Ask HN: Looking for a book on algorithms and data structures

#1

Post by OulaX » Sun, Nov 14, 2021, 2:12 PM UTC

I want to learn Algorithms & Data Structures from scratch then move on to doing LeetCode.

But I want a structured guide / textbook that I can follow which also contains exercises.

I have checked the CLRS book, but, it's more of a reference than a book that you can read from cover to cover. For example a basic Stack is explained in a page and a half or two, for me this is not enough, I want a book that can go into the details of each specific DS or Algorirhm.

*TL;DR:* Are there any books better than CLRS for DS & Algos?

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a book on algorithms and data structures

#2

Post by jstx1 » Sun, Nov 14, 2021, 2:29 PM UTC

> For example a basic Stack is explained in a page and a half or two, for me this is not enough

Why not? It's a simple data structure. What more do you think can be said about it?

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a book on algorithms and data structures

#3

Post by thesuperbigfrog » Sun, Nov 14, 2021, 2:56 PM UTC

"Foundations of Computer Science" by Aho and Ullman is an excellent book and freely available:

http://i.stanford.edu/~ullman/focs.html

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a book on algorithms and data structures

#4

Post by bXVsbGVy » Sun, Nov 14, 2021, 3:07 PM UTC

> I want a book that can go into the details of each specific DS or Algorirhm.

I'm not aware of any book like that. At the uni, the process is repetitive and incremental.

First you learn how to implement the algo, then you learn how to count (discrete math) and, finally, you learn how to analyze its complexity. Concurrently, you might see some more details on how those data structure are used in Operating System and learn how to implement them in some lecture about parallel computing.

MIT has a great resource online. They have recorded lecture, exercises, lecture notes with reading suggestion, etc.

Their intro to algo. https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-compu...

Also, see what it the reading for similar lectures on other universities.

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a book on algorithms and data structures

#5

Post by curtainvase » Sun, Nov 14, 2021, 3:08 PM UTC

I read CLRS in the fashion you described, mostly cover to cover, as a textbook with exercises. I found it extremely helpful. It gives both intuitive and mathematical proofs for each of the algorithms and data structures.

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a book on algorithms and data structures

#6

Post by hiyer » Sun, Nov 14, 2021, 3:10 PM UTC

Sedgewick's Algorithms [1] is pretty good. I found it way more approachable than CLRS. There's also a free course on Coursera[2] from him.

1. https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-4th-Robert-Sedgewick/dp/03...

2. https://www.coursera.org/learn/algorithms-part1#syllabus

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a book on algorithms and data structures

#7

Post by linux_devil » Sun, Nov 14, 2021, 3:11 PM UTC

bXVsbGVy wrote: post #4

> I want a book that can go into the details of each specific DS or Algorirhm. I'm not aware of any book like that. At the uni, the process is repetitive and incremental. First you learn how to implement the algo, then you learn how to count (discrete math) and, finally, you learn how to analyze its complexity. Concurrently, you might see some more details on how those data structure are used in Operating System and…

CLRS + ocw mit course should be good in my opinion. Really helped me a lot

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a book on algorithms and data structures

#8

Post by wly_cdgr » Sun, Nov 14, 2021, 3:12 PM UTC

hiyer wrote: post #6

Sedgewick's Algorithms [1] is pretty good. I found it way more approachable than CLRS. There's also a free course on Coursera[2] from him. 1. https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-4th-Robert-Sedgewick/dp/03... 2. https://www.coursera.org/learn/algorithms-part1#syllabus

Came here so say this. The booksite has additional materials and, crucially, solutions to many of the exercises

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a book on algorithms and data structures

#9

Post by eitland » Sun, Nov 14, 2021, 3:13 PM UTC

I had "walls and mirrors". Recently I met someone who said that was the only book they kept from uni.

I can't say if it is good or not, I lost mine well over a decade ago.

Re: Ask HN: Looking for a book on algorithms and data structures

#10

Post by ioli » Sun, Nov 14, 2021, 3:24 PM UTC

The Algorithm Design Manual by Steven Skiena

Amazing book. Very readable. I highly recommend it. The book has a section call "War story" at the end of each chapter in which Skiena shares his real life experience of when the contents from that particular chapter came in handy for him.

Go through it. You won't regret

https://www.amazon.com/Algorithm-Design-Manual-Steven-Skiena...