| It really doesn’t look like any other book. |
No, it takes a different approach. The entire book is built as a
dialog with the reader, using a questions-answers approach. |
| If I understand correctly, that’s pretty much like the format
of this review? |
Yes, I tried to mimic the format, but I can’t do the original
justice. The Little Schemer is astonishing funny to read and their
usage of food in the code samples is a brilliant pedagogical move;
it makes something rather abstract painless to learn. |
| And it really works? |
Oh yes! I found it very engaging and it helped me to stay focused
by thinking the questions through before glancing at the answers right
next to them. |
| Sounds quite interesting… |
Yes, and it is one of the reasons I bought this book; I was simply
curios about the format. |
| And the other reason? |
I’m learning Common Lisp and this book is considered a classic
in the Lisp community. |
| But the title indicates Scheme. Isn’t that a different dialect
of Lisp? |
Well, the book doesn’t actually teach you a language. |
| ? |
Instead it does something much harder and tremendously more valuable;
it teaches you how to think recursively! |
| So, what you say is basically: The Little Schemer doesn’t
really teach you a programming syntax; instead it gives you a new
thought process? |
Exactly! |
| Sounds fantastic. |
Indeed it is. This is one of the best introductory texts I have
ever read and I already bought the sequel The Seasoned Schemer. |
| You’re really in favour of this book! Would you recommend
it to a wider audience than Lisp programmers? |
That’s right! I would recommend all programmers to read it;
it’s an amazing piece of litterature. |
