Best Free Open-Access Textbooks in 2026: 16 Books You Can Read Today

The cost of college textbooks in the United States has risen over 1,000% since 1977, outpacing inflation, housing costs, and even healthcare. A single semester's worth of required reading can easily cost a student $500 to $1,000, and that is on top of tuition, housing, and everything else. For many learners, the price tag on knowledge has become a barrier to acquiring it.

Open-access textbooks are changing that equation. These are full-length, high-quality textbooks that are available online for free, with no paywall, no sign-up, and no catch. And in 2026, the quality of open-access materials has reached a point where they rival or exceed many traditional commercial textbooks.

DataField.Dev publishes 16 open-access textbooks spanning technology, sports analytics, and social science. Every single one is free to read online right now. Here is a guide to all 16, organized by subject area, so you can find exactly what you need.

Why Open-Access Textbooks Matter

The case for open-access textbooks goes beyond saving money, though that alone is reason enough.

Accessibility. When a textbook is free and available online, anyone with an internet connection can learn from it. A student in rural Appalachia has the same access as a student at a well-funded university. A professional in Lagos can study the same material as someone in London. Geographic and economic barriers to learning shrink dramatically.

No artificial scarcity. Commercial textbook publishers often release new editions every two or three years with minor changes, deliberately making older editions obsolete so students are forced to buy the latest version. Open-access textbooks are updated when the content genuinely needs updating, and older versions remain available.

Always current. Because open-access textbooks are published digitally, they can be updated to reflect new developments in real time. The books listed here cover topics like AI engineering, prediction markets, and sports analytics, fields that evolve rapidly. A print textbook published two years ago would already be outdated. These books stay current.

No sign-up required. Many "free" resources online require you to create an account, hand over your email address, or sit through advertisements. The textbooks at DataField.Dev require none of that. You open the page and start reading.

Technology and Programming

The technology section covers six books ranging from artificial intelligence to legacy programming languages, offering practical knowledge for professionals and students at every level.

AI Engineering

AI Engineering is a comprehensive guide to building real-world applications powered by artificial intelligence. It covers the full stack of AI engineering, from understanding foundation models and prompt engineering to building retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems, fine-tuning models, and deploying AI applications in production. This book is designed for software engineers and technical professionals who want to move beyond experimenting with AI and start building robust, scalable AI-powered products.

Vibe Coding

Vibe Coding explores the emerging practice of using AI assistants to write code through natural language collaboration. Rather than typing every line by hand, vibe coding involves describing what you want to build and iterating with an AI coding assistant to produce working software. The book covers best practices, effective prompting strategies, and how to maintain code quality when working alongside AI tools. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how software development is evolving in the age of large language models.

Working with AI

Working with AI is a practical guide for professionals in any field who want to use AI tools more effectively in their daily work. It goes beyond basic prompting to cover advanced techniques for getting better results from AI assistants, integrating AI into existing workflows, and understanding the capabilities and limitations of current AI systems. Whether you use AI for writing, research, analysis, or creative work, this book will help you get more value from it.

Python for Business

Python for Business teaches Python programming specifically for business professionals who have never written code before. Every concept is taught through real-world business scenarios: automating reports, analyzing sales data, building dashboards, and connecting to APIs. The book assumes no technical background and provides a clear, structured path from absolute beginner to competent Python user capable of automating real work.

Learning COBOL

Learning COBOL provides a modern introduction to one of the most enduring programming languages in computing history. COBOL still processes an estimated 95% of ATM transactions and 80% of in-person financial transactions worldwide. With the original generation of COBOL programmers retiring and billions of lines of COBOL code still running critical infrastructure, demand for COBOL skills has surged. This book makes the language accessible to a new generation of programmers.

AI Ethics

AI Ethics tackles the complex moral, social, and political questions raised by artificial intelligence. Topics include algorithmic bias, surveillance, autonomous weapons, deepfakes, job displacement, and the concentration of power in AI-developing companies. The book presents multiple perspectives on each issue, equipping readers to think critically about the technology that is reshaping society and to participate meaningfully in the debates that will determine how AI is governed.

Sports Analytics

The sports analytics section includes five books covering professional and college sports, providing the statistical and analytical frameworks used by modern front offices, media analysts, and bettors.

