Summary
Paul Graham combines an introduction to Lisp programming with a reference for ANSI Common Lisp. The book explains ideas such as recursion, closures, macros and object systems, then puts them to work in examples that include ray tracing, text generation, searching and compression.
It covers rapid prototyping, programming from small building blocks, debugging and optimization. Published in 1995, it is a practical text for readers who want to learn and use the language.
Why read it Our view
Read it if you want a working understanding of Lisp and the programming styles Graham teaches. The exercises and examples are useful for building technical skill. Consider how a language’s tools change the way you solve a problem, then test that fit on work you need to do.
Written about
- Paul GrahamAuthorGraham wrote this introduction and reference to ANSI Common Lisp, published by Prentice Hall in 1995.Source