Ask HN: Top inspiring books on crucial CS ideas?

Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. It's a very challenging book

- Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs

7. Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs

1. Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software

"The Soul of a New Machine",

Maybe also "The Art of Computer Programming" but I can't speak from experience

10. The Art of Computer Programming

- The Little Schemer

I read Masters of Doom and I really like it

"Masters of Doom",

8. Introduction to Algorithms (The MIT Press)

"Programming Pearls" might be an exception—there are some great real-life stories and problems to think through in that.

9. Programming Pearls (2nd Edition)

- The Algorithm Design Manual

Coders at Work. Really interesting to hear how they think about programming

"Coders at Work",

- Elements of Computing Systems (nand2tetris book)

2. Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship