5 Best books on Natural Language Processing

Here is my list of 5 most interesting books about Natural Language Processing (NLP):

1. The Study of Language



This book offers an excellently written and comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of human language and introductory topics in linguistics. It is a highly suitable choice as a textbook for Natural Language Processing specialists who may need to engage in language study. The clarity of the writing and the thoroughness of the content make it an enjoyable read.

In terms of textbooks in this specific field, there are few others that can rival the quality and breadth of this book. While more rigorous introductions to linguistics, such as the Fromkin editions, may exist, they often come with a higher price tag. Therefore, this book stands as an excellent alternative that provides a valuable resource at a more affordable cost.

2. Neural Network Methods in Natural Language Processing



The book commences with an extensive introduction to natural language processing (NLP) and the various linguistic tasks associated with it. Within this introduction, the book also covers essential aspects of machine learning models, including losses, optimization, and regularization techniques. It then delves into neural networks and illustrates how the linear modeling approach can be translated into these networks.

Subsequently, the book explores the process of transforming machine learning tools into NLP solutions for typical tasks, such as Part-of-Speech Tagging (POS), Named-Entity Recognition (NER), Chunking, and Syntactic Parsing. Of particular interest is the section dedicated to recurrent neural networks (RNN), starting from simple RNN architectures and progressing to custom architectures that leverage bi-directional Long Short-Term Memory (bi-LSTM). Additionally, the book covers 1D Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and their application in NLP, including n-gram and gappy-ngram (skip-gram) extractors and embedders.

Overall, this book provides a comprehensive exploration of NLP, encompassing both the foundational concepts and practical applications, with a focus on recurrent neural networks and 1D convolutional neural networks in the context of NLP tasks.

3. Text Analytics with Python



This book stands out for its clear and approachable writing style, making it accessible to individuals from diverse fields, including myself. It starts from the very basics, building up the reader's understanding step by step. This approach is particularly beneficial for those with limited knowledge in Linguistics and Python.

One aspect I particularly appreciate about this book is the comprehensive perspective it provides. It not only covers the fundamentals but also includes numerous practical examples that demonstrate the application of NLP in real-world scenarios. As someone with prior experience in Python, I found it easy to delve into the specific details of utilizing NLP techniques and leveraging relevant packages to address practical problems.

The consistent use of simple language throughout the text further enhances its readability. It ensures that the concepts are conveyed in a clear and understandable manner, facilitating the learning process.

4. Natural Language Processing with TensorFlow



If you are interested in practical applications of Natural Language Processing (NLP) using TensorFlow, this book is an excellent resource. It is well-structured, providing examples and code samples available on GitHub. This interactive approach allows readers to practice the code, make modifications, and gain a solid understanding of the concepts.

Learning NLP can be challenging, but the author, Thushan, has managed to strike a great balance in this book. They cover the mathematical foundations of NLP while also providing practical examples that demonstrate how formulas and concepts are translated into machine understanding and processing of natural language. This combination of theory and hands-on examples helps readers grasp the underlying principles effectively.

5. Sentiment Analysis: Mining Opinions, Sentiments, and Emotions



Liu demonstrates exceptional mastery in his explanation of Sentiment Analysis, presenting it in a manner that is both highly technical and comprehensible. The book begins with a comprehensive introduction that elucidates the theoretical aspects as well as practical systems used in production.

What sets this book apart is the author's meticulous distinction between techniques that are purely theoretical and those that have proven effective in practice. This distinction provides valuable insights for readers, guiding them towards techniques that are more applicable in real-world scenarios.

Throughout the book, Liu references a wealth of other texts and studies, enriching the content with additional resources and supporting evidence. This inclusion of a full bibliography at the end of the book enhances its credibility and facilitates further exploration of related topics.

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Author: Maria Lin
Maria Lin, is a seasoned content writer who has contributed to numerous tech portals, including Mashable and bookrunch, as a guest author. She holds a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of California, where her research predominantly concentrated on mobile apps, software, AI and cloud services. With a deep passion for reading, Maria is particularly drawn to the intersection of technology and books, making book tech a subject of great interest to her. During her leisure time, she indulges in her love for cooking and finds solace in a good night's sleep. You can contact Maria Lin via email maria@bookrunch.com