Think Like a Programmer: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving

I am a programmer. As a programmer, I can definitely attest to the fact that there is a certain way that we think. Programmers are problem solvers and that requires being able to reduce problems to small, simple tasks and, often, thinking outside the box. While the creative aspects are largely a personal trait, there are certain aspects of what we do that are dependent on looking at things a certain way. The basics of learning to program gives you just that - the basics; Think Like a Programmer: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving shows the reader ways to think about certain types of problems, equipping the reader with some mental tools to help them work through problems they're likely to encounter.

In addition to presenting ways to think about solving problems, Think Like a Programmer does a good job of illustrating some confusing computer concepts, such as memory fragmentation, by finding a real-world analogy that helps the idea really "click."

The chapters of Think Like a Programmer can be grouped into three logical groups. The first two chapters are introductory in nature, setting the tone for the rest of the book. Chapters 3 through 7 look at how to solve problems using arrays, pointers and dynamic memory, classes, recursion and code re-use, respectively. The final chapter, however, is all about you; it takes the skills you've learned elsewhere in the book and, combined with your own strengths and weaknesses as a programmer, helps you create your own personal approach to solving any problem you encounter.

Personally, I had a hard time reading through this book. That may sound like a bad thing, but my issue was that I'd read part of a chapter and then get excited about programming and think of things I'd want to try out with what I'd just read. (Mind you, I program all day for a living, so for a book to repetitively have this effect on me means it's a pretty good read.) The author seems to have a knack for explaining computing topics in a way that makes sense. I highly recommend Think Like a Programmer to anyone who wants to hone their creative problem-solving skills or anyone who has learned to program, but doesn't feel that they fully understand the concepts. Think Like a Programmer: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving is not a teacher who will teach you how to program if you don't have any prior knowledge; it's an amazing tutor who will explain what your teachers meant and show you how to better put your knowledge to use.