Best Parallel Computer Programming Books of 2025

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: Apr 28, 2023

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Parallel computer programming books are an essential resource for any programmer looking to develop skills in parallel computing. These books provide readers with the knowledge they need to design, implement, and optimize parallel algorithms, as well as to understand the theoretical foundations of parallel computing. Some of the best parallel programming books on the market today include "Parallel Programming in C with MPI and OpenMP" by Michael Quinn, "Programming Massively Parallel Processors" by David Kirk and Wen-mei Hwu, and "Parallel Programming: Concepts and Practice" by Yogesh Singh. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced programmer, these books offer valuable insights into the world of parallel computing.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Programming Rust: Fast, Safe Systems Development Cover #TOP 1
Programming Rust: Fast, Safe Systems Development
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Rust Atomics and Locks: Low-Level Concurrency in Practice Cover #TOP 2
Rust Atomics and Locks: Low-Level Concurrency in Practice
ftb score rating icon 9.7
C++ Concurrency in Action Cover #TOP 3
C++ Concurrency in Action
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Parallel Computer Programming Books

Programming Rust: Fast, Safe Systems Development

Blandy, Jim
Orendorff, Jason
Tindall, Leonora
Jul 20, 2021
Programming Rust: Fast, Safe Systems Development Cover
Programming Rust: Fast, Safe Systems Development

Programming Rust: Fast, Safe Systems Development is a practical guide for experienced systems programmers, demonstrating how Rust's features provide control over memory consumption and processor use while ensuring memory safety and concurrency. The book covers Rust's fundamental data types, ownership and borrowing, flexible and efficient code writing, fast multithreading, and Rust's key power tools, among other topics. The authors, Jim Blandy, Jason Orendorff, and Leonora Tindall, have revised and updated the book to cover the Rust 2021 Edition. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for programmers who want to write performance-sensitive code that is both fast and safe.

#TOP 2

Rust Atomics and Locks: Low-Level Concurrency in Practice

Bos, Mara
Feb 7, 2023
Rust Atomics and Locks: Low-Level Concurrency in Practice Cover
Rust Atomics and Locks: Low-Level Concurrency in Practice

The book "Rust Atomics and Locks: Low-Level Concurrency in Practice" by Mara Bos is a practical guide for Rust programmers of all levels who want to gain a clear understanding of low-level concurrency. The book covers everything about atomics and memory ordering, mutexes, condition variables, and how to build your own locking and synchronization primitives correctly. Bos, who maintains the Rust standard library and builds real-time control systems in Rust, provides readers with hands-on experience to both understand the theory and bring it to practice. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for Rust programmers who want to learn about low-level concurrency.

#TOP 3

C++ Concurrency in Action

Williams, Anthony
Manning
Feb 10, 2019
C++ Concurrency in Action Cover
C++ Concurrency in Action

C++ Concurrency in Action, Second Edition is a comprehensive guide to writing robust and efficient multithreaded applications in C++. The book covers all the latest updates and changes to C++ 14 and 17, including strong support for multithreaded and multiprocessor programming. Anthony Williams, a concurrency master, presents practical tasks and examples in every chapter, making it an excellent resource for intermediate C and C++ developers. The book is unique in its coverage of designing fully functional multithreaded algorithms and data structures. Overall, it is a must-read for anyone interested in writing production-grade C++ concurrency.

McNamara, Tim
Manning
Aug 10, 2021

Rust in Action is a comprehensive guide to systems programming with Rust, suitable for inquisitive programmers. It covers a wide range of topics, from file manipulation to kernel-level programming, and explores Rust's unique borrow checker model for memory management. Readers will also learn about parallel and concurrent programming, making this book a valuable resource for those looking to write blazingly fast code. Overall, Rust in Action is an excellent resource for intermediate programmers looking to expand their knowledge of systems programming with Rust.

#TOP 5

Programming Massively Parallel Processors: A Hands-on Approach

Hwu, Wen-mei W.
Kirk, David B.
El Hajj, Izzat
Aug 18, 2022
Programming Massively Parallel Processors: A Hands-on Approach Cover
Programming Massively Parallel Processors: A Hands-on Approach

Programming Massively Parallel Processors: A Hands-on Approach is a concise and practical guide that introduces the basic concepts of parallel programming and GPU architecture. It explores various techniques for constructing and optimizing parallel programs, covering topics such as performance, floating-point format, and dynamic parallelism in depth. The book also includes case studies that demonstrate the development process, from computational thinking to effective and efficient parallel programs. This updated edition features expanded content on threads and CUDA, making it an excellent resource for both students and professionals interested in GPU parallel programming.

