Algorithms (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)

Great start to understanding algorithms, with excellent visual aides. I might read it again sometime.

This was an excellent introduction to algorithms, from simple to more complicated. Algorithms get a bad rap in today's culture, not due to what they are, but due to how they are applied and blinding speed today's computing environment that can run thousands of iterations in less than a second.A fundamental takeaway was that all algorithms can be done by hand as it is nothing more than an instructional framework to solve a particular problem. The chapters on search and on sort were well done. The last chapter on Deep Learning and neuron networks was really well done in my opinion and explained the concept in a way that was simple to understand. Hopefully all the books in the MIT series are as well done.

Algorithms is part of MIT's Essential Knowledge Series, a collection of concise books designed for lay readers on topics ranging from Animal Rights to Phenology. In this installment, author Panos Louridas—Associate Professor in the Department of Management Science and Technology at the Athens University of Economics and Business—guides readers through the core computer science algorithms that power systems like Google Search, RSA encryption, and sorting mechanisms.Louridas highlights key contributions from historical figures such as Euclid, Euler, Hierholzer, and Dijkstra, offering accessible explanations that sidestep heavy mathematics in favor of clear, visual illustrations. Concepts like nodes, quicksort, and even neural networks are made understandable, making the book an inviting primer for those curious about AI and deep learning.While some reviewers criticize the book for being too short or not technical enough, that was never its purpose. Rather, the aim is to give any educated reader a thoughtful introduction to the foundational logic behind tools like ChatGPT, Google Genesis, and DeepSeek.In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, Louridas offers not a deep dive, but a sturdy first step into understanding the invisible forces driving our digital age.

My daughter found this book good preparation for her entry studies studies of algorithms and programing logic to solve software development problems and projects. I want to read it when she is done.

Very interesting book.

The author started the book talking about rhythmic patterns. I returned it