The two most useful books I have read: Code Complete by Steve McConnell - Really covers how to be good at the craft of writing programs and constructing software. https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Microsoft-Programming-Steve-...

The Effective Engineer by Edmond Lau - Covers how to focus on what you work on based on the leverage it provides you. http://www.effectiveengineer.com/

If you're talking nuts and bolts coding, and if you read one book about what makes quality imperative code, read Code Complete. In my experience, when people read it, they change the way they program in profound (and good) ways.

http://www.cc2e.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Microsoft-Programming-Steve-M...