C Programming: A Modern Approach
K. N. King
13 people recommended it in 8 threads, 2014–2025.
1 commenter pushed back on it — worth reading the threads.
What people on Hacker News said
This book was a life saver. I will never forget how details the explaination was about printf. That book is incredibly thorough.
Instead I found King's C Programming: A Modern Approach much more enlightening.
I’ve never seen another book that contains as many exercises and projects as Kings book does.
King’s is amazing, IMO. Very didactic and covers C in depth.
C Programming: A Modern Approach. (Definitely not the best, but also lots of hands on stuff)
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Best book to learn C in 2022? 2022 · 5 recommendations
- Ask HN: Books that teach programming by building a series of small projects? 2023 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: What's the best book you've read regarding software development? 2025 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Do you recall any book or course that made a topic finally click? 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Books that changed my career as a software engineer 2021 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you plan to read in 2020? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- What are must read books for entry level C programmer? 2017 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What's the best programming book you've read recently? 2014 · 1 recommendation