There are other sciences which you might like to learn about. I have an interest in Ethology. The origins of this field of study are usually credited with Niko Tinbergen and Konrad Lorenz co-winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. I would suggest Evolution and Modification of Behavior and On Aggression both by Lorenz.

Dec may be gone. But VMS lives, On Alpha and Itanium based machines.
I am using it on a mission critical Banking application.
It is still the most robust (IMHO) out there.