Product Description
This best-selling review manual has been thoroughly updated to reflect the College Board's elimination of the Level AB course and the updated Level A syllabus. The new edition presents three full-length AP practice exams for the Level A course. The first exam is a diagnostic test and contains charts detailing the topics for each question. All three model tests have questions answered and explained. Test takers will also find an extensive subject review including new sections on static variables, the List interface, Integer.MAX_VALUE, and Integer.MIN_VALUE. A section on two-dimensional arrays is included for the Level A exam. The enclosed CD-ROM contains two additional full-length model AP exams for Level A. These tests are presented with answers, explanations, automatic scoring for the multiple-choice questions, and a scoring chart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good review book for AP computer science test
My daughter used it to study for the AP Computer Science test and she passed it and got AP credit for the course. I guess that is a good enough reason to endorse it.

A CD-ROM explains the exams and provides two addition practices including a scoring chart
The fifth updated edition of Barron's AP Computer Science A offers the latest review and practice tests, has been updated to reflect the College Board's current Level A syllabus, and offers three full-length AP practice exams with all questions answered and explained. A CD-ROM explains the exams and provides two addition practices including a scoring chart.

Great Preparation Tool for the AP Exam
I found that after taking the exam without taking the AP CS course at my school, I knew more than the people that actually took the course. In addition, I only reviewed for about two weeks before the exam. I did already have 4 years worth of C# experience however, so classes, methods, etc. were not new to me. ... Read more

Product Description
Students and instructors alike continue to praise the broad coverage and clear exposition that Computer Science: An Overview uses to present a complete picture of the dynamic computer science field. Accessible to students from all backgrounds, Glenn Brookshear uses a language-independent context to encourage the development of a practical, realistic understanding of the field. Introduction; Data Storage; Operating Systems; Networking and the Internet; Algorithms; Programming Languages; Software Engineering; Data Abstractions; Database Systems; Computer Graphics; Artificial Intelligence; Theory of Computation. For all readers interested in the basics of computer science. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Computer Science
The service I received from Amazon was fantastic! The Computer Science book for class on the other hand is highly boring. In order to enjoy this book an individual would need to enjoy engineering or the concepts of computers.

Excelent shiping.
Nice book i use for my computer class at college, shipping in one week (regular shipping), and new.

Great overview
This book really got me interested in CS.Its easy to read and motivated me for my next class in CS.

excellent service
I haven't read the book, even though my instructor recommends it.I know it is a good book though.What I want to praise is the company I ordered it from. I ordered it Nov. 17, they mailed it Nov. 18, I had it on Nov. 23.Excellent service is all that I can say.

Computer science book
An excellent book helped me a lot during my study and arrived in a good condition,thanx Amazon. ... Read more

Product Description
Revised and updated with the latest information in the field, the Fourth Edition of Computer Science Illuminated continues to engage and enlighten students on the fundamental concepts and diverse capabilities of computing. Written by two of today s most respected computer science educators, Nell Dale and John Lewis, the text provides a broad overview of the many aspects of the discipline from a generic view point. Separate program language chapters are available as bundle items for those instructors who would like to explore a particular programming language with their students. The many layers of computing are thoroughly explained beginning with the information layer, working through the hardware, programming, operating systems, application, and communication layers, and ending with a discussion on the limitations of computing. Perfect for introductory computing and computer science courses, the fourth edition's thorough presentation of computing systems provides computer science majors with a solid foundation for further study, and offers non-majors a comprehensive and complete introduction to computing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Fun book
This was a fun book to go through especially of you are into computers in any way.

College book
This was purchased for an international college student who has spoken English for only two years.Computer Science is his major.He is doing very well in the class and is enjoying it.

Amazon Purchase
Textbook was received in the condition expected based on seller's comments.Shipping occured quickly and textbook was received well before estimated delivery date indicated.I was also thrilled with the $5 price for a new book.Thank you and good job.

Great !!
With the economy in the shape it is in - finding a great deal is key! I purchased this book online here to avoid the "hefty" price of it being sold in a college bookstore ...Saved about $100 and that is a GREAT DEAL

Computer Science Illuminated
My experience in ordering this book was so easy, and the shipping time was fast.I received the book fast and it was in top condition.Just what I needed to start this class. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the fourth edition of the best-selling AP Computer Science exam prep book. Thorough review chapters cover all of the AP CS material and the GridWorld case study. Includes four complete practice exams. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Tests are good but reviews arent
i used this book along wiht the 5 steps one, and thank god i did. maria litvin's prep book is not at all a good book to use if you havent picked up much during the school year and need help quick for the ap test. the best thing about this book is the practice tests. they're actually harder than the real one in may, but it makes sure taht you are thoroughly prepared. i know a lot of people use that same justification for the barron's practice tests, but i found that the barron's ap comp sci practice tests were too hard to an unlikely extreme. litvin's challenges you, barron's just tortures you. the lessons and review in this book were rather disappointing. it didnt teach you a whole lot. i used 5 steps to actually learn the material. i would highly recommned this book to those you know their stuff and just want to prep. and to those you are completely lost in the subject, use 5 steps or some other material to reivew the information and then this book for last minute prepreations.

oh and also, the links they give you are really great for studying frq.