#TOP 6

C++ High Performance: Master the art of optimizing the functioning of your C++ code, 2nd Edition

Andrist, Bjorn
Sehr, Viktor
Garney, Ben
Packt Publishing
Dec 30, 2020
C++ High Performance: Master the art of optimizing the functioning of your C++ code, 2nd Edition Cover
C++ High Performance: Master the art of optimizing the functioning of your C++ code, 2nd Edition

C++ High Performance: Master the art of optimizing the functioning of your C++ code, 2nd Edition is a comprehensive guide for both aspiring and professional C++ developers to improve the performance of their apps while consuming fewer resources. The book covers the latest C++20 features, constructs, and techniques to optimize data structure, memory management, and concurrent programming. It also includes hands-on examples of metaprogramming, coroutines, and lock-free data structures. The book concludes with an overview of parallel algorithms. Overall, this book is a must-read for developers who want to elevate their C++ coding skills and improve their app's performance.

#TOP 7

Modern C

Gustedt, Jens
Manning
Oct 7, 2019

Modern C is an excellent guide for experienced programmers who want to learn the new and unique features of modern C programming. The book covers the latest C standards and offers an up-to-date perspective on this tried-and-true language. The author, Jens Gustedt, provides a comprehensive introduction to modern-day C programming, emphasizing its powerful features. The book is filled with concept-reinforcing exercises and skill-honing challenges. Overall, this book is a must-have on the shelves of all C programmers, and it is highly recommended for anyone looking to improve their C programming skills.

#TOP 8

WebAssembly: The Definitive Guide: Safe, Fast, and Portable Code

Sletten, Brian
Jan 4, 2022
WebAssembly: The Definitive Guide: Safe, Fast, and Portable Code Cover
WebAssembly: The Definitive Guide: Safe, Fast, and Portable Code

The book "WebAssembly: The Definitive Guide" is an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the transformative technology of WebAssembly. The author, Brian Sletten, incrementally introduces the elements of this technology while building practical, code-driven examples of cutting-edge uses. The book covers the benefits of WebAssembly, including code portability, increased security, and greater code reuse across a broad range of deployment targets. Whether you work with enterprise software or embedded systems or in entertainment, scientific computing, or startup environments, this book can show you how WebAssembly can positively impact your software development. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for those interested in the future of software development.

#TOP 9

C++ Concurrency in Action: Practical Multithreading

Williams, Anthony
Manning
Feb 28, 2012
C++ Concurrency in Action: Practical Multithreading Cover
C++ Concurrency in Action: Practical Multithreading

C++ Concurrency in Action is a comprehensive guide to writing multithreaded applications in C++11. The book covers the threading memory model, synchronization facilities, and designing lock-based and lock-free concurrent data structures. It also provides advanced techniques for managing threads and testing and debugging multithreaded applications. The author assumes no prior knowledge of concurrency and gradually introduces the reader to the subject. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for C++ programmers who want to master the principles and techniques of concurrency.

#TOP 10

Concurrency in C# Cookbook: Asynchronous, Parallel, and Multithreaded Programming

Cleary, Stephen
O'Reilly Media
Sep 17, 2019
Concurrency in C# Cookbook: Asynchronous, Parallel, and Multithreaded Programming Cover
Concurrency in C# Cookbook: Asynchronous, Parallel, and Multithreaded Programming

The Concurrency in C# Cookbook is a practical guide for developers who want to learn about concurrent and multithreaded development. With over 85 code-rich recipes, this updated second edition covers parallel processing and asynchronous programming techniques using libraries and language features in .NET and C# 8.0. The book provides ready-to-use code and detailed discussions on how and why solutions work, making it much easier for developers to learn about concurrency. Overall, this cookbook is a must-read for developers who want to enhance their skills in async and parallel programming.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which programming language is best for parallel processing?

I suggest to use C (or C++) as high level language, and MPI and OpenMP as parallel libraries. These languages are standard and portable, and these parallel libraries allow to apply parallel and distributed computing in a wide range of parallel systems (from a single-node multi-core processor to a cluster of many nodes.

2. What is an example of parallel programming?

The Intel® processors that power most modern computers are examples of parallel computing. The Intel Core™ i5 and Core i7 chips in the HP Spectre Folio and HP EliteBook x360 each have 4 processing cores.

3. Is parallel programing hard?

Programming parallel computers, consisting of multiple powerful processing elements, is a hard task.

4. What is parallel in coding?

Parallel programming, in simple terms, is the process of decomposing a problem into smaller tasks that can be executed at the same time using multiple compute resources.

Editor's Notes

During our parallel computer programming book research, we found 593 parallel computer programming book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 5,514 customer reviews through our big data system to write the parallel computer programming books list. We found that most customers choose parallel computer programming books with an average price of $40.69.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.