The Computer Science Wizard Book

This is the legendary "Wizard Book". It is dedicated to the spirit which lives inside the computer. This book covers the fundamentals of computer programming using Scheme which is a dialect of Lisp. One of the coolest things about this book is that there are lectures online you can watch that follow the book. The lectures are given by the authors themselves and they are from the 1980's.
The book is called Structure and Intepretation of Computer Programs and it was written by Harold Abelson, Gerald Sussman, with Julie Sussman.

(these are my affiliate links)

**********Math, Physics, and Computer Science Books**********
These are my affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

If you enjoyed this video please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing.

There are several ways that you can help support my channel:)

************Udemy Courses(Please Use These Links If You Sign Up!)*************
Abstract Algebra Course

Advanced Calculus Course

Calculus 1 Course

Calculus 2 Course

Calculus 3 Course

Calculus 1 Lectures with Assignments and a Final Exam

Calculus Integration Insanity

Differential Equations Course

Differential Equations Lectures Course (Includes Assignments + Final Exam)

College Algebra Course

How to Write Proofs with Sets Course

How to Write Proofs with Functions Course

Trigonometry 1 Course

Trigonometry 2 Course

Statistics with StatCrunch Course

Math Graduate Programs, Applying, Advice, Motivation

Daily Devotionals for Motivation with The Math Sorcerer

Thank you:)

[Antiwasserstoff]

This was the first real book i read about programming when i went to the library and asked the weird librarian about programming. Thanks god she recommended this one, because its a gem and just awesome!

[amydebuitleir]

I've been programming since 1978. Once you get to a certain skill level, and if you're a touch typist, it can really feel like magic. My ideas seem to flow through my fingertips, and I conjure up all sorts of wondrous things. I can almost see and feel the things I'm creating.

[Joker]

"These are your father's parentheses. Elegant weapons for a more... civilized age"

[Kowzorz]

Computer programming truly is the closest thing we have to "proper" wizardry. You write metered incantations in a foreign language. These incantations affect *reality itself* to change to the will you imparted into that spell. Granted that reality is usually confined to a series of tubes. Hackers employ counterspells to undo the material manipulation occurred by running the program. You even have different schools of "magic": robotics (anima), pure mathematics (theurgy), rendering (illusion), AI (demonology). I could go on.

[davea]

The fact that the book uses Lisp actually is a great advantage to the reader. Learning Lisp doesn't just teach you a new language, it teaches you a useful way of thinking that C family languages do not.

[warrenmadden]

Great review. I was lucky enough to take 6.001 at MIT from Sussman and Abelson way back in the spring of 1982, so all our lecture notes were the prototypes for this book. It was the only class in my college career where I got a chuckle out of the exams, thanks to the punny names. I went on to be a student lab assistant for the course the next year, helping the next few classes with their homework.

Although Scheme was certainly an unusual language for the first course in a CS curriculum, it did help that EMACS had a very good LISP mode that handled auto-indenting and balancing of parentheses. One thing I'll definitely say is that SICP, both the course and the book, were in my opinion never about learning Scheme. Scheme was just the tool to teach us how computer programs in general worked. I've learned countless other computer languages in my decades in the field, and the techniques I learned in 6.001 over 40 years ago now continue to pay benefits.

[daxramdac]

The amazing thing about this book is that it is VERY readable and actually educates you on the core principles that make you a better programmer. When I first found this book, I figured it would be too advanced for me, but as I began reading thru it, even though at the time I was lacking in some key areas of knowledge, I still felt like I could comprehend what was going on.

[jasonknoll]

Thank you for showing so much CS on your channel! Your videos were a catalyst for me liking math coming from CS so it means a lot seeing so much more on your channel!

[AggressiveMenace]

This books is a must for every computer scientist, engineer, or even just enthusiastic self-taughted people. I say it as a Computer engineering & mathematics university student, and lifelong autodidact who enjoys all knowledge by itself.

[garryiglesias]

I'm glad to own "The Dragon Book", "The Wizard Book", and some other "computing classics". What's weird is that I bought most of them in early 90's while I was still a teenager and didn't have any reference, I just picked them by flair.

And yes, I saw the full lecture from Abelson and Sussman circa 2005, it was an eye opener :).

[asyntactic]

This is one of the most influential books I've ever read. I'm a software engineer and computer scientist, and I actually use both Lisp and Python every day. The spirit of this book, approaching programming as esoteric wizardry rather than construction work, has so much appeal for me. The authors offer a different perspective from the typical Object-Oriented view. Also, the book's description of meta-linguistic programming, writing Scheme as a program in Scheme, is so powerful and mind-blowing. I might have to grab my copy off the shelf now for a review.

[rain]

I was very surprised to see this video in my recommendations! Clicked because of "wizard book, " stayed because I recognized the authors through my dad's stories - Gerry Sussman was his advisor, Julie edited his book, and he works with Hal even now! I believe he tried to introduce me to programming with this book when I was in 10th grade, but I didnt appreciate it then. Maybe I should come back to it now!

[dragonsage]

I can't believe you sniffed the book, lol, such a nerd thing to do.. (I concur). I really enjoyed this review..
May delve deeper..
:)
Ty

[crism]

"We conjure the spirits of the computer with our spells"

I didn't know the book but I certainly knew that legendary quote!

[jonathanacuna]

Love your excitement! We need more Wizards!

[kingskid]

I took this course and used this book. It blew my mind away. After mastering it, you will be be able to learn ANY other programming language with ease, ie, in 2 weeks. That's how strong a foundation this book gives you. Fun fact: the TAs offered us cookies, soda, and milk if you prefer, during the final exams.

[rony]

I learned how to program using this book and it really teaches you the core principles you need. I own the more modern version that uses JavaScript instead of Lisp but the Lisp edition is immortal.

[gingin]

I adore this book. I read it some time in the late 2010s and it made me fall in love with computer science and ultimately persue a degree in the subject. I can only think of a handful of computer science books as old as this one which still feel relevant and useful. I was predominatly a C programmer before I read it and this book completely transformed my view of the programming from being very focused on the details of the machine to being focused on the beauty and power of algorithms in their more abstract and mathematical form. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in computer science or math. It will absolutely make you a better programmer and perhaps even give you a whole new perspective on the art of programming itself.

[RemnantCult]

Great book. I used it quite a bit in my first year of computer science. Made me feel like I was a scholar embarking in some esoteric side of software design.

[jorkilla]

This is the kind of content that makes your channel so special! Thank you for sharing this!