Algorithmics : the spirit of computing

The ubiquity of computers means that most people who get into programming won't have been through a formal computer science course. However, if you are such a programmer, then you may well want to find out more about the subject. Algorithmics : the spirit of computing by David Harel provides an excellent resource for this purpose, and it would also be a useful introduction for those thinking of taking a computer science course. The book gives a wide ranging overview of computation and algorithms, but goes into more detail than most popular accounts of the subjects. It has exercises for each chapter, with solutions at the end, as well as copious notes for those wanting to study the topics further.

The book starts with a look at the nature of programming and the different types of programming languages. It then moves on to algorithmics proper - computational complexity, intractible and undecidable problems. It goes into a bit more detail than Harel's lighter book Computers Ltd, but still doesn't get excessively technical. In the second edition this was where the book stopped, but the third has been considerably extended, with chapters on other forms of computing such as probabilistic algorithms, quantum computing and cryptography. There is also a look at issues of software engineering, and the book finished with a discussion of computer intelligence.