Alan Kay's Reading List

Alan "Smalltalk" Kay gives a list of books for people interested in the ideas and philosophies that influenced Squeak. It looks like a good list for anyone interested in software invention.

I have read a smattering of the books and some other works by authors on the list, and they were generally outstanding. I will try to sample the remainder (over time).

Book ideas

Ideas for books to write:

"Make me think: The School for Genius":

• A guide to figuring things out for yourself
• Learning philosophy:
  
• discovery learning
• learning by doing
• drawing connections
  
• open-ended
• verification (how do I know that's right?)
  
• Guides the reader through the essence of several subject through hints and puzzles
• Unconventional approaches
  
• Suitable for bright teens & life-long learners
  

Books Wishlist

Here's a list of gift ideas for me.

Let me know if you commend or hate anything on the list, or if you want to send me a copy!

Computing

• Sabourin, I am a Bug: A children's picture book that also explains software Quality Assurance
  
• Abelman & Sussman, Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs: I know it's free online, but I'd like a copy that I can hold in my hand
• Widdows, Geometry and Meaning: Computing, Natural Language, Search, and Geometry
• Smullyan, To Mock a Mockingbird: Functional programming through puzzles and metaphor

Writing

• Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones, "Wherein we discover that many of the 'rules' for good writing and good sex are the same"
  

More to come ...