Learning to read code

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I looking at learning how to read code and understand how programs work. Can anyone here advise where to start please? Any good books/recommendations?

My motivation is pure curiousity.

Any thoughts most appriciated.

thanks,

 

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Maybe this :-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_C_Programming_Language_(book)
http://www.amazon.com/How-Program-3rd-Harvey-Deitel/dp/0130895725

Other alternatives to C that some people prefer for starting out are JavaScript, Shell script, Windows Script Host, PowerShell, BASIC, Visual Basic 6/VBA, Python.

and for a general programming book this :-

http://www.cs.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/pearls/

Ultimately really you need to get involved with writing code to really be able to understand it and read it, they are effectively two different sides of the same coin.

As mentioned recently writing small programs and exploring is generally the way to start.

So maybe try this :-

http://projecteuler.net/

Of course there are many different types of code, so it really depends what you want to do, an understanding of machine architecture, OS design and assembler helps if you really want to know whats happening.

In which case try these :-

http://arl.wustl.edu/~lockwood/class/cs306/books/artofasm/toc.html
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963901.aspx
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reversing-Secrets-Engineering-Eldad-Eilam/dp/0764574817

If you are interested in C++ maybe try these (after learning C) :-

http://www.amazon.com/Essential-C-Stanley-B-Lippman/dp/0201485184
http://www.amazon.co.uk/C-Programming-Language-Special/dp/0201700735

Of course if you are interested in the Web, SOA, Databases, Cloud, Grid, Distributed, Embedded, etc maybe a different set of books will be required.

There are also many online webcasts available from Microsoft, MIT, Google, Open University and others.

For other languages, and environments have a look around for suitable materials and get studying...