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My favorite book recs
11
items Here's a list of my all-time book favorites. I lean heavy on fantasy, but if I think I have enough to talk about I'll split these into sections. Maybe how to books, Scifi, and Fantasy. Or something. I dunno. Some of them make great books for teens.
Ooo! and check out my hacker books!
Ooo! and check out my hacker books!
Sections
4
Fantasy
Scifi
Hacking & Cybersecurity
Marketing, Logos, & Branding
Fantasy
Read it twice as a young teen. I can't believe how popular it's gotten. Oh yeah I can.
The Lord of the Rings Books, DVDs & More
💓💓💓💓
I read this series as a kid and it has toooootally stuck with me. The story of Garion finding his destiny, his family, and the love of his life. OMG you won't believe how memorable the characters are.
I read this series as a kid and it has toooootally stuck with me. The story of Garion finding his destiny, his family, and the love of his life. OMG you won't believe how memorable the characters are.
The Belgariad 5-Book Set by David Eddings
🐲 Ok I haven't read it yet, but nephew loved it and he keeps telling me to read it. So you should too!
The Inheritance Cycle 4-Book Boxed Set
Oh my word… how did I just find out there are 2 more books in this series from 2000 by Stephen R. Lawhead?
If you have ANY interest in Arthurian legend, you need these books.
Not historical, totally fiction but the twist on Merlin's mentor Taliesin and HIS family.
🤯Actually mind-blowing. Going to make my nephew read these next.
If you have ANY interest in Arthurian legend, you need these books.
Not historical, totally fiction but the twist on Merlin's mentor Taliesin and HIS family.
🤯Actually mind-blowing. Going to make my nephew read these next.
The Pendragon Cycle 5 Book Set: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, Grail
Another classic from childhood! Even though it's book 9, it was the first Xanth novel I ever read. I still remember reading about Grundy for the first time and funny some of the powers the people in Xanth had.
Golem in the Gears (Xanth Book 9)
Scifi
These are the first 6 books of the Murderbot series, but there are 8 books so don't stop there! The TV series is… AMAZING! But I think you totally have to read the series first.
It's great for teens too, my nephew loved it. The main character is a sentient robot who gets out from under the control of his “governor module” and instead of going rogue…learns what it means to be human.
Ok that last part is kind of cheesy, I made that up. But series is funny and heart-warming.
It's great for teens too, my nephew loved it. The main character is a sentient robot who gets out from under the control of his “governor module” and instead of going rogue…learns what it means to be human.
Ok that last part is kind of cheesy, I made that up. But series is funny and heart-warming.
The Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red & More
1
Hacking & Cybersecurity
Books on Hacking & Cybersecurity, including learning techniques, scripting, and other cool stuff.
I don't know if there was some sort of printing issue, but my second edition has the red cover, not the green cover. I uploaded a pic of mine.
I just read a review saying it's terrible for hacking, and it's terrible for learning Python, but I disagree.
When I started my first cybersecurity job at a very well known company my manager suggested the book. I had some Python background but hated it.
I got pretty far in the book and found it interesting. Early on you create your own version of netcat, and then the topics get more advanced. Shortly after that I needed to use Python everyday for requests and manipulating text files and this book wa...
Sure, don't expect to actually hack with it, unless your on a Red Team, but some of the complaints about the material are outdated when considering the 2nd edition.
Lots more computers have Python installed these days, so while I would not install Python as soon as I compromised a system, but if it was there… it can be useful.
I just read a review saying it's terrible for hacking, and it's terrible for learning Python, but I disagree.
When I started my first cybersecurity job at a very well known company my manager suggested the book. I had some Python background but hated it.
I got pretty far in the book and found it interesting. Early on you create your own version of netcat, and then the topics get more advanced. Shortly after that I needed to use Python everyday for requests and manipulating text files and this book wa...
Sure, don't expect to actually hack with it, unless your on a Red Team, but some of the complaints about the material are outdated when considering the 2nd edition.
Lots more computers have Python installed these days, so while I would not install Python as soon as I compromised a system, but if it was there… it can be useful.
Black Hat Python 2nd Ed: Programming for Hackers
If you are starting out and want to learn cybersecurity, than I highly recommend starting with CompTIA Security+. If you have a background in tech support and computers…perfect.
If you don't, then you'll want to get a basic understanding of computers first. And I don't know mean how to use them… I mean how they work, how their built, and how to fix them. And how to network them.
There is a reason the learning path for CompTIA's Cybersecurity starts with A+, then Network+, then Security+.
If you don't have the knowledge in tech support and networking, you will find it harder to succeed in more technical roles in cybersecurity.
If you don't, then you'll want to get a basic understanding of computers first. And I don't know mean how to use them… I mean how they work, how their built, and how to fix them. And how to network them.
There is a reason the learning path for CompTIA's Cybersecurity starts with A+, then Network+, then Security+.
If you don't have the knowledge in tech support and networking, you will find it harder to succeed in more technical roles in cybersecurity.
CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Certification Guide
People might look at this and think it's outdated, but as you can tell from the 2025 reviews, this book has got staying power.
Any computer today either has or can have a C compiler, and even if it doesn't, then once you write your own exploits you can just transfer them to the target.
Reading it will not only give you a chance to learn C and assembly (which btw will make you skilled and valuable in cyber) but you will learn how hackers do the hack.
Highly recommended.
It doesn't sit on my desk at work, it sit's on my shelf at home.
Any computer today either has or can have a C compiler, and even if it doesn't, then once you write your own exploits you can just transfer them to the target.
Reading it will not only give you a chance to learn C and assembly (which btw will make you skilled and valuable in cyber) but you will learn how hackers do the hack.
Highly recommended.
It doesn't sit on my desk at work, it sit's on my shelf at home.
Hacking: The Art of Exploitation, 2nd Edition
If you don't understand the title, don't buy the book.
I haven't read it cover to cover, but when I left my last job they let me keep it, because no one else wanted it.
It's a deep, technical look at coding in C, and probably focuses on Linux. But the techniques and knowledge will again put you on top of the candidate pile over people who don't know what a compiler is.
So yes, this is a great book on hacking.
I haven't read it cover to cover, but when I left my last job they let me keep it, because no one else wanted it.
It's a deep, technical look at coding in C, and probably focuses on Linux. But the techniques and knowledge will again put you on top of the candidate pile over people who don't know what a compiler is.
So yes, this is a great book on hacking.
Sockets, Shellcode & Coding: Reverse Engineering Exploits
Marketing, Logos, & Branding
I'm actually a big marketing geek. I had a blog once, and David Airey replied to a post! 😍. Mind mapping, brand identity, lots of examples, even a look at David's logo design sketchbook. It's a must get.
Logo Design Love: Guide to Iconic Brands