5 books recommended by a tech CEO to read right now if you want to teach yourself how to code

This book is for beginners, as it's meant to be a textbook in a college-level introductory course in software engineering. It uses Python, one of the world's most popular languages, to teach readers.

"Despite being a textbook, 'Python Programming' is easy to read. With a number of exercises to practice with, it's well worth your while," Ravisankar said.

Buy it here>>

This book is perfect for anyone with a basic understanding of software engineering that's looking to go from writing messy code to clean, logical code, something recruiters are increasingly looking for, Ravisankar said.

"Anyone can write code that functions, but real quality comes from clean code. There is a movement brewing in the world of professional software development based on going beyond mere functionality," the CEO said.

Martin's book provides clear examples of how to transform your code by changing the way you think.

Buy it here >>

If you work in tech, or are remotely interested in tech, you should read this book, Ravisankar said. This comprehensive book, while less about teaching readers how to code, is more about building your knowledge of how technology works. From electrical circuits and Morse code to software code development, this book teachers readers the how-tos that will make you appreciate tech so much more.

"You don't need to have ever written a line of code to understand the contents of this book, and to gain a deep appreciation for what really happens every time you use your laptop or smartphone," Ravisankar said.

Buy it here>>

Junior developers will find this classic helpful in learning to build their understanding of software development. Ravisankar called this book "one of the most comprehensive introductions to programming."

"Simplicity is a common theme throughout the entire book, and rightly so," the HackerRank cofounder said. "Software development is famously complex, yet the best code often comes out of a search for simplicity – it's far too easy for complexity to become overwhelming."

Buy it here>>

This book provides a theoretical overview of what makes a good programmer, whether you're a freelancer or someone hoping to assume a managerial role in software engineering. Ravisankar called it "one of the best non-technical tech books you can find."

"The authors go beyond a simple checklist of what you should do, presenting a comprehensive guide for how you should change your approach. It's chock-full of high-level concepts that will improve any development environment, and it's all communicated in a very straightforward manner," he said.

Buy it here>>