Listmania!
Real-world software development (whilst staying sane)
The Pragmatic ProgrammerThe Pragmatic Programmer by Andrew Hunt
Buy new: £15.91 / Used from: £13.01
You should probably read this before anything else: all the fundamentals are here, explained in a clear and enjoyable style
Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software ConstructionCode Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction by Steve McConnell
Buy new: £21.80 / Used from: £18.99
A reference full of wisdom on the business of making software: whenever you have a difficult technical decision, you'll probably find some help here.
Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture (The Addison-Wesley Signature Series)Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture (The Addison-Wesley Signature Series) by Martin Fowler
Buy new: £21.49 / Used from: £19.00
Another essential, although it will seem pretty abstract until you start on larger software projects.
Secrets and Lies: Digital Security in a Networked WorldSecrets and Lies: Digital Security in a Networked World by Bruce Schneier
Buy new: £8.36 / Used from: £4.00
Written specifically for non-experts, this book will enable you to think through security matters with confidence.
The Non-Designer's Design and Type Book: Design and Typographic Principles for the Visual NoviceThe Non-Designer's Design and Type Book: Design and Typographic Principles for the Visual Novice by Robin Williams
Buy new: £16.49 / Used from: £23.08
Users will largely judge the value of your work by appearence. This teaches key ideas behind graphic design brilliantly, and will enhance every presentation, document, and interface that you produce.
Getting Things Done: How to Achieve Stress-free ProductivityGetting Things Done: How to Achieve Stress-free Productivity by David Allen
Buy new: £7.79 / Used from: £4.97
A productivity book that is popular with programmers, because the ideas are simple and actually work. It helped me immensely.
Release It!: Design and Deploy Production-Ready Software (Pragmatic Programmers)Release It!: Design and Deploy Production-Ready Software (Pragmatic Programmers) by Michael Nygard
Buy new: £16.04 / Used from: £14.25
Practical lessons from the real world on how to design Web applications, and keep them running smoothly.
The Mythical Man Month and Other Essays on Software EngineeringThe Mythical Man Month and Other Essays on Software Engineering by Frederick P. Brooks Jr.
Buy new: £16.46 / Used from: £12.58
Once you start to manage your own projects, you'll appreciate this book. It was written in an older era, but the problems of software it tackles are amazingly timeless.
Peopleware: Productive Projects and TeamsPeopleware: Productive Projects and Teams by Tom DeMarco
Buy used from: £83.95
Another classic that will still benefit anyone running a project with others.