We always focus on practice and believe that skill and experience always win over dry theory. But humanity has yet to invent a simpler, clearer, and more convenient way to pass on knowledge than a book. And it's worth noting that the titles in this selection won’t make you yawn — the delivery is light and engaging. Most books come with visual examples and code snippets. Choose the ones that suit you best and dive into the world of development!
1. Jon Duckett “HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites”
Let’s start with a book for beginners. It covers tools and techniques that are easy to understand even for those who are far from creating websites on their own. Lots of step-by-step guides and examples, very accessible and simple.
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2. Jon Duckett “JavaScript and jQuery: Interactive Front-End Web Development”
If you’re no longer a complete beginner, the same author has another book that’s more advanced and interesting. It may be too complex for newbies, but for those already practicing — it's a true treasure. We recommend this book not only to developers, but to anyone involved in building websites.
The book focuses on convenience and practicality, on creating interactive, sales-driven pages. It’s mostly hands-on content with little theory.
3. Douglas Crockford “JavaScript: The Good Parts”
This book is practically the Bible for those who code in JavaScript. And that’s because the author himself helped develop the language!
It’s worth noting that the content isn’t the freshest — the latest edition was in 2013. So you may encounter some outdated elements. But the fundamentals haven’t changed. If you want to grasp the core of JavaScript — this book is a must. Just know it’s packed with professional terms, which might be tricky for beginners.
Check out more useful JavaScript tips and tricks in the online premiere “Building a Slider in Pure JavaScript”.
4. A. Khrustalev, A. Kirichenko “HTML5 + CSS3: Modern Web Design Basics”
A book for beginners in programming, web design, and layout. It’s a solid resource for those who want to become well-rounded professionals or simply understand the site-building process. It covers the basics of web design and coding. Plenty of examples and practical tips make this book a helpful tool for site creation.
5. David McFarland “CSS: The Missing Manual”
If you want your work to be not only clean and beautiful but also practical. After reading, you’ll be building websites that load quickly on any device. What’s special about this book is that it’s written clearly and understandably even for beginners — we sincerely recommend starting with this one for a smooth entry into development. But experienced pros will also find plenty of rare and clever tricks here.
6. Robin Nixon “Learning PHP, MySQL & JavaScript: With CSS, jQuery, and HTML5”
This book walks you through website creation with detailed explanations and advice. Very visual, informative, and up-to-date. It covers innovations in development, JavaScript tricks, advanced HTML5, and key PHP nuances. Best strategy: read it and practice in real time to lock it all in.
7. Dmitry Jemerov, Svetlana Isakova “Kotlin in Action”
If you're planning to build Android apps, you can’t go without Kotlin. We already discussed this in our article “Kotlin – What Developers Need to Know About the New Language”. The book is packed with interesting insights. Since Kotlin is based on Java, this book doesn’t start from scratch — some prior understanding (especially of JS) is recommended.
8. Kyle Simpson “You Don’t Know JS”
This series has something for developers of all levels. So read them in order or jump straight to books 3 or 4 — the full set includes 6 volumes. If you master the first three, you’re already a confident developer. The fourth and beyond dive deep — power through and you'll become a true JavaScript guru.
9. Mark Tielens Thomas “React in Action”
Everything you ever wanted to know about React.js development. The author thoroughly explores everything from components and the DOM to using third-party libraries. You can’t talk about React without mentioning Redux, of course.
This book will teach you how to build apps in React.js without needing extra sources. It’s recommended for experienced developers or beginners who have a mentor — some parts may require clarification from a more seasoned friend.
10. Vladimir Dronov “Django 3.0: Practical Web Development with Python”
This book has been around for a while, so look for updated editions — the latest was released in 2021 and has the most current info. The author covers everything about the Django 3.0 framework and how to use it. Site publishing, caching, social media authentication, integration with Bootstrap — it’s all clearly explained.
Read Regularly
Many books in our list are intended for beginners. But the text sometimes isn’t clear without a demonstration. So you need to be a beginner with at least a basic understanding of development. You can ask someone to explain the fundamentals and basic terms — or take our free course “JavaScript: Deep Dive”. After that, diving into these topics will be much easier and more effective.
You can pick one book from this list and use it as a reference. But we recommend reading them all — even if you don’t use some tools, they’ll broaden your overall understanding. And who knows, maybe you’ll switch to a more exciting direction.
Keep your knowledge fresh. Regularly read relevant literature, especially new releases.
If you want the best insights without hunting for them yourself, we’ve got an amazing offer. Apply to join our latest online coaching group “Web Developer: The Freelancer’s Code”. The program is updated and up-to-date, and you’ll get new knowledge and mentorship support. Sign up now!
