HackerNewsBooks Blog - Margin Notes

Newsletter — Week 20 Highlights (2026)

Get weekly book highlights → Subscribe free

Top 3 books this week (May 11–17, 2026)

  1. SQL Queries for Mere Mortals: A Hands-On Guide to Data Manipulation in SQL, 4th Edition
    — Mentioned in a thread about learning SQL, HN commenters recommended it as a practical alternative to online tutorials, emphasizing the hands-on approach for data manipulation.

  2. Software Engineering Mathematics (Sei Series in Software Engineering)
    — Recommended as a starting point for understanding formal methods, HN commenters noted that it provides a rundown of notation and concepts essential for various systems.

  3. Practical TLA+: Planning Driven Development
    — Mentioned in discussions about formal methods, HN commenters recommended TLA+ for its applicability in distributed systems and as a foundational tool for understanding various formal systems.

Browse the full list: Week 20 on HackerNewsBooks

~3–5 min read

#newsletter