Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Getting back to algorithms
As I mentioned in my 2025 recap, I wanted to start the year by revisiting some fundamental concepts in computer science. To that end, I read Grokking Algorithms: An Illustrated Guide for Programmers and Other Curious People, by Aditya Bhargava.
Algorithms weren’t a new topic for me. I had already studied many of the concepts covered in the book, but in some cases, I had never really gone into much depth. That’s why reading this book was a great opportunity to review what I already knew, gain a better understanding of certain ideas, and connect concepts that had previously felt somewhat isolated.
Making the complex, simple
What I liked most about the book is how well it’s explained. Each concept is presented step by step, with simple examples that help you understand not only how an algorithm works, but also why it works and when it can be useful.
But without a doubt, the element that really makes the difference is the drawings (for real, I am not kidding…).
The illustrations make for a very enjoyable read and reduce the complexity of topics that, at first glance, might seem quite difficult. Instead of encountering pages full of theory and formulas, you can visually follow what’s happening at each step.
This doesn’t mean the book eliminates all the complexity of algorithms, but it does succeed in building an intuitive understanding before jumping into the details. And honestly, this approach works especially well for topics like recursion, sorting algorithms, or graphs, where a good visual representation can be much clearer (and less boring!) than a purely theoretical explanation.
Learn more about the book
If you want to learn more about Grokking Algorithms, you can read more about it, preview the book, and buy it on the official Manning website. This is not an affiliate link or sponsored content, I simply enjoyed the book and wanted to share it!