Seven programming books have stood the test of time and are considered classics in the industry. `The Mythical Man-Month` by Frederick Brooks provides essential insight into managing complex projects, while `The Art of Computer Programming` by Donald Knuth offers a comprehensive coverage of computer programs and their writing. `Introduction to Algorithms` by Thomas Cormen et al. provides a clear and rigorous explanation of algorithms in computer science. The book `Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software` by Charles Petzold aims to demystify the connection between code and underlying hardware, while `Working Effectively with Legacy Code` by Michael Feathers helps developers interact with older code to produce better applications. Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams by Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister emphasizes that applications are about people, not technology, and provides insights into managing teams. The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas explains the difference between skilled and average programmers and offers tips for improving coding practice. These books have been widely used in college courses and remain relevant today.