a little bit too easy
maria litvin - i'd recommend it to anyone who never learned java b4. this book definitely stresses over concept, but the problems are not enough and much easier than the test i took in may. as a result, i'd recommend u to buy this book, but a harder book to go along with it like ds-marketing or barron's.
princeton - this book is pretty alright. it has good information, but i don't think it's enough. the way the author writes is understandable, but again, problems are not enough. sometimes there are only 4 problems per chapter. also, the practice test at the end of the chapter are not enough. there's only 1 set for A and 1 set for AB.
barron's - this book places emphasis on the problems. for example, in marine biology, there's at least 40 problems. don't buy this if u get bored easily because reading this book is like reading college textbooks. however, i can guarantee u that this book will raise ur score much quicker than any other book. however, this book is MUCH MUCH MUCH harder than the actual exam. i'd say that if u get a raw score of 50/80 on the practice test, u can probably get a 5.
5 steps - i borrowed this book from a friend about a week before the test. i feel like this book is almost exactly like the test. it has every type of problem, and gives excellent short summaries at the end of each chapter. it's quite understandable.
b4 taking compsci ap, i did 5 books: maria litvin, barron, princeton, 5 steps to a 5, and ds-marketing. i'd say that if u have a pretty decent teacher, u'll probably only need 5 steps or barron's. otherwise, i'd recommend at least 2 of the books above. however, remember that ds-marketing DOES NOT have marine biology (which makes up about 20% of the exam)

A boon to AP Java students
This is a great book. I feel that I owe them for making this book. The authors do a great job in simply summarizing the concepts covered on the AP test, and providing great examples - the free response questions were right on the money! Highly suggested.

Great Review Manual for the AP Comp Sci Exam in Java
Maria Litvin has done an extraordinary job of putting together the new "Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam in Java".This review manual, which has enough detail to double as a text book, has everything students need to focus on prior to taking the exam.It addresses everything in the ETS Java subset that students should have studied during the school year and has outstanding multiple choice and free response practice exam questions. The tests even include questions about the Java Marine Biology Simulation program which students need to know for the exam.Her web site also includes the 2003 C++ free response questions, which have been translated into Java.If you are searching for a great review manual with great practice questions, this is it!

Definetly Better then Barron's Guide for Review
The Barron's giude is very nice, but it basically reteaches evrything for the student, which is only good if you have the typicall AP Computer Science teacher, like the ones in the Reviews :My teacher was horribale, she doesn't know anything about Java/C++/Pascal.She only knew about some other language and never assigned homework and was just horrible.If that is your teacher then get barron's, but if your school is respectable enough to actually try to get a good Computer Science teacher then get this book, it actually reviews.Another plus over barron's, this book actually has tips and an introduction to the test, Barron's only has 3 pages compared to a chapter with Litvin's guide on this subject. ... Read more

Product Description

A Brand-New Book on an Essential Topic:
Computer Science Made Simple offers a straightforward one-stop resource for technology novices and advanced techies alike. V. Anton Spraul clarifies the basic concepts of hardware and software as well as networks, the Internet, graphics, and other applications, emphasizing how to put computers to work for you (instead of the other way around).

Customer Reviews (4)

Really made things "click"
After reading this book, computers weren't as scary. Somehow it made sense how it operates.Now I enjoy time on the computer!!

Very good, very good!
I have read several beginner computer books lately and this is by far best of them, if this is beginner book at all! This book doesn't underestimate the intelligence of reader and doesn't "buy more pages" with nonsense. I mean, if you don't know how to move mouse or where Enter button is on keyboard, buy '-for dummies' books. But if you want to get little bit (well a lot actually) deeper than that, buy this book.

Excellent Seller
Book was in perfect condition as promised. Service was great and shipping wason time. The price was also very reasonable. Overall excellent seller. Would buy from again and recommend to others.

explains hardware and software to a general audience
Spraul gives a quick and easy introduction to explaining this mysterious thing call computer science. He explains the common Neumann architecture of a single CPU computer. Something which has essentially remained unchanged since the Manhattan Project.

Then he talks about the software that runs on this hardware. From this model of software running on 1 computer, the discussion segues naturally into a network of such machines. Wherein the Internet appears. And its common version, the Web, which many users casually and wrongly assume to be synonymous with it.

There is little specialised hardware knowledge or maths required for the book. Indeed, the Boolean logic is shown to be utterly simple. Though, within the constraints of his presentation, the reader is not shown enough to appreciate that from the Boolean logic, one can build up an entire edifice of digital maths. [It's properly the subject of a more advanced text.] ... Read more

Product Description

Learn the essentials of computer science

Schaum’s Outline of Principles of Computer Science provides aconcise overview of the theoretical foundation of computerscience. It also includes focused review of object-oriented programming using Java.

Customer Reviews (2)

Meh.
This is a competent book on Computer Science, but just about any introductory CS textbook will cover these topics and many more.If you are familiar with other Schaum's outlines, you'll probably know what to expect.The price is no doubt much lower than most CS textbooks, so this book certainly is justified in certain cases.Nothing terrible in here, but also nothing terribly exciting or original.Worth buying and reading if you are interested in CS as a subject of study and are not required to buy some other CS text for an Intro course.

Schaum Computer science
In depth wide ranging analysis of major aspects of computer science. Engaging discussion and capsules in the field. ... Read more

Product Description
This introductory computer science text begins by introducing the foundation of computer science and algorithms, then builds on each central idea before finally discussing common applications, artificial intelligence, and social and legal issues. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

It feels like a connect the dots with some missing dots
Four chapters in and I am ready to ditch the book.It lacks quality conceptual explanation paired with questionable content organization.Learning how to construct a circuit diagram is interesting but the information does not touchdown to earth nearly enough to make it practical for novice conceptual understanding.Throughout the book are streams of rambling facts instead of concise and articulate summarizing of pertinent points.I am constantly pulling from other sources to gain understanding.Once I do have working understanding of the chapters, I am left scratching my head as to the lack-luster or sometimes backwards approach from the book. The material is obviously introductory and perfectly suitable for beginners but, it lacks a sensitivity to the level of exposure students reading it may have.It kind of feels like a connect the dots with some missing dots.

