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Introduction to Algorithms: A Creative Approach by Udi Manber [pdf]

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Re: Introduction to Algorithms: A Creative Approach by Udi Manber [pdf]

#21

Post by Zafira »

commandlinefan wrote: post #9
debanjan16 wrote: post #2

Students learning Algorithms for the first time should never touch CLRS. It is the worst thing that a beginner can pick up. It is good as a reference text. Beginners should start with this. This book "actually" teaches you how algorithms are designed and how to break down problems into chunks and solve them using induction/recursion. Your mind will just be blown.

What infuriated me about CLRS was that so much of the content was in the exercises - that had no answers you could check your results against. There are solutions guides you can look up now, but that they would publish such a hostile math book in the first place rubbed me the wrong way.

At some point Cormen had a page of shame where he would name people who asked him for solutions to some of the problems. I remember it was removed with a note that it was a bit much. Though, I suspect it was pointed out to him that this made him look bad.

I think this says a lot about the logic of the authors, though.

Re: Introduction to Algorithms: A Creative Approach by Udi Manber [pdf]

#22

Post by cebert »

eBombzor wrote: post #5
debanjan16 wrote: post #2

Students learning Algorithms for the first time should never touch CLRS. It is the worst thing that a beginner can pick up. It is good as a reference text. Beginners should start with this. This book "actually" teaches you how algorithms are designed and how to break down problems into chunks and solve them using induction/recursion. Your mind will just be blown.

What about people who took a basic alg/ds class in the past but forgot most of it many years later?

I’m in this boat too, and would love suggestions to freshen up my algorithm skills.

Re: Introduction to Algorithms: A Creative Approach by Udi Manber [pdf]

#23

Post by ashconnor »

fefe23 wrote: post #17

Uh... this looks like a pirate copy made from a scan of the book. Should we really be linking to it?

It's been out of print for a while which absolves any moral quandary for me personally.

I had a hard-copy that I regret selling.

Re: Introduction to Algorithms: A Creative Approach by Udi Manber [pdf]

#25

Post by russfink »

I hate to throw shade on this, but look at theorem 2.1, proving by induction that x*n - 1 is divisible by x-1. The concluding sentence I believe mistakenly refers to the left hand term, when they intend to refer to the right hand term.

"But the left term is divisible by x - 1 by the induction hypothesis, and the right term is just x-1.".

I would spend many hours staring at that sentence wondering why I "just" did not understand, cycling through a whole range of feelings, years later to find out that there was likely a typographical error.

Additionally, many textbooks like this give a complicated expression and rather than reduce it mathematically, they expect the reader just to do this in their head and come to the conclusion that it is true.

Such things may seem like trivialities, and perhaps I am not the smartest math person around, but not paying attention to these subtle points can lead to deep frustration for the reader.

Re: Introduction to Algorithms: A Creative Approach by Udi Manber [pdf]

#26

Post by rg111 »

There is one book which is fairly recently published, and it is not known much.

The book is Jay Wengrow's A Common Sense Guide to Data Structure and Algorithm [0].

It is published by Pragmatic Programmers.

I have found it to be the greatest algorithm book for self-learners.

It actually teaches you in what scenarios you might use which data structures and so on. Very highly recommend. What algorithms stand for and when you'd use one over another. Has nice code snippets, exercises that makes the learning whole.

Another great algo book is DPV. This is math-heavy, but this book has a soul.

Among the famous and ubiquitous ones, I like Steven Skiena.

[0]: https://pragprog.com/titles/jwdsal2/a-common-sense-guide-to-...

Re: Introduction to Algorithms: A Creative Approach by Udi Manber [pdf]

#27

Post by jpamata »

A book that has a similar style to this one (teaching algorithm design) and my personal favourite is Algorithmic Problem Solving by Roland Backhouse.

It just teaches algorithmic problem solving via math, but unlike mathy algorithmic books like CLRS, you only need algebra for this one.

I like how the book, IIRC, starts with invariants, providing the reader the foundational skill needed to notice underlying patterns and to decompose problems.

Re: Introduction to Algorithms: A Creative Approach by Udi Manber [pdf]

#28

Post by usrbinbash »

debanjan16 wrote: post #2

Students learning Algorithms for the first time should never touch CLRS. It is the worst thing that a beginner can pick up. It is good as a reference text. Beginners should start with this. This book "actually" teaches you how algorithms are designed and how to break down problems into chunks and solve them using induction/recursion. Your mind will just be blown.

> Students learning Algorithms for the first time should never touch CLRS. It is the worst thing that a beginner can pick up.

I can second that. CLRS is a great reference work for people who already know algorithms, and I can absolutely understand why CS Professors use it to prepare courses and exercises.

But as an introductory text for newcomers? No. Absolutely not.

Re: Introduction to Algorithms: A Creative Approach by Udi Manber [pdf]

#29

Post by iloveCS »

Zafira wrote: post #21
commandlinefan wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What infuriated me about CLRS was that so much of the content was in the exercises - that had no answers you could check your results against. There are solutions guides you can look up now, but that they would publish such a hostile math book in the first place rubbed me the wrong way.

At some point Cormen had a page of shame where he would name people who asked him for solutions to some of the problems. I remember it was removed with a note that it was a bit much. Though, I suspect it was pointed out to him that this made him look bad. I think this says a lot about the logic of the authors, though.

i frequently see him post on Quora--he appears as a pompous, abrasive and highly anti-social individual who acts like a gatekeeper to knowledge. He grudges the readers their knowledge by making it extremely boring and difficult to break into. Many 'authors' are like that. Which is feels like a conspiracy.

Re: Introduction to Algorithms: A Creative Approach by Udi Manber [pdf]

#30

Post by ofrzeta »

debanjan16 wrote: post #2

Students learning Algorithms for the first time should never touch CLRS. It is the worst thing that a beginner can pick up. It is good as a reference text. Beginners should start with this. This book "actually" teaches you how algorithms are designed and how to break down problems into chunks and solve them using induction/recursion. Your mind will just be blown.

I didn't know what CLRS is. Seems to be "Introduction to Algorithms" by Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest and Stein (CLRS).
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