And if you want to program like Holmes as well... http://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Learning-Program-Computer-Sherlock/dp/B002T6VZJI http://www.amazon.com/Eleme

And if you want to program like Holmes as well... http://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Learning-Program-Computer-Sherlock/dp/B002T6VZJI http://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Learning-Program-Computer-S... This was the first programming book I read, back in the eighties. Lately I got a copy for nostalgia's sake, and it's all still spot on good practice today - problem definition, algorithm design, avoiding global state etc - although the language (both the Pascal syntax and the Conan-Doyle-style prose) probably wouldn't suit today's "Dummy's Guide" market.