A good general book that will help you gain an understanding of how programs make computers do useful things.

I am preparing my review right now. I have read this book a few years ago, and I think it is a good one to get your hands on.

I suggest this as a good, general introduction to computer programming topics. You won't learn how to program from this book, but it will get you started on learning about how computers work and how programs get the computer to do what it does.