Introduces computing as an extension of arithmetic and algebra. Also introduces programs as recursive functions and briefly discusses the limits of what computers can do.

This text is a companion volume to The Seasoned Schemer and includes thoughts for anyone who wants to know what computing is about and to learn the physics of cyberspace. The information is presented in a humorous and easy-to-grasp fashion.

andquot;I learned more about LISP from this book than I have from any of the other LISP books I've read over the years. . . . While other books will tell you the mechanics of LISP, they can leave you largely uninformed on the style of problem-solving for which LISP is optimized. The Little LISPer teaches you how to think in the LISP language. . . an inexpensive, enjoyable introduction.andquot;
-- Gregg Williams, Byte

< B> < I> drawings by Duane Bibby< /I> < /B> < br /> < br /> < b> foreword by Gerald J. Sussman< /b> < br /> < br /> The notion that & quot; thinking about computing is one of the most exciting things the human mind can do& quot; sets both < I> The Little Schemer< /I> (formerly known as < I> The Little LISPer< /I> ) and its new companion volume, < I> The Seasoned Schemer< /I> , apart from other books on LISP. The authors' enthusiasm for their subject is compelling as they present abstract concepts in a humorous and easy-to-grasp fashion. Together, these books will open new doors of thought to anyone who wants to find out what computing is really about.< br /> < br /> < I> The Little Schemer< /I> introduces computing as an extension of arithmetic and algebra — things that everyone studies in grade school and high school. It introduces programs as recursive functions and briefly discusses the limits of what computers can do. The authors use the programming language Scheme, and interesting foods to illustrate these abstract ideas. < I> The Seasoned Schemer< /I> informs the reader about additional dimensions of computing: functions as values, change of state, and exceptional cases.< br /> < br /> < I> The Little LISPer< /I> has been a popular introduction to LISP for many years. It had appeared in French and Japanese. < I> The Little Schemer< /I> and < I> The Seasoned Schemer< /I> are worthy successors and will prove equally popular as textbooks for Scheme courses as well as companion texts for any complete introductory course in Computer Science.

"The Little LISPer" has been a popular introduction to LISP for many years. It had appeared in French and Japanese. "The Little Schemer" and "The Seasoned Schemer" are worthy successors and will prove equally popular as textbooks for Scheme courses as well as companion texts for any complete introductory course in Computer Science.

Daniel P. Friedman is Professor of Computer Science at Indiana University and is the author of many books published by the MIT Press, including The Little Schemer (fourth edition, 1995), The Seasoned Schemer (1995), A Little Java, A Few Patterns (1997), each of these coauthored with Matthias Felleisen, and The Reasoned Schemer (2005), coauthored with William E. Byrd and Oleg Kiselyov.Matthias Felleisen is a Professor in the College of Computer science at Northeastern University.