Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs, Second Edition - Hardcover

Book 2 of 2: MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Harold Abelson; Gerald Jay Sussman; Julie Sussman

  • 4.47 out of 5 stars
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9780070004849: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs, Second Edition
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0070004846 ISBN 13: 9780070004849
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math, 1996

Synopsis

With an analytical and rigorous approach to problem solving and programming techniques, this book is oriented toward engineering. Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs emphasizes the central role played by different approaches to dealing with time in computational models. Its unique approach makes it appropriate for an introduction to computer science courses, as well as programming languages and program design.

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Review

Abelson and Sussman's classic Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs teaches readers how to program by employing the tools of abstraction and modularity. The authors' central philosophy is that programming is the task of breaking large problems into small ones. The book spends a great deal of time considering both this decomposition and the process of knitting the smaller pieces back together.

The authors employ this philosophy in their writing technique. The text asks the broad question "What is programming?" Having come to the conclusion that programming consists of procedures and data, the authors set off to explore the related questions of "What is data?" and "What is a procedure?"

The authors build up the simple notion of a procedure to dizzying complexity. The discussion culminates in the description of the code behind the programming language Scheme. The authors finish with examples of how to implement some of the book's concepts on a register machine. Through this journey, the reader not only learns how to program, but also how to think about programming.

About the Author

Hal Abelson is Class of 1922 Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a fellow of the IEEE. He is a founding director of Creative Commons, Public Knowledge, and the Free Software Foundation. Additionally, he serves as co-chair for the MIT Council on Educational Technology.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math
Publication date
1996
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0070004846
ISBN 13 
9780070004849
Binding
Hardcover
Edition number
2
Number of pages
657
Rating
  • 4.47 out of 5 stars
    4,869 ratings by Goodreads

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780262510875: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs - 2nd Edition (MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  0262510871 ISBN 13:  9780262510875
Publisher: The MIT Press, 1996
Softcover