Is there a guide to programming books based on skill levels?

It might be best to focus on what you want to learn rather than finding a categorized list. Identify the areas you're interested in or skills that you feel you need to work on, and seek out books that fit those interests. Getting hands-on experience can help highlight the gaps in your knowledge better than following a strict list.

Finding a reliable list of categorized books can be hard since people only start as beginners once. Many folks who have a CS background may reference the books they used, but it's often alongside their professors' guidance. Absolute beginner books usually make it clear that's their target audience. For instance, "Learn Game Programming From Scratch" is excellent for newbies, while "Game Programming Gems" dives into advanced strategies.

The "Head First" series is a solid starting point for beginners! It might be a bit cheesy, but it does a great job of explaining complex topics. Once you’re past that, any books from O'Reilly are usually a good bet, too.

I don’t think there’s a comprehensive list like what you’re asking for. Most recommendations come from word of mouth or by searching for specific topics on platforms like O'Reilly. If you have a particular area or technology in mind, try looking it up; there are domain-specific lists available out there!

Curating a list like that can be tricky! Programming isn't as sequential as, say, math, where each concept builds on the last. In programming, you often learn a bunch of concepts in parallel, and progression can vary a lot from person to person. There’s also a ton of industry knowledge that you won’t find in textbooks; it’s often shared through forums and blogs. While there may not be a straightforward list, I recommend checking out articles that cover professional software development. They provide great insights even though they might lean towards advanced topics.