I got my PhD at that same university in that same field (PL, but before Might's time as a professor there), and I didn't read any of those books (I read TAPL afterwards). My adviser tried to get me to read one of the writing style books, but I seemed to have figured it out by myself :)
People are diverse. There are no must have books but there are many books appropriate for your context (writing your first paper, need help with style? Read that book, or let your adviser beat it into you).
It is OK to provide a list of things nice to read, even better if you list the demand context where the book will be useful. But to use an absolute...that could confuse incoming grad students.
People are diverse. There are no must have books but there are many books appropriate for your context (writing your first paper, need help with style? Read that book, or let your adviser beat it into you).
It is OK to provide a list of things nice to read, even better if you list the demand context where the book will be useful. But to use an absolute...that could confuse incoming grad students.