The BEST books to learn web development (and design)

Perpetual Education is many things, but if you're watching these YouTube videos, it's likely because you're interested in better ways to teach - or you want to learn web development and design.

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[industry_std]

This is honestly the best advice regarding how to approach learning this stuff and I hope more people would see this. Building a foundation from which to grow is so important and often overlooked thinking that "it will come to you eventually". Keep it up!

[sharonlima]

Part 1: HTML and CSS

The first HTML and CSS book that the video author recommends is "Designing with Web Standards" by Jeffrey Zeldman. However, he cautions that there are better books to start with as it doesn't teach you how to program but discuss the history of web standards. He suggests it's an excellent book to read later if you're already familiar with programming.

The video author highly recommends "HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites" by Jon Duckett. He describes the book as beautiful and valuable for learning how to do things with HTML and CSS. However, he notes that the reader needs to teach you how to think about things, such as writing essays or documentation, or explain how the computer reads HTML. So, using other resources in conjunction with this book is essential.

Another book that the video author suggests for learning HTML is "Forms Design Patterns" by Adam Silver. This book focuses on designing forms using HTML and has a contemporary look.

The video author recommends "CSS in Depth" by Keith Grant for CSS. He notes that the book teaches you how to do CSS but doesn't encourage the most helpful way of thinking about CSS, such as using IDEs and classes. Additionally, he emphasizes that you should learn HTML and CSS together.

Lastly, the video author suggests "Practical SVG" by Chris Coyier for learning Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG). This book is technical and has a little world, but it's an excellent resource whenever you start using SVG in your career.

For learning CSS Grid Layout, the video author recommends "Get Ready for CSS Grid Layout" by Rachel Andrew, which is available for free. He suggests that you use the parts of the book that work best for you.

Part 2: JavaScript

The video author recommends several books for learning JavaScript, starting with "Eloquent JavaScript, " available on GitHub. He describes the book as funny and engaging, with stories about werewolves and math.

The video author also recommends "Secrets of the JavaScript Ninja" by John Resig and "JavaScript: The Good Parts" by Douglas Crockford. He notes that the former is similar to "Eloquent JavaScript" and iterates some concepts multiple times, which is helpful for newbies. The latter book focuses on more significant concepts and is suitable for thinking.

For an introduction to JavaScript, the video author suggests "Up and Going: Learn Enough JavaScript to Be Dangerous" by Kyle Simpson. He notes that the book can be a bit complicated, but it's excellent and can save you a lot of pain in the future. He also recommends "Scope and Closures" by Kyle Simpson for learning about specific topics.

**The Correct Book Order**

The video author recommends a specific order for reading these books, starting with "The Elements of User Experience" by Jesse James Garrett. This book includes a chart that can be life-changing for designers, as it provides a better understanding of why we create things using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.

The next book on the list, "Don't Make Me Think, " is a book that focuses on user experience, user interfaces, content strategy, and vulnerabilities. The author is very humble and explains how newspapers work. The book provides insights on how to group content together in a way that is easy to read and understand. It suggests reading the content repeatedly and thinking like a strategist. This book is a great starting point, and there are other books from the same company that you can explore.

"Exercises for Programmers" is a book that teaches you how to program. The first few chapters explain how things are connected and what information is needed to feed the computer. The book uses the MDN docs, which have curated information on HTML elements, color, background color, and toolboxes. Think of this book as a toolbox that you can use to learn to program. It is an excellent resource for beginners.

To enhance your learning experience, find a friend or a study group to learn with. You can use the four books mentioned above and the MDN dev to get started with web development. Ask for help on StackOverflow once you finish reading the recommended books.

CSS Tricks, grids, and cheatsheets are helpful resources that you can use to learn more about web development.

"Just Enough Research" is a book that teaches you how to conduct research. It provides insights into gathering and analyzing data to make informed decisions.

"Everyday Information Architecture" is a book that teaches you how to organize information. It provides insights on designing websites and applications that are easy to navigate and understand.

"Ruined By Design" is a book that critiques the impact of design on society. It explores how structure can perpetuate inequality and harm communities.

"Design for the Real World" is a book by Victor Papanek and is considered the most essential book on design. It is a dense book that explores design's ethical and social implications.

"Rocket Surgery Made Easy" is a book that teaches you how to conduct usability testing. It provides insights on how to test and improve the usability of websites and applications.

[sharonlima]

I am making notes as I am watching the video : )

[PerpetualEducation]

Comments open: What are YOUR favorite books? How have they helped you to speed things up or really clearly explain different concepts? Have you read these ones? What did you think? Got any suggestions? Is it OK to have some real feelings - and thoughts in public? Or is everything black and white? What do you really think? And are you willing to stand behind it publicly? (also note that we added some more books that didn't make it into this video - in the description)