Expressing Problems in Their Natural Language [pdf]

Preface:

What is Lisp, where does it come from, and what is it useful for? This is an expedient account of Lisp by way of real examples geared toward programmers and scientists. The examples showcase real Common Lisp code, and it's not expected the unfamiliar reader understand every intricacy. I decided not to pursue much detail about the grand, rich, and dramatic history of Lisp---which could fill an entertaining book unto itself. My writing is loosely based on a presentation of the same title I gave at Rigetti Computing in 2016, in which I justified the growing use of Common Lisp for critical projects. This essay is not a tutorial, it's a pitch.