Kotlin 2025: Top Books for Pros and Beginners

Online Python Trainer for Beginners

Learn Python easily without overwhelming theory. Solve practical tasks with automatic checking, get hints in Russian, and write code directly in your browser — no installation required.

Start Course

Why Kotlin is not just "another language", but your ticket to 2025

If you still think Kotlin is only for Android, you are missing the main trend of recent years. In 2025, Kotlin is a universal soldier: server-side development with Ktor and Spring, cross-platform applications via Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP), Data Science, and even scripting. It is more concise than Java, safer with null references, and fully compatible with it.

But how do you enter this world without pain? Correctly: through good books. Not blog articles, not scattered tutorials, but structured, time-tested guides. We have selected for you the best Kotlin books worth reading in 2025 — from absolute zero to advanced topics like coroutines and metaprogramming.

By the way, on our website pythonlib.ru you will find not only reviews but also practical examples. And today — our personal top.

Best Kotlin Books for Beginners (2025)

1. "Kotlin in Action" — Dmitry Jemerov, Svetlana Isakova

This is the Kotlin bible. The authors are the language creators from JetBrains. The book is not outdated even in 2025 because it explains the fundamentals: types, higher-order functions, delegated properties, null safety. You won't just learn the syntax — you will understand why Kotlin is designed the way it is.

For whom: those who already know at least one language (Java, Python, C#). Beginners may find it a bit tough, but it's possible.

Example from the book (adapted for modern Kotlin):

data class User(val name: String, val age: Int)

fun main() {    val users = listOf(User("Anna", 25), User("Boris", 30))    val names = users.filter { it.age > 20 }.map { it.name }    println(names) // [Anna, Boris]}

2. "Head First. Kotlin" — David Griffiths, Dawn Griffiths

If you hate dry academic texts — this is your choice. The book is built on visual patterns, puzzles, and dialogues. You learn through practice, not by reading specifications. Great for those transitioning from Python or JavaScript.

For whom: absolute beginners in programming or those who want to quickly get into Kotlin without boredom.

3. "Programming Kotlin for Android" — Alexey Gladkov

The only book in the list strictly focused on Android, but written so clearly that it can be recommended to all beginners. It covers Activity, Jetpack Compose, coroutines in the context of mobile development. For 2025 — a must read if your goal is mobile applications.

Advanced Kotlin Books: For Those Who Want to Dig Deeper

4. "Kotlin. Programming by Examples" — Igor Boyko

Not quite a book in the classic sense, but a collection of real projects: from a console chat to a JSON parser. You write code, not read theory. Ideal for consolidating skills after reading "Kotlin in Action".

Parsing example from the book:

import kotlinx.serialization.*import kotlinx.serialization.json.*

@Serializabledata class Project(val name: String, val stars: Int)

fun main() {    val json = """{"name": "KotlinLib", "stars": 1500}"""    val obj = Json.decodeFromString<Project>(json)    println(obj.name) // KotlinLib}

5. "Kotlin Coroutines: Deep Dive" — Marcin Moskała

Coroutines are Kotlin's superpower. But many use them as a black box. This book (available in English, but there are unofficial translations) explains how dispatchers, contexts, and Structured Concurrency work. After it, you will stop being afraid of async/await.

Tip: read after mastering the basics of the language.