Listen not to idiots ..This book is as good as it gets !
What did you think my darling young ones ?That computer scienceis for the faint of heart..?That if you can set up a spreadsheet you can do Computer Science ?
OF COURSE it is a brutal introduction ! Computer Science is a complex and demanding discipline and this book does a miracle of explanation.
So what if the authors URL is non-functioning ?

As an initial overview of CS, this book is a winner!!
With a Master's Degree in Computer Science and over 7 years on the jobexperience, I can say this book is the best introductory book I have everread. It refuses to allow one to dive too fast into "programming"and instead encourages a strong foundation of basic knowledge thatunderlies the field of Computer Science before one embarks into anyindividual programming language approach.The approach and content isappropriate, logical and laudable, and unfortunately rare among most textbooks in this area.

This book is a bomb.....
I was very disappointed in this book.The guy puts his URL in the book and I get a 404 error.Then I send him an e-mail and he never acknowledges it.The laboratories are busy work.They take over an hour each and I didnot learn anything from them.They were just to keep you busy.They werenot clearly explained.I have worked in IT for 5 years and I wasscratching my head most of the time.The topics were scratching thesurface and very high level with no substance.At the end of the chapter,I would outline it and it was eight or nine pages explaining somethingwhich would have taken me half the page to explain and then it did notexplain it clearly.He touched on unimportant concepts and ignored reallyimportant and interesting stuff.I pan this book.Terrible.Don't buyit.

Not to good
I am actually getting a major in Computer Science and this book was my very first. I think it is a brutal introduction because there is not that much information in the book to help you solve the problems that I thinkare way too complicated for first timers. I had to get tutoring for theentire semester in order to pass the class and I had to use more than oneother book not by the same author to help me understand better what I wasdoing. ... Read more

Product Description
The new fourth edition of BarronÂ's Advanced Placement Computer Science test preparation manual has been updated with a new case study. This new GridWorld Case Study will be tested on the AP exam starting in May 2008. The manual presents four full-length AP practice exams, two each for Levels A and AB. Two of these exams are presented as diagnostic tests, with charts detailing the topics for each question. All four model tests have questions answered and explained. Prospective test takers will also find an extensive subject review, starting with a review of Java 5.0 and going on to cover all topics questioned in both the Level A and Level AB exams. There are new sections on storage of numbers and random numbers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Met expectations
Product was intended for High school students taking AP Computer Science class and had fully met expectations for this purpose.

Excellent reference
This book is an excellent resource for students preparing to take the AP Computer Science exam.The book is divided into chapters by topic and each topic has clear explanations as well as approximately 25 multiple choice problems per chapter.Each multiple choice solution comes with a clear explanation.There is a practice diagnostic test (both A and AB level) at the beginning of the book with an answer key that indicates which section of the book students should refer to for help.There is another practice exam (both A and AB) at the end of the book and if you buy the book with a CD, there is an additional A and AB practice test on the CD.My students find this book very helpful.As a teacher, this book has made my life so much easier.

Roselyn Does It again
Fantastic nuts and bolts review book for the AP exam. Very readable and educational. The author manages to get all the material in there AND provide 2 practice exams per level (A and AB) as well as exams on CD that diagnose any weak areas. The updates for GridWorld are champion efforts and Barron's should feel blessed to have this teacher on board for their review book.

If you have to pick one, this is the AP Review Book to choose.
The Barron's book is, by far, the best choice for a one-stop resource to prepare students for the APCS Exam.I have taught APCS for 8 years and each edition of this book has been increasingly helpful in getting my kids ready.Whether used concurrently with course study or as a review guide for exam prep, the Barron's text is awesome.The author is still heavily involved with the field and is very accessible for comments and questions, which is a perk.

A Very Good Book
It is a bit useless to review this book for it's value as an AP study guide, because the AP exams were two days ago, and next year there will be a major change to the content of the exam (No more APCS-AB).

However, I can say this is a very well made study helper. A little sense of humor combined with solid writing, thorough and frequent sections of example code, practice problems for every section, full explanations of every problem, chapter recaps and a specific diagnostic test will teach you all you need to know.

The book assumes it is being used as a supplement of a Java course, or by someone with a cursory knowledge of the language.This book is a great resource for teaching yourself (or anyone, for that matter) how to program, however I would recommend you take a basic Java tutorial online first.
... Read more

Product Description
This is the second edition of John Zelle's Python Programming, updated for Python 3.This book is designed to be used as the primary textbook in a college-level first course in computing. It takes a fairly traditional approach, emphasizing problem solving, design, and programming as the core skills of computer science. However, these ideas are illustrated using a non-traditional language, namely Python.Although Python is used as the language, teaching Python is not the main point of this book. Rather, Python is used to illustrate fundamental principles of design and programming that apply in any language or computing environment. In some places, I have purposely avoided certain Python features and idioms that are not generally found in other languages. There are already many good books about Python on the market; this book is intended as an introduction to computing.Features include the following:*Extensive use of computer graphics.*Interesting examples.*Readable prose.*Flexible spiral coverage.*Just-in-time object coverage.*Extensive end-of-chapter problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

python programming
When I ordered the book I expected it to come a little worse then what was advertised because the price was so low. However, I was pleasantly suprized when I recieved the book and it was still in it's original srink-wrapped package.

Beautiful and deep introduction to programming for the very first beginner

Zelle's "Python Programming" takes you smoothly and slowly through the art of programming and you also learn a little computer science. He uses a modern object oriented script language (Python) for this purpose: a surprisingly good choice for a first language. Python is clear and powerful and does not require you to learn bad habits too early.

If you are more advanced and just wanted to learn Python you will probably find the pace of Zelle way too slow. If you are the brilliant type you might want to read Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs - 2nd Edition (MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science). For all others I can fully recommend this Zelle's "Python Programming".

