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Study higher level math! Category theory is a brainfuck that exercises that skill well. This book https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/category-theory-sciences https:

by imh 9y ago

Study higher level math! Category theory is a brainfuck that exercises that skill well. This book https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/category-theory-sciences https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/category-theory-sciences doesn't have any real mathy prereqs but is fun. Added benefit from studying math is that its a foundation for a whole bunch of other cool stuff.

fpisfun 9y ago
Yes, exactly this. Since I've started studying category theory I am finding a lot of changes in my thinking. For example, I used to struggle a lot with mental overload when trying to accomplish business goals because of the classic "so much to do don't know where to start" type of thinking that I think is common with a lot of people. It's hard to explain but I find myself becoming better able to mentally organize my thoughts and break things down into units, etc to start work on specific things even though the end goal is overwhelming. I still have a lot to learn about category theory but I think it's very beneficial.
nextos 9y ago
Conceptual Mathematics and Sets for Mathematics from Lawvere are really good for this purpose too. Challenging but doable with the mathematical maturity that most programmers have after extensively working with functions and types.
lloyd-christmas 9y ago
This is another good one: http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/mathematics/logic-categories-and-sets/conceptual-mathematics-first-introduction-categories-2nd-edition http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/mathematics/lo...
sharmi 9y ago
This book is also available for free http://category-theory.mitpress.mit.edu/ http://category-theory.mitpress.mit.edu/ (html version) https://github.com/mmai/Category-Theory-for-the-Sciences https://github.com/mmai/Category-Theory-for-the-Sciences
travmatt 9y ago
I was going to recommend “How to Prove It”, if someone doesn’t know proofs already.
- bor0 9y ago
  Very good suggestion. Here's is a similar but free book: http://people.uleth.ca/~dave.morris/books/proofs+concepts.html http://people.uleth.ca/~dave.morris/books/proofs+concepts.ht...

by imh 9y ago

fpisfun 9y ago

Yes, exactly this. Since I've started studying category theory I am finding a lot of changes in my thinking. For example, I used to struggle a lot with mental overload when trying to accomplish business goals because of the classic "so much to do don't know where to start" type of thinking that I think is common with a lot of people. It's hard to explain but I find myself becoming better able to mentally organize my thoughts and break things down into units, etc to start work on specific things even though the end goal is overwhelming. I still have a lot to learn about category theory but I think it's very beneficial.

nextos 9y ago

Conceptual Mathematics and Sets for Mathematics from Lawvere are really good for this purpose too. Challenging but doable with the mathematical maturity that most programmers have after extensively working with functions and types.

lloyd-christmas 9y ago

This is another good one: http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/mathematics/logic-categories-and-sets/conceptual-mathematics-first-introduction-categories-2nd-edition http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/mathematics/lo...

sharmi 9y ago

This book is also available for free http://category-theory.mitpress.mit.edu/ http://category-theory.mitpress.mit.edu/ (html version) https://github.com/mmai/Category-Theory-for-the-Sciences https://github.com/mmai/Category-Theory-for-the-Sciences

travmatt 9y ago

I was going to recommend “How to Prove It”, if someone doesn’t know proofs already.

bor0 9y ago
Very good suggestion. Here's is a similar but free book: http://people.uleth.ca/~dave.morris/books/proofs+concepts.html http://people.uleth.ca/~dave.morris/books/proofs+concepts.ht...