Path to the top 1%
Read the comments as well to this - http://bit.ly/wisdomThis
If you read the 10 most important books in a field of knowledge, you will be in the top 1% of those who know the most about that field. If you do it with the 10 most important fields, you will be in the 1% of those who most know how the world works.
and then, specific to programming read the thread at http://j.mp/curiousLearner
The main thing you need to be a successful programmer: To be curious and eager to learn!