Jeffrey Richter

This book provides you with an introduction to programming Windows system services such as threads, synchronization, memory management, and exception handling. I like this book because it contains a thorough and detailed discussion about the use of system services under Windows.

COM Applications With ATL by Sing Li and Panos Economopoulos

This book provides you with an introduction to programming COM, ActiveX, ActiveX Template Library, MS Transaction Server, MS Message Queue, and OLE DB. I like this book because it demonstrates the usage of the features through a practical application -- a Distributed Calendar System.

The Windows NT Device Driver Book by Art Baker

This book provides you with an introduction to programming Windows NT Device Drivers. Really emphasizes the interactions between the device driver, the operating system, and the hardware. I like this book because it contains a thorough and detailed discussion about the implementation of device drivers under Windows NT. This book contains lots of useful information. However, after having implemented several NT device drivers, I feel that this book does not provide you with a well defined device driver framework with step by step tailoring instructions. Out of several books, this book is the best available source.

Interprocess Communications In Unix by John Shapley Gray

This book provides you with an introduction to programming Unix applications using pipes, message queues, semaphores, shared memory, and remote procedure calls. I like this book because of its simple, easily understood programs and the clarity of its explanations.

The Design Of The Unix Operating System by Maurice J. Bach

This book provides you with a detailed discussion of the inner workings of a Unix operating system. I like this book because of it uses lots of diagrams and code samples to explain the inner workings of Unix.

Advanced X Window Applications Programming by Eric Johnson and Kevin Reichard

This book provides you with an introduction to event/message programming for providing graphical user interfaces. I like this book because it is a structured approach to developing X Windows applications.

Motif Programming by Marshall Brain

This book provides you with an introduction to programming X Windows applications using the higher level Motif library. I like this book because of its simple, easily understood programs and the clarity of its explanations.

Structured Computer Organization by Andrew S. Tannenbaum

This book provides you with an introduction to hardware at the digital logic level, the microprogramming level, the conventional machine level, and the multilevel machine level. If you have never seen one of Tanenbaum's books, this book is a great place to start. This author expresses himself clearly. The layered approach to machine organization shows you how elements at each layer are combined to create the next higher level machine.

Computer Networks by Andrew S. Tannenbaum

This book provides you with an introduction to networks from the context of the multilayer ISO protocol stack. Includes discussion of both hardware and software elements of the protocol stack. This book provides Tanenbaum with another opportunity to really educate you regarding some fairly complex topics.