NFL Analytics

NFL Football Analytics brings rigorous data analysis to America's most popular sport. The book covers player evaluation metrics, game strategy analysis, draft value modeling, salary cap optimization, and the statistical methods that have transformed how NFL teams make decisions. Whether you are an aspiring analyst, a fantasy football player, or simply a fan who wants to understand the game at a deeper level, this book provides the analytical toolkit.

College Football Analytics

College Football Analytics applies data-driven methods to the unique challenges of the college game. Topics include recruiting evaluation, transfer portal analysis, strength-of-schedule adjustments, playoff selection modeling, and the statistical differences between college and professional football. With the expansion of the College Football Playoff and the transformation of the sport through NIL deals and conference realignment, analytical literacy has never been more valuable.

Basketball Analytics

Professional Basketball Analytics covers the metrics, methods, and models that have revolutionized how basketball is played, coached, and managed. From player efficiency ratings and win shares to lineup optimization, shot selection analysis, and salary cap strategy, this book provides a thorough grounding in the analytical tools used across the NBA ecosystem.

Soccer Analytics

Professional Soccer Analytics brings data analysis to the world's most popular sport. The book covers expected goals (xG), passing networks, pressing metrics, player recruitment models, and match prediction frameworks. Soccer analytics has experienced explosive growth in recent years, and this book provides a comprehensive foundation for anyone looking to understand or work in the field.

Sports Betting

Sports Betting provides a rigorous, analytical approach to sports wagering. Rather than offering "picks" or shortcuts, the book teaches the mathematics of betting markets, including how odds are set, how to identify value, bankroll management, and the statistical methods used by professional bettors. It covers the major North American sports and provides a framework for thinking about betting as a discipline rooted in probability rather than luck.

Social Science and Critical Thinking

The social science section includes five books addressing prediction markets, technology's impact on society, media literacy, and psychology.

Prediction Markets

Prediction Markets offers a thorough exploration of markets where participants trade on the outcomes of future events. The book covers the theory of information aggregation, the history of prediction markets from the Iowa Electronic Markets to Polymarket, practical trading strategies, and the growing role these markets play in politics, economics, and corporate decision-making. It is a timely guide to one of the most interesting developments in forecasting.

Algorithmic Addiction

Algorithmic Addiction examines how social media platforms and technology companies use behavioral psychology, dark patterns, and algorithmic design to create compulsive usage patterns. The book explores the dopamine-driven feedback loops, attention economy business models, and design techniques that make apps difficult to put down, as well as the individual and societal consequences. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the technology they use every day.

Media Literacy

Misinformation and Media Literacy equips readers with the skills to navigate an information environment saturated with misinformation, disinformation, and manipulative content. The book covers how to evaluate sources, identify logical fallacies, understand cognitive biases, fact-check claims, and think critically about the news and information you encounter. In an era when the ability to distinguish reliable information from noise is a survival skill, this book provides a systematic framework for doing so.

Applied Psychology

Applied Psychology for Everyday Life translates key findings from psychological research into practical strategies for daily living. Topics include decision-making, habit formation, persuasion and influence, motivation, stress management, and interpersonal communication. The book bridges the gap between academic psychology and real-world application, making it valuable for anyone who wants to understand human behavior, including their own.

What Makes DataField.Dev Different

Not all free resources are created equal. The internet is full of superficial articles, outdated tutorials, and AI-generated content that lacks depth or accuracy. The textbooks published by DataField.Dev are different in several important ways.

Textbook-level depth. These are not blog posts or quick guides. They are full-length textbooks with structured chapters, progressive skill-building, and comprehensive coverage of their subjects.

Practical focus. Every book emphasizes real-world application. Theory is taught in service of practice, not as an end in itself. Readers finish these books with skills they can use immediately.

Modern and current. These books cover topics as they exist in 2026, not as they existed five years ago. In fast-moving fields like AI, sports analytics, and social media, this currency is critical.

Truly free. There is no freemium model, no gated chapters, no upsell to a paid version. Every page of every book is available to every reader, every time. No account creation, no email capture, no strings attached.

Start Reading Today

Whether you are a student looking to supplement your coursework, a professional seeking to expand your skills, or a curious learner who wants to explore a new subject, these 16 textbooks offer an exceptional starting point. The only investment required is your time and attention.

Pick a subject that interests you, open the book, and start learning. That is exactly how education should work.