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I like Land of Lisp, and I own the ebook+paperback, but I don't think that it's well suited to beginning programmers. I think the "let's make a game" approach a

by serf 12y ago

I like Land of Lisp, and I own the ebook+paperback, but I don't think that it's well suited to beginning programmers. I think the "let's make a game" approach actually works better for programmers who are coming from a different language and trying to understand concept translations, rather than novel concepts themselves. edit : I can't reply to you, but re-read what I said. I am making the point that I believe Land of Lisp to be for people coming from other languages, whereas I think that "learn X the hard way" is better for people new to programming altogether. The parent of my reply is pointing out to zedshaw that "Land of Lisp" is a good beginners book. I am adding that it's my opinion that it's a good "beginner at lisp" book, and not an overall "good-for-beginner-programmers" book.

binarycrusader 12y ago
Uh, the land of lisp has the let's make a game approach as well. I'm not sure I understand what aspect you're talking about.
- binarycrusader 12y ago
  I'm not sure why my comment was downvoted, but having read and gone through over half of the Land of Lisp personally, I can factually state that it does indeed have multiple game exercises involved. To quote from the book page: Along the way you’ll create (and play) games like Wizard Adventure, a text adventure with a whiskey-soaked twist, and Grand Theft Wumpus, the most violent version of Hunt the Wumpus the world has ever seen. http://www.nostarch.com/lisp.htm#toc http://www.nostarch.com/lisp.htm#toc If someone would like to argue that it does not have a "game approach", I would like to see the specific reasoning as to why.
taeric 12y ago
I see your point, though I'm not sure I agree. I do think you have to have an interest in games. At the least, you can't be turned off by them. Though, I have absolutely nothing to back up my thought on this. Would be curious to see any studies or other such on these thoughts. Also, apologies for the edit. My main thought was more for the informal nature of Land of Lisp. That is, it isn't "high theory" written for experts, nor is it written for kids.

by serf 12y ago

binarycrusader 12y ago

Uh, the land of lisp has the let's make a game approach as well. I'm not sure I understand what aspect you're talking about.

binarycrusader 12y ago
I'm not sure why my comment was downvoted, but having read and gone through over half of the Land of Lisp personally, I can factually state that it does indeed have multiple game exercises involved. To quote from the book page: Along the way you’ll create (and play) games like Wizard Adventure, a text adventure with a whiskey-soaked twist, and Grand Theft Wumpus, the most violent version of Hunt the Wumpus the world has ever seen. http://www.nostarch.com/lisp.htm#toc http://www.nostarch.com/lisp.htm#toc If someone would like to argue that it does not have a "game approach", I would like to see the specific reasoning as to why.

taeric 12y ago

I see your point, though I'm not sure I agree. I do think you have to have an interest in games. At the least, you can't be turned off by them. Though, I have absolutely nothing to back up my thought on this. Would be curious to see any studies or other such on these thoughts. Also, apologies for the edit. My main thought was more for the informal nature of Land of Lisp. That is, it isn't "high theory" written for experts, nor is it written for kids.