I found this very useful programming book for starters like me.. its quite easy to read and understand compared to other books for beginners. It focuses on Python but i hear there is a Java edition out there. The book is called-

"Thinking Like a Computer Scientist for Python".

You can easily download it from the internet or i can send a copy to you via email.

I'm into this race to finish, what about you?

http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkCSpy/thinkCSpy.pdf click that to get the book.

kodewrita: http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkCSpy/thinkCSpy.pdf click that to get the book.

Thanks for the link...a copy was sent to my email by a friend so now i can easily share this link with ppl who r interested.

pls can u send it to my mail... i cant get to download it atm :: mike_folz87@yahoo.com

Fayimora: Note that the name of the book is a wild joke

Its not a joke. It teaches basic computer science concepts like data structures, recursion, oop etc. its a gentle introduction.

how can you call it a wild joke-- rome wasn't built in a day but im sure on the first day it was called rome.

I agree with Fayimora to some extent that it doesn't really make you think like a 'Computer Scientist' in a nutshell as the title of the book suggested.In other words, there haven't be enough ideas on computer science in a broader perspective but on programming(which the author exaggerated with the title) to qualify that piece of writing into what seems to be a portrayal of Python programming at a glance. Yes, I first saw that writing about 2 to 3 years ago(if I can still recall).However, the author approach is recommendable for a start in the right direction, in Python programming, but lacks detailed explanations. Perhaps, he wanted his readers to be practically involved which is always the right approach, although, as rudimentary as it may look.

There are actually better pieces of written works on Computer sciences out there. Then, there is nothing wrong reading this one for a start. It doesn't in the closest sense make one thinks like a computer scientist yet as an analytic programming individual, therefore giving you room to how different programs are related in many ways.

well i quite understand what you mean now but as a starter i've got 2 books on programming which is based on python but this book n particular is more guided and self explanatory to a point. After python,java next!

If you are looking for a more practical book, try Exploring python...