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I didn't discover SICP until after I had graduated from a good CS school. Its clear and away the best programming book I've ever read, even for an experienced developer.

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Yep... I was coder for many years before I discovered it. I'm mad at my university for not forcing it on me!

Ha, this is exactly it! As an 18-year-old interested in computers, you just want to start writing iPhone apps and making the next big web service, but quite often those old geezers know better than you.

Catering to the things that 18-year-olds want has never really gotten us far in society.

I think thats the great thing about SICP and its younger, more spritely cousin The Little Schemer - they're both really good to read.

Which would you recommend to read first?

The little Schemer

Don't worry if the last few parts don't make too much sense.. I went back and forth between the two quite a lot

Personally, SICP. I found that the format of LS got old fast.

Not to mention the patronizing "Now go make yourself a baba ghanoush pita!" and "This space reserved for jelly stains."

Maybe the humor was just lost on me...

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