
Algorithms
by Robert Sedgewick · first published 2011
100mentions
50recommended by
82HN commenters
2007–2026first – last mentioned
60% recommend39% neutral1% critical
Why HN recommends it
Readable, implementation-focused algorithms text with clear illustrations and working code; suits beginners and self-learners, pairs well with the author's Coursera courses, and helps with interview prep.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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Or the newer book with Java code. https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-4th-Robert-Sedgewick/dp/03... Robert Sedgewick also has fantastic algorithms courses on Coursera.
on “Algorithms” ↗Sedgewick's Algorithms [1] is pretty good. I found it way more approachable than CLRS. There's also a free course on Coursera[2] from him. 1. https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-4th-Robert-Sedgewick/dp/03... 2. https://www.coursera.org/learn/algorithms-part1#syllabus
on “Ask HN: Looking for a book on algorithms and data structures” ↗In addition to those already mentioned here, I enjoyed the book 'Algorithms' by Robert Sedgewick & Kevin Wayne. The algorithms are explained, and demonstrated (in java). But with the knowledge of how the algorithm works you should be able to use them in another language. (And…
on “Ask HN: What language-agnostic programming books should I read?” ↗If you're looking for algorithms with real code, Sedgewick is pretty good. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/032157351X Disclaimer: I haven't actually seen this edition, which uses Java. My old edition uses C. Disclaimer #2: I still…
on “My problem with computer science pseudocode” ↗I've used Algorithms by S. Dasgupta, C.H. Papadimitriou, and U.V. Vazirani for the course they teach at Berkeley and didn't like it at all. I'm a pretty big fan of Algorithms by Sedgewick. There is a class on Cousera is also…
on “A list of free programming books” ↗Having worked with both ADM and CLRS, I still find 'Algorithms' by Robert Sedgewick & Kevin Wayne superior to both of them. Especially for beginners. Thanks to motivated examples, actual implementations of the algorithms presented, detailed illustrations, cool…
on “The Algorithm Design Manual” ↗Algorithms by Robert Sedgewick. It covers the basics and compared to CLRS, this book is very easy to read.
on “Ask HN: How do I learn Data Structures and Algorithms” ↗…suggests) and compose a reading list from that. Also, there are some works where you really can't go wrong. Some examples: - Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs, Abelson and Sussman - Algorithms, Sedgewick, Wayne - Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages, and Computation, Hopcroft, Motwani, Ullman Lesser known, but incredibly fun books: - Purely Functional Data Structures, Chris Okasaki…
on “Ask HN: How to best acquire theoretical computer science knowledge?” ↗For Algorithms, I know the amount of materials available online can be overwhelming, so here's an alternative: get a copy of "Algorithms, 4th Edition" [1] from Sedgewick and Wayne, and work through it cover to cover,…
on “Ask HN: How do I choose the right resource to learn CS fundamentals?” ↗This book is highly overrated. Algorithms by Sedgewick (http://algs4.cs.princeton.edu/home/) is a much better book for learning and understanding algorithms. Skienas book is a simple collection of (sometimes very exotic) algorithms. It won't…
on “Ask HN: What's the best computer science book you've read recently?” ↗Robert Sedgewick's Algorithms has been one of the best for me, not only as a general refresher on algorithms, but also as a way of better understanding complexity notations.
on “Ask HN: What are the best MOOCs you've taken?” ↗CLR is an extremely well written algorithms textbook, but I use it more as a reference than for self-study. My first algorithms book was Sedgewick's Algorithms (where all algorithms were presented in Pascal), which is a very good algorithms text…
on “The Most Important Algorithms” ↗If you want to learn about Algorithms, you need to buy the entire series on Algorithms from Robert Sedgewick: https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-Parts-1-4-Fundamentals-Str... https://www.cs.princeton.edu/~rs/ I don't think there is a single…
on “Ask HN: Is Georgia Tech's Online Master in CS Worth It?” ↗Robert Sedgewick's courses, including Algorithms Part 1 and Part 2. https://www.coursera.org/instructor/~250165
on “Ask HN: Recommend me a course on Coursera” ↗…down, maybe? 1. Introduction to Computational Thinking at MIT was a great one. 2. Robert Ghrist has the best set of SV Calculus courses on Coursera. 3. Gilbert Strang's LA courses are the best. 4. For Algorithms course, I would recommend Sedgewick and Wayne's course on Coursera. 5. For PL course, go with the WashU course on Coursera. 6. For Machine Learning, you should start with Andrew Ng's Machine Learning.…
on “Ask HN: Which are the best computer science MOOCs?” ↗