I've added my associate code to these links. If you don't like the idea of my getting 5% when you buy one, then don't buy it directly from these links.
Preliminary and Philosophical
Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values by Robert Pirsig
Pirsig defines Quality in a way that can be applied to such mundane, scientific, acts as maintaining a motorbike … or writing software.
The Timeless Way of Building (Center for Environmental Structure Series) by Christopher Alexander
More Taoist rhetoric aimed at the mundane arts, in this case architecture. This book earns its place in this list by being the seminal work on Design Patterns, which are being widely applied in the software field. Worth reading if only to discover how enjoyable reading design patterns can be, and how badly other authors write them. It is very expensive and difficult to justify. Consider finding a library copy. The companion work "A Pattern language" is less widely relevant, but still interesting if you have a thing for architecture or DIY.
In The Beginning Was The Command Line by Neal Stephenson
Yes, that Neal Stephenson. This extended essay was published on the Internet and is free to download. Stephenson explores the pros and cons of the mediated experience and how this relates to the difference between the command line and the graphical user interface. A very sound exposition on why someone would eschew Windows or X, and how it may still be desirable for many.
Command-Line
Introduction to Linux (Third Edition) by Machtelt Garrels
This seems to be a solid introduction to Linux with detail on the command-line and file-system. This book is rather expensive, but you can find the 2008 edition free at the The Linux Documentation Project
Windows Command-Line Administrator's Pocket Consultant 2nd Edition (PRO-Administrator's Pocket Consultant) by William R. Stanek
Another expensive book and, being Windows, there is no free alternative. This looks like a good introduction to the Windows command-line and also covers it in depth. So it is likely to be the only reference you need, at least for the command-line. Amazon do Look Inside so at least you can gauge if it will be useful. The stuff in here is not essential for the course, which will be based around Linux by the time the complex stuff is needed, but PCs currently in schools are Windows and you may have to work on them, compiling programs, setting up directory structures and so forth.
Computer Hardware and Binary Logic
Code: The Hidden Language 2nd Edition by Charles Petzold
I've just finished reading this, honest. I have to say that because it matches perfectly with my introductions to the history of computers and binary logic, and then goes further all the way up to high-level languages. So if you want a more complete and gentle treatment than I have space to give, then this is the place to go. Strongly recommended.
