Reddit reviews Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective

NPTEL has a ton of courses online, found two computer architecture courses during a quick search:

http://www.youtube.com/course?list=EC59E5B57A04EAE09C

http://www.youtube.com/course?list=ECD8AF625E53B0691F

The first course looks to be more of an introduction course like I took this past semester and like what you are probably looking for, the latter looks like it covers some of the same material but then moves onto more advanced topics. Also, the book that was used in the course I took is actually a pretty great book: http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Systems-A-Programmers-Perspective/dp/013034074X

It's quite less dense than many CS textbooks, goes into detail where it needs to, reads well, and provides some good history lessons throughout.

In my computer architecture class we used http://csapp.cs.cmu.edu/ (homepage) --
http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Systems-Programmers-Randal-Bryant/dp/013034074X (amazon) and i found it really educational. I knew almost nothing of low level stuff or assembly language or how to write C code that the compiler can optimize well and that's easy for the cpu handle, but this book thought me all that and a lot more. Worth the read imo.

Learn to program in C irrespective of whatever you need to do at your job. That is the only way you can learn how the machine actually works. My introduction to computers and programming was via C and though it was difficult, in hindsight it was worth it. Also as another commentator said learn how to debug; the single most valuable skill in a real job.

Beg, borrow or steal this book (and read it cover to cover);

Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective

I am considering buying Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective for this purpose. From reading the Amazon reviews, I am hoping that this book will help me. I had learned C and assembly language at college - enough to pass the exams, but nothing more. What is the opinion of the proggit folks on this book?