“Code” 2nd Edition
Having read (and own) Charles Petzold's <i>Programming Windows</i>, <i>Code</i> and <i>The Annotated Turing</i> books, i can unequivocally state that he is a <i>Master of Technical Writing</i>. No fluff, precise but detailed and straight to the point. Modern authors can learn more than a lesson or two from his style of writing.<p>He needs to write more books, that is his Gift and Calling.<p>PS: Andrew Tanenbaum's <i>Structured Computer Organization</i> makes a very good followup to <i>Code</i>.