Great book...
For my whole life I've been meaning to "get around" to programming.But online tutorials could not teach me anything useful, and the introductory texts I had acquired through the years all told me one thing: that I shouldn't bother.Zelle, though, has written an outstanding introductory text to not only Python but also programming.He emphasizes what many authors do not - that programming is as much a way of thinking as it is a set of languages.To program effectively, one must problem solve.It is an obvious point oft ignored by other authors.Zelle hammers it home.After studying his book for just one week, I was able to code my own set of non-trivial and useful programs with minimal reference to his book or to a guide elsewhere.

What I don't like is that Zelle's discussion of graphic design relies upon a module of his own design (graphics.py) and NOT a standardized toolkit that a user would benefit from learning.Zelle's logic is that toolkits can overwhelm the beginning programmer and that any introductory text must include heavy discussion of graphic design (because graphic design is what interests most people).So he must figure out a way - and he writes a very good module - to teach GUI design to beginners.While I see Zelle's point, it was frustrating to use a module that Zelle himself admitted wouldn't be of much use down the road.

Ultimately, though, I highly recommend this book for beginners, as it will teach you to think like a programmer, and understanding that thought process is more important than mastering the syntax of any language.

not good for an introductory course in programming
I am a professor of computer science and specialize in teaching intro programming courses. I am currently considering several Python books for use in an introductory course with no prerequisite programming knowledge. I just read chapter 1 of this text and have already decided NOT to use it for my class.In chapter 1, the author manages to introduce machine code (never really explained), binary storage (never explained), the eval and input functions, for loops with "in" and mathematical chaos theory, all with little or no explanation and quite a few "we'll put this off until later" remarks, along with "this is complicated but don't worry if you don't understand it yet" statements.I can just imagine what my students would think of this.This book may be great for those who have *already* taken at least 1 programming course, or for graduate students who have a certain level of intellectual sophistication but don't know how to program yet, but for undergraduates in an intro course with no pre-reqs - there is no way I would subject my students to this level of confusion.There is a basic principle in teaching: before you can teach B, you must teach A to the level of understanding.

Update to a classic
I teach high school computer science and greatly welcomed the new edition to this classic book.Zelle has written a book that manages to serve two purposes quite well: 1) a good introduction to computer science, and 2) a good introduction to Python.

Sure, you could say that it could be better in one way or another, but any changes would push it more towards one of those purposes, and not really serve the other.As it stands, I believe this is the best book available for a high school computer science class.Zelle teaches good programming and encourages students to learn a "software development process" that will serve students well as they further explore programming and computer science.The clarity of Python ("pseudocode that runs") allows Zelle to focus on a strong programming foundation that will allow students to move on to other languages, including Java--the current language for the AP Computer Science exam.

Zelle has updated his graphics library for this edition, and this book covers Python 3.x.His graphics library is a great supplement to any class teaching Python to beginning programmers, and there is a nice reference to it in this text.The library module is, as always, released under an open source license (GPL).

Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Best-selling author, Walter Savitch, uses a conversational style to teach programmers problem solving and programming techniques with Java. Readers are introduced to object-oriented programming and important computer science concepts such as testing and debugging techniques, program style, inheritance, and exception handling. It includes thorough coverage of the Swing libraries and event driven programming. The Java coverage is a concise, accessible introduction that covers key language features. Thorough early coverage of objects is included, with an emphasis on applications over applets. The author includes a highly flexible format that allows readers to adapt coverage of topics to their preferred order. Although the book does cover such more advanced topics as inheritance, exception handling, and the Swing libraries, it starts from the beginning, and it teaches traditional, more basic techniques, such as algorithm design.The volume provides concise coverage of computers and Java objects, primitive types, strings, and interactive I/O, flow of control, defining classes and methods, arrays, inheritance, exception handling, streams and file I/O, recursion, window interfaces using swing objects, and applets and HTML.For Programmers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

Savitch is an Moron
Why does he think he is so god damn special that he needs to create a method with his last name for input? This teaches NOTHING about input!!! Sorry but once you get hired at a company they will NOT be using SavitchIn

This guy an IDIOT.

DO NOT GET THIS BOOK
This book is a complete waste of money. First, the software installation instructions are terrible for a beginner programmer. The flow of the book jumps around like 2 kangaroos during mating season. It starts by saying that this book is for the beginner then jumps right into the first program then back to basics. The author doesn't explain terms like "class" and "method" to a level that the simple person can understand. Those who say this is a good book obviously didn't read it. Don't buy this book just get a good instructor who has several years of experience. Note the help websites that are in the front of the book DON'T EXIST.

Bad choice for people withoutprogramming experience
It would be a good book if it went right to the point. But it goes over and over again through the same ideas, making it very confusing. They give you the first example and then they revise it over an over again, adding more code and saying that the first example is not good.

"We will say a bit more about the class Container later in this chapter" p. 730

Another example (in the same page!):

"An invocation of the method add can be written in the simplier form contentPane.add(label); instead of the slightly more complex (and slightly less efficient) expression getContentPane().add(label);" -which they give several pages before.

Why don't they give you the good one from the very beginning, so you don't need to re-learn and erase your notes from the chapter making the learning process super slow?

I also find it unorganized and boring. I think programming could be tought in a more interesting way, like in the book Head First Java, 2nd Edition. It is an interesting, fun and great book to learn Java. It is too bad that the professor's choice was Savitch, instead.

Liked it - But did not adopt it because of 'SavitchIn'
I really liked the book. Savitch explains how to program in plain english - and he is easy to read. The only fault in the book (and the reason I did not adopt it in my Java courses is that he used 'SavitchIn'( a nice class he made for user input ) instead of what the student needs to learn.
Again - this is a REALLY GOOD JAVA BOOK. But he really needs to lose the 'SavitchIn' class. (Well, at least use it as an ALTERNATE way to get user input.) What a shame. And I really like his chapters on Swing.

