Kotlin is an officially supported language for Android, offering a modern, concise, and safe alternative to Java that lets you write less code and avoid common errors.
Choosing the right beginner book can make your learning journey smoother. Whether you prefer hands-on projects or theory, the books listed here are great starting points.
Head First Kotlin: A Brain-Friendly Guide
Author: Dawn Griffiths, David Griffiths
Description
his book provides a complete, hands-on introduction to coding in Kotlin using the signature "Head First" visually rich format, helping you grasp the core concepts like a great Kotlin developer. It moves beyond syntax to teach you how to think in Kotlin, covering fundamentals, collections, generics, and higher-order functions
Why this book is recommended
Uses a visually engaging, non-text-heavy format ideal for quick learning. Covers both Object-Oriented and Functional programming styles. Excellent for absolute beginners and those who struggled with traditional technical books.
Atomic Kotlin
Author: Bruce Eckel, Svetlana Isakova
Description
Written by a renowned author and a Kotlin Developer Advocate at JetBrains, this book breaks the language's core concepts down into small, digestible "atoms" to build a solid foundation in the language. It focuses on writing clean, idiomatic, and concise code while teaching modern programming best practices.
Why this book is recommended
Covers both beginning and experienced programmer needs for a solid foundation. Emphasizes writing modern, idiomatic Kotlin code. Written by core community and JetBrains contributors.
Kotlin Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide
Author: David Greenhalgh, Josh Skeen
Description
Based on the renowned Big Nerd Ranch coding bootcamps, this guide starts from first principles and works up to advanced topics like Coroutines and Multiplatform support, enabling you to write more reliable programs with less code. It provides practical exercises to solidify your understanding of core concepts like collections and scripting.
Why this book is recommended
Structured like a bootcamp, offering a practical, hands-on learning path. Covers newer tools like Coroutines and Multiplatform support for a modern perspective. Offers a detailed explanation of key Kotlin concepts with working examples.
Effective Kotlin
Author: Marcin Moskała
Description
The purpose of Effective Kotlin is to teach and promote the best practices for Kotlin developers, as well as the way Kotlin features can and should be used to improve code. This book was written for Kotlin developers who want to learn and understand how to write high-quality code. It assumes some experience with Kotlin or at least with Swift, Java or Scala. It is directed towards all kinds of Kotlin developers and isn’t specific to mobile or backend development.
Why this book is recommended
his book presents and explains in-depth the best practices for Kotlin development. Each item is presented as a clear rule of thumb, supported by detailed explanations and practical examples. It's a comprehensive guide of best practices for Kotlin code quality: safety, readability, code design and efficiency.