If it is 'just for fun' then Philosophy.

If I was recommending for a friend in tech trying to advance their career: MBA

Otherwise something they enjoy.

Looking for a masters in Beer drinking, or camping.

By being involved. To many parents, IMHO, pass the responsibility to a third party. If you show interest and involvement they will naturally take it serious. Not to say that some might develop the passion on their own, but if you are present, checking homework, discussing topics etc. It will show.

I agree with n3t. What is your goal. Depending on why you want to learn programming would help answer the question. Most of the answer here I agree with. But if your goal is: to teach a little child, or find a job, or bragging rights at the bar, or personal enrichment, or ... it goes on and on.

Also knowing programming / coding / SW development / algorithms, although having a lot of overlap, there are different paths.

Two classic books by Douglas R Hofstadter

    Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid

and

    Metamagical Themas

Both are heavy reads. But I would recommend looking at Wiki article before buying, available used. Just to make sure they fit your style of brain.

Nice, I recommend having them take a class to be effective. I recommend this short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWFFaKxsz_s

The first 3 minutes and 20 seconds might be a bit tough, but the useful for most people starts then.

This is satire right? I’m just not sure of any of this any more.

Oh sure set the high bar ... now I need to consider this. Couldn't be something like 50 bucks ...

Of course looking back my dad was giving us money for a number of years and with inflation ... arg I hate giving it away :-)

I told my (step)sons shortly after I met them at 9 and 14 I would make sure that they went to college [1]. They both decided not to go. I’ll gladly help them out a little if needed. It’s a lot cheaper.

[1] My wife and I met at a startup and worked together for over two years before we started dating. We got married 7 months later.

One can dream.

Thanks for sharing.

Train is always the right answer. Congrats!

He's really into trains right now so he's going to love it.

Nand to tetris - you can thank me later

Haha, I've taken it. Incredible course. I'll raise your suggestion to the Turing Complete game :)

It is an opinion. Interestingly because of that opinion I am actually looking at the book. At least reading the Wiki summary.

The original commenter answered the question of the thread: "here's a book I'm reading". They got in response a screed about "neoliberal" politics. That the response is wrong is besides the point: it was a really rude way to respond to someone recommending a book. The civil and productive way to write that response would have been to recommend in addition another, countervailing book.

His comment was way less rude and way more productive than your comment.

Agree to disagree.

Rude

He's trying to have discussion, who are you to tell people how to communicate?

Sure, it's just a totally different conversation than what the thread's about, and a super rude one. I'm not the boss of him, but I guess I get to have off-topic conversations too. "Next time, on book recommendation threas, recommend another book, instead of writing a screed about how bad the politics of some other book are."

It's an opportunity to discuss, should he create a new thread to discuss this book and maybe the same person will see this thread? Kinda weird, especially when this doesn't hurt anyone.

Ah good plan, I like it.

I will be following your lead.