Good Java learning book
The way he writes this book makes it seem as if he's right there talking to you - using words you understand. The explanations are crystal clear.
Savitch is to Java as Malik is to C++. Both make it easy to learn - and after all, that's what I buy a book for - to learn.
Only drawback is the high price, but I suggest you bite the bullet so you won't have buyer's remorse. Go ahead and get the better book. (Also get the Schaums Outline.) ... Read more

Product Description
This test preparation book includes four full-length examswith explanations modeled after the actual GRE in Computer Science.Areas tested include software systems and methodology, computerorganization and architecture, computational math, and advancedtopics.Contains a section on important computer science topics and acomputer science glossary.For computer science students bound forgraduate school. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

In response to David J. Wilkinson
This is in respose to David J. Wilkinson
f(n)=n is NOT a constant function

Just to write n in binary you need log(n) space/time
remember, we are not talking about what happens in a C/C++ or some other compiler. We are talkign about theory here. In C you would represent a number as lets say 32 bit int, in that case the function f(n) is constant, assuming n is always less than 2^32, but this is not true for the general case.

f(n) = n is a constant funciton
Just so no one studying for the test gets confused, f(n) = n is in fact a constant funciton.

In this context constant means that its execution time does not vary based on the imput.

Compare this to a bubble short algorithm where the excecution time would vary accourding to the square of the number of items.

So 10 item would take 100c time units to sort, 1000 items would take 1 million!

Lets be fair, it does what it is supposed to do.
Having read all the reviews I am not quite sure why people are so unhappy. Yes, this is not an exciting page turner, but it is not supposed to be.It sais on the cover "4 Full-Length Exams" and this is what you get, sample exams and explanations for questions. There will never be a book that will tell you how to "crack" the CS GRE, because such a book would have to contain the information of about five textbooks.

The only way to study for a CS GRE is to use this book to get an idea of the questions (plus the sample test ETS sends you). If you cannot answer the question then go to a textbook and read the corresponding chapters, so when you come back you can answer the question.

Ideally, you are a CS Junior in Undergrad and know that you will be taking this test. This way study for this from the start, while still in class.

Can there really be no alternative?
OK, this book is terrible, like everyone said.I didn't buy it: I got it free from a colleague at work.I used it for the sole purpose of practicing answering CS-type questions quickly and filling in the bubbles.Here are a few of my pet peeves:

1) The book assumes an expert-level knowledge of PASCAL and no knowledge of C.The sample test from ETS requred only basic C and PASCAL.Since I didn't know PASCAL at all (who does these days?) until I studied for the GRE, I really hope that the ETS test is closer to the real thing.

2)Questions that are far more difficult (both in terms of knowledge required and time required to answer) than anything in the ETS sample GRE.There are questions where the "explanation" is more than 2 pages long.

3)Errors.To take one example I just met, they think that f(n) = n is a constant function.

4)Ambiguity/unstated assumptions in question.

To sum up, yes, this book [bites].Don't pay any money for it.And come on -- will someone out there write a decent GRE CS review book??

Worst Test Preparation Book EVER
If you are thinking about taking the GRE Computer Science test, buying a review book is probably a good idea.However, do not, under any circumstances, buy this one.If you cannot find a better review book, consider buying the latest Michael Crichton novel, or perhaps a collection of The Far Side comics, because either of them would be more useful for test preparation than this book.

I bought this book in preparation for taking my GRE subject test, and was incredibly discouraged after taking some of the sample tests contained within.Most of the questions I was unable to answer, and the answers given in the book often left me scratching my head and wondering what the writers were talking about.I was about to actually cancel my appointment to take the test, when I decided to give the official sample test sent to me by ETS a try.On that test, I was able to score in the 91st percentile.I haven't taken my official test yet (it is tomorrow morning), but, assuming that the real test is not drastically different from the official sample (a real test from 1996), the questions in this book bear no resemblance to any of the questions on the real test. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

• Boxed quotes offering advice from students who have aced the exams and from AP teachers and college professors
• Sample tests that closely simulate real exams
• Review material based on the contents of the most recent tests
• Icons highlighting important facts, vocabulary, and frequently asked questions
• Websites and links to valuable online test resources, along with author e-mail addresses so you can ask them follow-up questions
• Authors who are either AP course instructors or exam developers

Customer Reviews (4)

Solid
I scored a 5 on the Computer Science A exam using this book and Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam in Java (Second Edition) by Maria Litvin. I studied both thoroughly, which was helpful because I felt a basic knowledge of Java programming would have been inadequate for the multiple-choice portion of the exam.

Best book to learn from
before i opened this book, i literally did not know anything about java. i had a shallow background in c++, but my comp sci teacher for java sucked and so did our textbooks. this book is best to learn and review everything for the test. the lessons are succinct and to the point. and i really do think that the practice tests are fairly accurate to the actual ap test. barron's practice tests are way too ridiculously hard. if you need to learn all the material thorough and fast, this is the best book to get it from. i had also tried maria litvin's, which is good, but if you dont know anything prior to opneing that book, its not going to help much. litvin's test i would think are harder than 5 steps, but easier to barron's. i've taken the practice tests for barron's and the actual one is not that much alike. i would say use 5 steps for a realistic picture of what its going to be like in may and litvin's if you want to be safe.

