Becoming a Self-Taught Programmer: Cory Althoff Interview Becoming a Self-Taught Programmer: Cory Althoff Interview 22.12.2020 Cory Althoff is an author, speaker, and startup advisor. Book Authority called his book The Self-Taught Programmer one of the greatest software books of all-time. He based it on his experience working as a software engineer at eBay and several startups in Silicon Valley despite majoring in political science in college. Cory Althoff is an author, speaker, and startup advisor. Book Authority called his book The Self-Taught Programmer one of the greatest software books of all-time. He based it on his experience working as a software engineer at eBay and several startups in Silicon Valley despite majoring in political science in college.