10 lists of books for people to learn about data

The world of data and technology is rapidly evolving—especially with increased digitization. For those who work in it (or are just generally interested) this can be fascinating and frustrating. Every time you feel like you’re up-to-date, something new pops up and changes the field of data and analytics. 

There’s no denying that there’s always something to learn about data, analytics, and technology, but to help, we’ve compiled lists of the top books to read. These are for all levels, from beginner to expert, and cover topics from data basics to how machine learning works. 

Regardless of your familiarity with the subject, you’ll find something interesting on this list.

9 best data books for all levels

Whether you’re just starting or have been on a data learning journey for a while, we have recommendations for everyone. 

Read more

8 data science books for beginners

As the desire for data literacy in businesses grows, so does the list of data science books that help professionals who know little about data science learn the basics. 

Read more

8 data structure & algorithms books

Algorithms and structure are two critical aspects of data collection (namely function and storage). Learning about them often involves having pre-existing knowledge of coding and advanced mathematics. However, these books introduce data structure and algorithms to beginners. 

Read more 

12 books about data visualization

Whether you want to know about data visualization history and theory, learn how to effectively build and read visualizations, or simply learn from the experts, this list has a book for you. 

Read more

7 books about big data

“Big data” sounds like a complex term to many people, but it just means a large amount of data that can be analyzed and reveal key patterns or trends. With billions of data points generated globally every day, knowing how to handle big data is key to understanding data science. This list of books covers everything from the origins of big data and what it is to how it affects business decisions. 

Read more
 

Create beautiful visualizations with your data.

Try Tableau for free

Graphic of visualizations

7 books about time series analysis

Time series analysis is a specific way of analyzing data gathered during set timeframe. Most often, it’s used by people analyzing data in academic or research fields. This list of books covers the theory and fundamentals of time series analysis, as well as real-world examples and exercises. 

Read more

9 books about BI

BI is a commonly used term sometimes thrown around without much context by businesses and executives. It means leveraging types of software to mind, store, visualize, and analyze different types of data. These books about BI are useful to any user level.

Read more

7 books about machine learning (ML) for beginners

Machine learning (ML) is an area of computer science that uses data to extract patterns and algorithms. It can seem intimidating for beginners but doesn’t have to be, as the core concepts are quite easy to grasp. This list includes great books for beginners to learn key ML concepts and advance their knowledge and understanding. 

Read more

8 books about Natural Language Processing (NLP)

NLP is a way of bridging the communication gap between computers and humans. It’s a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that allows computers to understand spoken and written human speech and translate it into data. These books are designed to help people understand NLP basics and increase their overall data literacy. 

Read more

9 books about the Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT refers to an expanding network of interconnected objects that gather different kinds of data to a centralized location (think Smart Homes and your Alexa or Google Home). This list includes books all about IoT, including core concepts, the effects it has on data, and more. 

Read more

Disclaimer: Tableau does not officially endorse nor profit from any products, or opinions therein, listed in this article and as such this page does not engage with any affiliate link programs. This article is intended purely for educational purposes and the above information about products and publications is made available so that readers can make informed decisions for themselves.