Totally worth it
I got a 5 on the AB exam, thanks to this book. It goes over every single concept on the exam, and the tests are hard, which is good practice for the exam itself. When I took the exam I was a lot less nervous, because I've seen most of those problems in this prep book. If you work hard enough with this book, a 5 is guaranteed.

just right
maria litvin - i'd recommend it to anyone who never learned java b4. this book definitely stresses over concept, but the problems are not enough and much easier than the test i took in may. as a result, i'd recommend u to buy this book, but a harder book to go along with it like ds-marketing or barron's.
princeton - this book is pretty alright. it has good information, but i don't think it's enough. the way the author writes is understandable, but again, problems are not enough. sometimes there are only 4 problems per chapter. also, the practice test at the end of the chapter are not enough. there's only 1 set for A and 1 set for AB.
barron's - this book places emphasis on the problems. for example, in marine biology, there's at least 40 problems. don't buy this if u get bored easily because reading this book is like reading college textbooks. however, i can guarantee u that this book will raise ur score much quicker than any other book. however, this book is MUCH MUCH MUCH harder than the actual exam. i'd say that if u get a raw score of 50/80 on the practice test, u can probably get a 5.
5 steps - i borrowed this book from a friend about a week before the test. i feel like this book is almost exactly like the test. it has every type of problem, and gives excellent short summaries at the end of each chapter. it's quite understandable.
b4 taking compsci ap, i did 5 books: maria litvin, barron, princeton, 5 steps to a 5, and ds-marketing. i'd say that if u have a pretty decent teacher, u'll probably only need 5 steps or barron's. otherwise, i'd recommend at least 2 of the books above. however, remember that ds-marketing DOES NOT have marine biology (which makes up about 20% of the exam) ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (24)

Good for the class I took
Used this book mostly for homework. The class I had it for was pretty easy, so I didn't need it much for reference. However, when the occasional confusion surfaced in class, I could immediately gostraight to the book and sort out what was going on. Explains things very clearly with good examples.

Horrible
I suffered through the first few weeks of my Discrete Mathematics course, and got my first C on an assignment EVER.This immediately sent up red flags.I was struggling to understand the concepts as presented in this book, despite that I have had no problem understanding Algebra, Trgonometry and Calculus.On a hunch that the book might be bad, I checked Amazon, and now you are seeing what I saw: low ratings!

I ordered Susanna Epp's book, and for the remainder of the course I read her coverage of a topic, and used this book only for the class-assigned homework problems.My grades are back to A's.So, it wasn't just me.It was this horrible book.The author just doesn't communicate the topics in a way that can be understood by those new to the subject.There are many cases of terms used without being defined, and concepts being refered to that have not yet been introduced (in other words, out-of-order presentation of topics).Worse than this, the step-by-step examples tend to use only the simplest cases, yet more difficult cases appear in the chapter exercises.In most of the text, the concept is explained, and then the student is asked to apply it (as an exercise) without an example, and expected to flip to the back of the book if they need to see the solution.

If you are stuck with this as I required textbook, I pity you.Get Susanna Epp's book (Or Rosen's) if you'd like to actually learn the topic.

OK but not great
I used this book for an undergraduate course in Discrete Mathematics. I'd say that the book tended to confuse more than clarify, at least in its initial explanation of things. Working through the example problems often helped correct that, though. My professor thought the author was pretty ambitious to be aimed at undergrads and ended up skipping most of the material on Turing machines; he also skipped the material on Probability because our computer science students must take a Prob & Stats course; otherwise, he stuck very closely to the book.

I felt the book was structured well in that new chapters often built upon previous ones. The chapters on Formal Logic and Proof Techniques were long and detailed, but have since helped with my programming assignments. The chapters on Sets, Relations, Graphs, Trees, and Algorithms were the most valuable since they directly relate to my courses in Databases and Analysis of Algorithms.

The book helped but I feel that my professor is what really made it work for me. The book isn't bad, but it's not great either; if anything, it's "alright."

Fast Delivery As Described
Although Amazon's shipment estimator gave me a 3-week estimate, the product arrived at my house within five days of payment.The book was in the condition described; no marks inside, binding intact & firm, and ready to be sold again after I finish using it.It was a good decision to buy this book from the seller rather than paying 3x the price to buy it used at my University's bookstore!

Needs better explanations
This book definitely needs a teacher who thoroughly understands the material.Should not be used as a self teaching tool.Instead of every other exercise question having an answer in the back of the book, only a few starred ones are available in each section.Also, each lesson and practice problems don't cover all the areas in the exercises.There will be some exercises for which there are no examples in the book, including symbology not explained in the book. ... Read more

Product Description
Aho and Ullman have created a C version of their groundbreaking text. As in that text, this book combines the theoretical foundations of computing with essential discrete mathematics. It follows the same organizations as its predecessor, with all examples and exercises in C. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Desert Island Book
This is the best all-around foundational book covering Computer Science and Discrete Math; I wish it was used when I was a Computer Science student. I think the bad reviews were written by people who mistook this as an introductory book to CS, it's not. To get anything from this book you should know C well and be mathematically mature.

The book provides numerous examples and mathematical background for recursion, iteration, algorithmic efficiency, combinatorics and probability, as well as the major data structures.

I think if you take the time to go through this book you'll be well rewarded.

Good Mix of Discrete Math And Programming
I'm not sure what the reviewers giving it 1-2 stars are complaining about?Maybe they just don't get it.I've been programming professionally for 8 years and I have yet to see a better book that ties Discrete Math with Computer Science.I think it gives a great example of how Induction and Recursive thinking are linked.I bought this book 3 years ago and I occasionally re-visit it to do all the exercises.... There's a lot but they are good.It's like going to the gym for a good workout but in the context of Computer Science.

No, it's not introductory, but if you're having a hard time with Discrete Math and have a solid programming background, are willing to sit down and "Work out" the excercises, then this book is for you.

