Most of the comments here suggest excellent resources ("Code", "NAND to Tetris", etc) to learn about how computing works on a fundamental level. Those won't be immediately useful to someone who wants to understand how "monitor, hard drive, RAM, CPU" all fit together in their laptop, or if they want to build a computer out of parts. If that's the goal, I recommend the following:
1. "How Computers Work" by Ron White - it looks like a children's book, but it provides a lot of good information about components of modern digital technology. I personally learned quite a lot from this book. https://www.amazon.com/How-Computers-Work-Evolution-Technolo...
2. A+ Certification Guide - provides practical, hands-on info on how a modern Windows PC operates, from both hardware and software perspectives. It's a long book geared towards someone who will build and repair computers professionally, but you don't have to read it cover to cover. https://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Certification-Eleventh-220-11...
(my background: phd in computer engineering and lots of real world experience building and repairing computers and computer networks).
1. "How Computers Work" by Ron White - it looks like a children's book, but it provides a lot of good information about components of modern digital technology. I personally learned quite a lot from this book. https://www.amazon.com/How-Computers-Work-Evolution-Technolo...
2. A+ Certification Guide - provides practical, hands-on info on how a modern Windows PC operates, from both hardware and software perspectives. It's a long book geared towards someone who will build and repair computers professionally, but you don't have to read it cover to cover. https://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Certification-Eleventh-220-11...
(my background: phd in computer engineering and lots of real world experience building and repairing computers and computer networks).