Ask HN: What are the best programming books for someone in prison?

From those I personally recommend "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs"

"Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs". Too bad, since it's probably the most concrete.

http://www.amazon.com/Structure-Interpretation-Computer-Prog...

and "Gödel, Escher, Bach". SICP might not make it through, but GEB definitely would (although its direct relevance to day-to-day work in web development may be questionable, it should do a lot to spark an interest in computer science).

http://www.amazon.com/G%C3%B6del-Escher-Bach-Eternal-Golden/...

http://www.amazon.com/Pragmatic-Programmer-Journeyman-Master...

I'd go with "Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software"

Ditto on "Code." As a non-programmer learning to program, it was everything I needed to know to wrap my head around how everything actually works.

http://www.amazon.com/Code-Language-Computer-Hardware-Softwa...

Kidder's "The Soul of a New Machine"

Brooks' "The Mythical Man Month"

a mathy algorithms text, like CLR

In general books, I can think of Strunk and White

http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Computing-Systems-Building-Pr...

On Writing (by Stephen King)

"Land of Lisp"

the Head First books and so on