Excellent book, even for experienced readers
Overall, I think this book is an excellent book that anyone serious about computer science should own. I think that this book is good both for those new to computer science and those who have been involved in computer science for several years.

For those new to computer science, I would not use this as a first book (this is made clear in the introduction, as well). The expectation is that the reader will already understand the basics of programming, so prior experience or an introductory course in computer science would be appropriate. Many of the examples make use of pointers, which can occasionally be confusing to students unfamiliar with programming, so it would definitely be a good idea for the reader to be familiar with a language like C or Pascal before starting this book. Once that foundation is in place, this is an excellent book to learn the basics of the field of computer science.

For more experienced readers, this book serves as an amazing review and does a good job of collecting lots of information in one place. Explanations are solid, so the book can serve as a good reference for multiple topics. Note that the level of detail is not appropriate if you are just interested in one thing -- if you are interested only in details of algorithms, a book like the MIT Press Algorithms book would be more appropriate.

An always useful reference
I've used this book for the namesake course at university, 2 years ago. It proved to be perfectly adequate at that time. It was very readable and complete. And this would be enough for me to give it a five stars rate.
But there's more. After these two years I've collected many other books in various areas of CS, but when I need a quick reference on any specific topic or I don't remember the formal definition of a concept, I always find this book in my hands. It is one of the references I use most often.
It has been my first book by the couple Aho-Ullman. Now I've understood that whenever these two "emeritus guys" writes something, it always worths time and money to read them.

No "Foundation" whatsoever
This is a poorly written, poorly designed book.Mathematicians may enjoy having this one on their shelf since they are probably the only ones that would enjoy the arcane, obfuscating language of the material.Since computer science is a practical application of mathematics, it would help to have a book that sets the foundations for newcomers in practical language with practical examples.This book does neither.I cite from page 370:"Suppose a relation R, from domain A to range B, has the property that for every member of A there is at most one element b in B such that aRb.Then R is said to be a partial function from domain A to range B."This is just a small example of the author's droning about set theory.A computer science major would be better served by, "A function cannot produce more than one answer", but nowhere in the text is this practical application mentioned.It's as though the publisher offered the author a bonus for long-windedness and theoretical prattle.This book should be in a graduate seminar on how NOT to write computer science texts. ... Read more

Product Description
Written for the beginning computing student, this text engages readers by relating core computer science topics to their industry application. The book is written in a comfortable, informal manner, and light humor is used throughout the text to maintain interest and enhance learning. All chapters contain a multitude of exercises, quizzes, and other opportunities for skill application. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

computer science book
Unless you really love computers and have a lot of time on your hands for doing the programming chapters. It jumps around a bit so if you like that it will work for you...

Great Introduction to the Subject
I bought this book to learn more about how computers operate.I am a self-learner who prefers textbooks because of the depth they provide but I like a textbook that read more like a novel for someone not taking the class.A good textbook does not need supplementary material (like lectures) in order to be understandable and helpful.This book meets and exceeds all expectations.It is written well, starts from the beginning, and explains topics in a logical and easy to understand way.The topics build on each other, so start from the beginning unless you have background knowledge.Some info is outdated and could definitely benefit from a newer edition.Highly recommend!

My selection for a textbook the next time I teach a course in the fundamentals of computing for computer science majors
During my career, I have taught beginning computer course across the spectrum from classes that are a basic introduction to how a computer is used to those that cover the fundamentals of computing for prospective computer science majors. This book is at the later end of that spectrum.
The coverage delves into some of the basic principles of computing; there are segments of source code in assembly all the way through Java. When it is time to solve some basic problems via a computer program, the solutions are expressed in Java. Other areas covered are the history of computing, the design and structure of computing solutions, data structures, basic computer architecture; the design of databases, security and ethics, how data is represented in a computer, operating systems, networking and the Internet.
There is some depth to the coverage in each of these areas, giving the instructor many options as to how in-depth you wish to go. A set of simple test questions is given at the end of each chapter and solutions to all are included in an appendix. Recently, I have taught a course in the fundamentals of computing for computer science majors. I do not know if and when I will teach such a course again. However, if I do, this will most certainly be the text that I will use.

Computer Science is fun!
I had to buy this for school and it was actually one of the only textbooks I have somewhat enjoyed reading.In the beginning of every chapter, there is a section called the "lighter side of the lab" and it always made me giggle a little.I learned a lot from this book and I definitely recommend it to anyone interested in the basics of your computer "under the hood". ... Read more

Product Description
Recent years have seen the development of powerful tools for verifying hardware and software systems, as companies worldwide realise the need for improved means of validating their products. There is increasing demand for training in basic methods in formal reasoning so that students can gain proficiency in logic-based verification methods. The second edition of this successful textbook addresses both those requirements, by continuing to provide a clear introduction to formal reasoning which is both relevant to the needs of modern computer science and rigorous enough for practical application. Improvements to the first edition have been made throughout, with extra and expanded sections on SAT solvers, existential/universal second-order logic, micro-models, programming by contract and total correctness. The coverage of model-checking has been substantially updated. Further exercises have been added. Internet support for the book includes worked solutions for all exercises for teachers, and model solutions to some exercises for students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

OK
There's a black mark on the side of my book, and that's the only minor flaw.

Excellent introduction
I read this book to learn the basics of model checking, and I found it an excellent introduction. Logic can be a dry and intimidating subject but this text presents the theory in an engaging style. Concepts are always introduced with concrete examples to explain them and to show how they should be used to reason about software. Thisbook is essentially theoretical, there is no presentation of real world uses of the methods.

a reader
In my opinion (I refer to the II edition)the logic treatment is fairly complete for acomputer science student (anyway it's missing the treatment of Prolog and the relevant logic).This book is also an excellent introduction to Model Checking of Clarke.

