"How many have actually read Code Complete (HN is probably a bad sample)?"
Honestly, how many programmers have actually read any book about programming outside of University classes? I'm guessing not many.
On another note, Effective C++ is not only a great book, it is the book which single-handedly made me a much better programmer, and made me understand C++. This is after half a year of training/working in C++. It is my most highly recommended book for really grokking C++. My only regret is that there isn't a similar book for most of the languages I know.
Honestly, I think there will be a fairly high number of people who regularly read programming books, especially among those who may not have done a CS degree at a university. Personally, I have read dozens of programming books cover-to-cover that are often mentioned on these lists.
To me, for learning Lisp, nothing beats "COMMON LISP: An Interactive Approach" by Shapiro.
While doing the exercises of course (just browsing the pages is not enough).
In contrast, Practical Common Lisp teaches you very little, however it showcases the power of the language very well, and therefore it's easier to sell.
Why wouldn't people read programming books outside of university classes? How do you improve your craft? Reading is an instrumental part in growing as a developer and as a human being.
You're talking about whether people should. I'm talking about whether people actually do. As for why people wouldn't read, there's one giant reason: people don't care about programming.
Obviously you care, and I care, and arguably most people reading HN care. But I believe that for a large percentage of programmers, programming is just their job. They do it, they get paid for it, and as long as they can keep getting paid for it, they don't need or care to "grow as a developer". It's just not a priority in their life, or even a goal.
Honestly, how many programmers have actually read any book about programming outside of University classes? I'm guessing not many.
On another note, Effective C++ is not only a great book, it is the book which single-handedly made me a much better programmer, and made me understand C++. This is after half a year of training/working in C++. It is my most highly recommended book for really grokking C++. My only regret is that there isn't a similar book for most of the languages I know.