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Let over Lambda – Common Lisp Book (2008)

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Re: Let over Lambda – Common Lisp Book (2008)

#2
Worth a read because it is one the most condescending computing books I have ever read. While reading I got the impression that I read the text of a really immature fanboy in a web forum of the 2000s.

I hope the author has matured by now. Seriously, don't buy this book.

Re: Let over Lambda – Common Lisp Book (2008)

#3
post #2

Worth a read because it is one the most condescending computing books I have ever read. While reading I got the impression that I read the text of a really immature fanboy in a web forum of the 2000s. I hope the author has matured by now. Seriously, don't buy this book.

I thought it was great, but I know it's not a book for snowflakes. When I hear someone say "this is right" or "this is wrong", I am able to effortlessly interpret this as "I believe this is right/wrong". It's just being efficient with language. I don't need people to add extra words for fear of offending me.

Maybe the author was immature. That's great. Let it remind you what it's like to be young and so excited about something that you'd write a book about it. This book is great.

Re: Let over Lambda – Common Lisp Book (2008)

#4
post #2

Worth a read because it is one the most condescending computing books I have ever read. While reading I got the impression that I read the text of a really immature fanboy in a web forum of the 2000s. I hope the author has matured by now. Seriously, don't buy this book.

I thought it was great, but I know it's not a book for snowflakes. When I hear someone say "this is right" or "this is wrong", I am able to effortlessly interpret this as "I believe this is right/wrong". It's just being efficient with language. I don't need people to add extra words for fear of offending me. Maybe the author was immature. That's great. Let it remind you what it's like to be young and so excited about…

Do you think it is useful for a Lisp noob?

Re: Let over Lambda – Common Lisp Book (2008)

#6
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought it was great, but I know it's not a book for snowflakes. When I hear someone say "this is right" or "this is wrong", I am able to effortlessly interpret this as "I believe this is right/wrong". It's just being efficient with language. I don't need people to add extra words for fear of offending me. Maybe the author was immature. That's great. Let it remind you what it's like to be young and so excited about…

Do you think it is useful for a Lisp noob?

I think it’s a great second book. For a first I’ve always recommended Practical Common Lisp. I don’t know if that recommendation is still up to date.

Re: Let over Lambda – Common Lisp Book (2008)

#7
post #2

Worth a read because it is one the most condescending computing books I have ever read. While reading I got the impression that I read the text of a really immature fanboy in a web forum of the 2000s. I hope the author has matured by now. Seriously, don't buy this book.

I thought it was great, but I know it's not a book for snowflakes. When I hear someone say "this is right" or "this is wrong", I am able to effortlessly interpret this as "I believe this is right/wrong". It's just being efficient with language. I don't need people to add extra words for fear of offending me. Maybe the author was immature. That's great. Let it remind you what it's like to be young and so excited about…

I'm a long time Lisper myself but also couldn't get through this book. Maybe it's because am a snowflake, but my eyes rolled so often I was scared they'll get stuck in the up position.

Re: Let over Lambda – Common Lisp Book (2008)

#8
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought it was great, but I know it's not a book for snowflakes. When I hear someone say "this is right" or "this is wrong", I am able to effortlessly interpret this as "I believe this is right/wrong". It's just being efficient with language. I don't need people to add extra words for fear of offending me. Maybe the author was immature. That's great. Let it remind you what it's like to be young and so excited about…

Do you think it is useful for a Lisp noob?

This book is sort of a trap because some of the macros it defines make assumptions that are not guaranteed by the language specification: every once in a while, you’ll find people on IRC or similar asking for help with some of the examples from this book.

Also, IMO, the defmacro/g macro defined in this book would have been better defined as a reader macro than as a codewalking macro.

Re: Let over Lambda – Common Lisp Book (2008)

#9
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought it was great, but I know it's not a book for snowflakes. When I hear someone say "this is right" or "this is wrong", I am able to effortlessly interpret this as "I believe this is right/wrong". It's just being efficient with language. I don't need people to add extra words for fear of offending me. Maybe the author was immature. That's great. Let it remind you what it's like to be young and so excited about…

Do you think it is useful for a Lisp noob?

Definitely not. The book expands on pg's books and a prior read is recommended.

Re: Let over Lambda – Common Lisp Book (2008)

#10
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you think it is useful for a Lisp noob?

I think it’s a great second book. For a first I’ve always recommended Practical Common Lisp. I don’t know if that recommendation is still up to date.

I'd simply give newbies this link http://stevelosh.com/blog/2018/08/a-road-to-common-lisp/
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