How to Think Like a Programmer

One could be forgiven for imagining that this may be yet another title joining the throngs of indistinguishable (but always yellow) introductory programming books, but now there is a new kid on the block.

Paul Vickers builds his book on two powerful insights. First, many students confuse problem solving and programming, because they are often taught on their course as one. Second, he teaches programming, rather than programming in a particular language, which often gives students an unmotivated view of the wider ideas. And contrary to popular belief, programming is easy and fun.

However, the two final chapters take the student into hands-on programming via the language Progression, an open-source multi-platform language from MIT that also leads nicely into Java.

Who is it for? Ideal for first-year programming courses.

Presentation: Engaging, clear and talks directly to the reader.

Would you recommend it? Anybody teaching programming should check it out; students will find it more useful than it looks, precisely because it will support their learning in any programming language.