Read this before, but always good to be reminded of a classic. I'd consider most of the essays on his front page essential reading, but I particularly enjoy the wit in his essay on writing a spelling corrector in Python [0], and the flattery of our collective egos in 'Teach Yourself Programming in Ten Years' [1].

--------

[0] http://norvig.com/spell-correct.html

[1] http://norvig.com/21-days.html