Ask HN: Programming books to read while on vacation?

Personally, I don't recommend the SICP unless you're actually working through the exercises to some extent

A book more directly related to programing would be "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs"

Godel, Escher, Bach (mentioned by caffeine) is a love it or hate it book; check out a couple of summaries and see what you think.

Nobody's mentioned it here, yet: Godel Escher Bach

I was going to suggest "Snow Crash" as well, so I'll just second it. Very cool book.

If you haven't read Cryptonomicon, Snow Crash, or Diamond Age, I would suggest reading one of them.

Another great hacker fiction read: Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

If you haven't read Cryptonomicon, Snow Crash, or Diamond Age, I would suggest reading one of them.

and The Pragmatic Programmer

I'll suggest The Pragmatic Programmer by Hunt and Thomas. Basic stuff, but lives up to the title of being "pragmatic".

Already mentioned is Code Complete

Code Complete 2nd edition is a good and interesting book about programming in general.

"Hackers and Painters" or "Founders at Work" are both good books

I'd add The Mythical Man Month, still a classic, but note that's a relatively short book and may not last long enough.

The Little Schemer is a good book to go through while you're NOT on vacation.

TLS will break your mind in the most delicious way. I can't recommend it enough.

A book more directly related to programing would be "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs" or "The Little Schemer."

Grab The Little Schemer and a notebook. Do all exercises in the notebook with a pencil, without a computer.

If you haven't read Cryptonomicon, Snow Crash, or Diamond Age, I would suggest reading one of them.

Programming Pearls is nice to read while traveling. Doesn't really require a computer, essays are short.

Books like Programming Pearls, Beautiful Code, etc. tell stories about code, rather than just show you code

Blood Meridian made me a McCarthy fan.