Remember Your First Computer Book?

By Richard Pascoe on Feb 13, 2026. Originally published on DEV.to.
Remember Your First Computer Book?

We all had that first computer book, the one that opened our eyes to the digital universe. Whether it taught coding, hardware, or just how to make a program run without error, it connected us to a shared experience: the wonder of learning something new and exciting for the very first time.

My first computer book was The Beginner's Computer Handbook: Understanding & Programming the Micro, published by Usborne. I received my copy a few years after its 1983 release, having won a competition and redeeming a book voucher. Below, I’ve posted a picture of the cover for reference:

Cover of a vintage book titled

Back then, my Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K+ felt like a portal to another world. Every line of BASIC I typed was a small adventure, each program a tiny triumph. When I later discovered text adventure games and tools like The Quill, I caught my first glimpse of what it meant to create worlds of my own. Yet through it all, that book remained the spark - the quiet, magical moment that made me believe the digital universe was not just something to explore, but something I could shape myself.

I'd love to hear from others in the DEV Community - what was your first computer book, the one that opened the door to your own digital adventures? Whether it sparked a love of coding, hardware, or game creation, those early pages hold a special kind of magic. Share your memories and let's celebrate those moments that made us fall in love with the digital universe for the very first time.

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