Yes, there are better books. The authors are very nice guys, but I regret most of the time I spend reading Simply Scheme. There are some online lectures by Brian Harvey that are worth seeing, though.
You could read HTDP AND The Little Schemer in the time it takes to read Simply Scheme and you would most certainly get more out of them. Scheme is a simple language...you don't need a 600+ page book with special constructs from the authors in order to grok it. The Dybvig book is also a better way to spend your time if you're just wanting a (shorter and cheaper) introduction to Scheme.
I'd also recommend most of the free online Scheme tutorials...schemers.org might be a good starting point.
What caught my attention about this book is the Preface by Hal Abelson:
“Julie and Gerry Sussman and I are flattered that Harvey and Wright characterize their revolutionary introduction to
computer science as a “prequel” to our text Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs.”
This is next on my reading list, along with both texts you mentioned.
I understand what you're saying, because that is part of what suckered me into reading it ;-)
After reading it, I think professional flattery among colleagues is one thing and a true "revolutionary introduction to computer science" is another. I just really don't think it is the latter. Maybe you will...? You might save time by just watching the online Harvey videos. They cover much of the same territory in lecture format.
If you're going to read Simply Scheme, then HTDP and The Little Schemer should probably come before it, not after. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Simply Scheme is a horrible book or anything...it's actually pretty good. I just have a limited amount of time for that kind of reading, and I wish I had read something else instead of it. Most of the other Scheme/CL books I've read have been either more enlightening or more practical than Simply Scheme. I think some of the constructs the authors come up with for pedagogical reasons are simply not necessary (and could potentially be confusing if you go on to actually work in Scheme.)
`The Little Schemer' is also a reasonable introduction covering a subset of Scheme and recursive programming. It is quite light-hearted and entertaining to read.
The way the books are formatted, having the text online would probably reduce sales -- they aren't reference books, but rather relatively thin books of exercises and commentary, all designed to introduce you to several deep ideas. (Also, some people are really turned off by the style or find the writing overly cute.)
The Little MLer is excellent for learning how to think in types (as in OCaml and Haskell), btw. Highly recommended.
14 comments
[ 3.6 ms ] story [ 41.7 ms ] threadhttp://www.amazon.com/Simply-Scheme-Introducing-Computer-Sci...
You could read HTDP AND The Little Schemer in the time it takes to read Simply Scheme and you would most certainly get more out of them. Scheme is a simple language...you don't need a 600+ page book with special constructs from the authors in order to grok it. The Dybvig book is also a better way to spend your time if you're just wanting a (shorter and cheaper) introduction to Scheme.
I'd also recommend most of the free online Scheme tutorials...schemers.org might be a good starting point.
“Julie and Gerry Sussman and I are flattered that Harvey and Wright characterize their revolutionary introduction to computer science as a “prequel” to our text Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs.”
This is next on my reading list, along with both texts you mentioned.
After reading it, I think professional flattery among colleagues is one thing and a true "revolutionary introduction to computer science" is another. I just really don't think it is the latter. Maybe you will...? You might save time by just watching the online Harvey videos. They cover much of the same territory in lecture format.
If you're going to read Simply Scheme, then HTDP and The Little Schemer should probably come before it, not after. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Simply Scheme is a horrible book or anything...it's actually pretty good. I just have a limited amount of time for that kind of reading, and I wish I had read something else instead of it. Most of the other Scheme/CL books I've read have been either more enlightening or more practical than Simply Scheme. I think some of the constructs the authors come up with for pedagogical reasons are simply not necessary (and could potentially be confusing if you go on to actually work in Scheme.)
The way the books are formatted, having the text online would probably reduce sales -- they aren't reference books, but rather relatively thin books of exercises and commentary, all designed to introduce you to several deep ideas. (Also, some people are really turned off by the style or find the writing overly cute.)
The Little MLer is excellent for learning how to think in types (as in OCaml and Haskell), btw. Highly recommended.