This book is highly overrated. Algorithms by Sedgewick (http://algs4.cs.princeton.edu/home/) is a much better book for learning and understanding algorithms. Skienas book is a simple collection of (sometimes very exotic) algorithms. It won't teach you anything, it will only tell you what exists.

The book of Sedgewick is based on his lectures http://www.cs.princeton.edu/courses/archive/fall12/cos226/le... .

Here you will also find a important chapter that unfortunately didn't make it into the book:

https://www.cs.princeton.edu/courses/archive/fall12/cos226/l...

I'm glad to hear someone else say that because the book seems to get high marks and recommendations but I didn't care for it at all. I thought it was just me. I just don't think he has a very engaging writing style.

The second half of the book is "the catalog" of algorithms and I guess maybe that's what people like but the I had so few "a ha" moments reading the book that I got to page 130 before I threw i the towel.

> Skienas book is a simple collection of (sometimes very exotic) algorithms

It has the same material as Sedgewick, doesn't it?

No, I believe there are more algorithms listed in Skienas book. But from Skienas book you will barely understand them and it won't teach you how to really implement them. Sedgewicks book is much better in that respect. One can compile and run the given Java examples and actually play around with them. Skienas book is a good reference for postdocs in algorithmic design. Sedgewicks book on the other hand is for people who actually want to implement these algorithms.

This is a great book. I love the approach, it really helps with one of the main problems with using algorithms or design patterns even and that is problem identification. There are a bunch of problems that are way easier to solve if you recognize the solution exists in dynamic programming for example, but if you don't they become very hard.

Such a nice book. My personal preference is to use CLRS for reference and Skiena for people want a quick introduction to algorithms.

It's kinda hilarious in that. CLRS is the gold standard recommended introductory text for algorithms, but it's so dense and over-stuffed that it's overkill, so better for reference. Skiena has a lot of stuff you don't need, but is comparably more succinct and light to read.

The book definitely reaches a good balance that other algorithms books don't have. It makes you want to keep reading.

I love this book for how approachable, readable, and even enjoyable it is. Skiena does a great job of motivating each of the algorithmic techniques. I recommend this one widely.

prepping for google interview?

Google's moto is Data Beats Algorithm. Don't forget that :)