I think the enthusiasm for LYAH should also be seen in context. Real World Haskell was the first book that made it to a wider audience. And while was is full o

I think the enthusiasm for LYAH should also be seen in context. Real World Haskell was the first book that made it to a wider audience. And while was is full of useful information, it is a very uneven book that works badly as an introduction to Haskell. We once had a reading group where we read RWH, most colleagues dropped out after the first 3-4 chapters. In comparison, LYAH was a book that was far more straightforward as an introduction. And I know a few people that have gone through it cover to cover. Although it's been a while since I read it, I really liked Graham Hutton's 'Programming in Haskell'. It was short & clear.