6 Best C# Programming Books Ranked by Review Score

Much of programming is built on C. Many different languages were built off of it, including some of the most widely-implemented programming languages of all time. While C++ might be the first one that comes to the minds of most, there’s another language known as C# that has found greater popularity in recent years. This language is especially used in the development of applications and games, making it out as one of the perfect languages for a programmer interested in entertainment. It’s arguably easier to learn than most languages, thus no programmer should pass up the opportunity to check out the 6 best C# books based on Amazon reviews.

This list will rank each book based on their total number of reviews on Amazon alongside their average 5-star rating. This list will also omit “compilation” books that do not provide specialized focus on C#.

The 6 Best C# Programming Books Ranked by Amazon Reviews

6. Head First C# (4th Edition) by Andrew Stellman and Jennifer Greene

Head First C# is a great book for those without prior knowledge of the language. This resource guides users through the world of app development and game creation, providing example code and a lighthearted tone to make following along relatively easy. The style it provides isn’t for everyone, but most reviewers agree that the information within is up-to-date and of great quality. Notably, some complained that the digital version suffered from cut-off images, while others noted that the physical copy was only in black-and-white. Keep this in mind when choosing your preferred version, as you might want to opt for the alternative if you run into problems.

Reviews: Out of 265 total reviews, 76% gave this book 5 stars

List Price: $64.99 Paperback, $55.99 Digital

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5. Learning C# by Developing Games with Unity (5th Edition) by Harrison Ferrone

By taking advantage of one of the greatest uses of C#, Learning C# by Developing Games with Unity lets users become accustomed to the language while making something fun with it. This resource lets users script AI and enemies within their own video game. By doing this, it also teaches readers how to use Unity alongside C#, making the end result of learning this book comparative to genuine, professional experience.

While this book is a great resource for beginners, many reviewers noted that it might not have as much depth as one might want — especially for understanding more use cases of C# than game development. This book is also somewhat outdated, with the latest edition having been released this year. This is still a fine place to start, but Harrison Ferrone’s offering is far from the most comprehensive C# resource.

Reviews: Out of 323 total reviews, 73% gave this book 5 stars

List Price: $69.99 Paperback, $55.99 Digital

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4. The C# Programming Yellow Book by Rob Miles

The C# Programming Yellow Book is a more lighthearted take on the language. Reviewers praise this resource for being a fantastic beginner’s guide, describing C#’s primary ideas and functions alongside how and why they’re used and implemented. This book is also extremely cheap compared to most other items on this list, making it into a budget-friendly option for those that need one. In fact, there’s a version found on the writer’s website that can be downloaded entirely for free. There’s not much of a reason to avoid that version, but still consider checking out the physical copy if you think you could use it.

Reviews: Out of 338 total reviews, 69% gave this book 5 stars

List Price: $12.00

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3. C# and .NET – Modern Cross-Platform Development (4th Edition) by Mark J. Price

Modern Cross-Platform Development covers C# alongside .NET, allowing readers to get used to both the language and the framework. Reviews of this resource are overall positive, though many of them criticize the lack of details and explanations. It’s not the best choice for a tutorial on the language, but it’s still well-liked as a reference book.

Despite what good this book does, anyone interested in checking this book out should take a look at the newest edition. Sadly, the one on this list is quickly becoming outdated even with its semi-recent publication date. For the purposes of this list, only this version will be covered regardless; the large number of reviews gives a good idea of what to expect from both old and new resources such as this one. After all, outside of version numbers, not much information is given on what has changed from this book to the newest one.

Reviews: Out of 412 reviews total, 60% gave this book 5 stars

List Price: $83.99 Paperback, $67.99 Digital

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2. The C# Player’s Guide (4th Edition) by RB Whitaker

The C# Player’s Guide is another resource with a “learning by doing” style. It provides over 100 exercises for users to engage with, explaining the basics while challenging the reader to show what they’ve learned. Reviewers have praised it as one of the best C# books out there, and even if you’d prefer to check out a newer edition instead, you’ll still get quite a lot of use out of this one for years to come.

Reviews: Out of 422 total reviews, 77% gave this book 5 stars

List Price: $29.95

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1. Learn C# in One Day and Learn It Well by Jamie Chan

At first glance, this resource might just appear to be “okay” at best. It’s praised as another fantastic resource for beginners and manages to hit its target of “one day” with semi-decent accuracy. However, it doesn’t cover that many topics, and some reviewers were displeased with the lack of exercises.

Where this book shines is in its price. The physical version of this book is as cheap as this list gets, and the digital version is completely free if you own — or have a free trial of — Kindle Unlimited. Even with its criticisms and relatively unsavory publication date, Learn C# in One Day and Learn It Well is a fine choice if you have the time for it.

Reviews: Out of 1,384 total reviews, 69% gave this book 5 stars

List Price: $11.67 Paperback, $2.99 Digital

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What to Look For When Choosing The Best C# Programming Book For You

C# is more commonly updated than other programming languages, so publication date can prove to be something you’ll want to keep your eye on. You’ll also likely want to dive a bit deeper into video game development, as that is something C# is very commonly used for. Expanding your horizons and focusing on different areas can help prepare you for the intricacies of C# — even if you aren’t taught everything about it right away, getting used to certain concepts can make it much easier to learn.

Anyone interested in C# and its predecessors should also consider checking out the best C and C++ books!