Not for undergrads, advanced textbook
The coverage of this book is quite good for what concerns logic in computer science. However, using it as an introduction on logic for computer scientists is probably ambitious because the explanations are rather complicated for undergraduates. A first course on logic and another on AI would not hurt before getting into this one. Too many notions of computer science (syntax and semantics of programming languages, complexity) are needed to fully understand some topics, hence it is better that you already have a broad view of all aspects of computer science before reading this one. As an advanced course textbook to formal techniques in computer sciente on the other hand, this one would do the job.

It's a decent book
A lot of good material is covered and in a relatively tight fashion. The presentation of logic is well done, but when getting into the BDDs, the explanations get a little complicated and I personally had to read it over several times before I could make sure I understood what was going on. This book also does not have anything on symmetry, so if that's what you're looking for, there are better books out there. However, this book can hold its own and I recommend it to anyone interested in learning the basics of model checking provided they can take handle some of the heavy duty reading. ... Read more

Product Description
The elements of good writing are an essential part of success in science. With comprehensive practical help for students and experienced researchers, Writing for Computer Science: - Gives extensive guidance for writing style and editing; - Presents sound practice for graphs, figures, and tables; - Guides the presentation of mathematics, algorithms and experiments; - Shows how to assemble research materials into a technical paper; - Offers guidelines and advice on spoken presentations. This second edition contains detailed new material on research methods, the how-to of being a scientist, including: - Development of ideas into research programs; -Design and evaluation of experiments; - How to search for, read, evaluate, and referee other research; - Research ethics and the qualities that separate good and bad science. Writing for Computer Science is not only an introduction to the doing and describing of research, but is a handy reference for working scientists in computing and mathematical sciences. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Useful Book
The book is a useful handbook when writing computer science research papers. The tips and guidelines are helpful in improving ones paper and there are also guidelines for presentations.

An authoritative book with pertinent examples
My roots are in computer science where I started my professional life. Therefore I was attracted by the title. I borrowed the book from the library and read it from cover to cover, frustrated not to be able to use my yellow highlighter on the pages of quite a few chapters.
The pertinence of the examples chosen proves that Justin Zobel has reviewed his fair share of papers. If you referee papers, chapter twelve on "Refereeing" is for you. If you are in computer science or if you use computers in your research, then chapter5 ("Mathematics"), 7 ("Algorithms"), and 11 (Experimentation") are written specifically for you.

Scientists outside of computer science are not left out. Chapters two to four are about style and grammar. His examples will often bring a smile to your face as you recognize your own mistakes. Justin Zobel's book has the merit of systematically illustrating the principles of writing he recommends to the readers. I cannot say I always agree with his examples. For example page 32, he writes "Beginning a paper by stating that a topic is popular or that a problem is important is flat and uninspiring" (I could not agree more); he then illustrates such a flat start with the great example "Use of digital libraries is increasingly common". But then the "may well be preferable" example that follows has the same problem: "Digital libraries provide fast access to large numbers of documents". It uses two imprecise adjectives and does not enhance the knowledge of even the most junior researcher in computer science.
Chapter 6 on graphs, figures, and tables gives many examples. Justin believes in making figures "less dependent on the paper's text" (page 112) by making their caption more informative. I do too.
Chapter 9 gives general instructions for writing the various parts of a scientific paper, from its title to its conclusion.

Very useful tips for writing papers
This book presents a list of useful tips for writing conference papers and research reports. It presents advices on what to do and what not to do when writing. I would strongly recommend it to beginners as well as to experienced writers.

Essential for any computer scientist!
It's the computer scientist's "Elements of Style". Concise and clearly written. A must have!

Many examples and clear guides
This book is a perfect guide for producing reports/theses papers related to Computer Science.I was in the midst of writing a thesis and was struggling with the conventions and styles to use, but after a quick perusal of this book I had all my doubts cleared.Examples are numerous and clear and easily aid you in the writing process.Also, I like this book because it explains the motivation for certain styles and conventions rather than just stating them.

This book was recommended to me by a professor, and I noticed it sitting in several of my professor's offices, as well as offices of several graduate students I worked with. ... Read more

Product Description
Based on the ACM model curriculum guidelines, this easy-to-read and easy-to-navigate text covers all the fundamentals of computer science required for first year students embarking on a computing degree. Divided into five parts ? computer and data, computer hardware, computer software, data organization and with an introduction to some of the more advanced topics ? Foundations of Computer Science gives students a bird?s eye view of the subject. Each chapter includes key terms, summaries, review questions, multiple-choice questions, and exercises to enhance learning, while introducing tools such as UML, structure chart and pseudocode, which students will need in order to succeed in later courses. The text is also supported by numerous figures, examples, exercises, selected solutions and a test bank, all designed to ease and aid the learning process.Updated to cover the latest technologies and changes to course requirements, this second edition features new and updated coverage of: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Ethics and Crimes, Networking, LINUX, and Security. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

it is satisfy KIS rule
KIS = Keept It Simple

i am surprise to have a booke like it
it is cover many aspect of computer scince and put the reader at the begining road, it acts as a key to many sciences inside computer science.


yeh i know it give an intruduction but think first we takl about
Introduction To Computer Science

It is so nice book...
I like it.

... Read more

Product Description
The third edition of this guide to Prolog and Artificial Intelligence has been updated to include key developments in the field. Divided into two parts, the first part of the book introduces the programming language Prolog, while the second part teaches Artificial Intelligence using Prolog as a tool for the implementation of AI techniques. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

especially good for A.I.
A new edition will be out soon, in 2010.This is an excellent book on Prolog *and* on AI.

For example, chapter 19 is an introduction to inductive learning in first-order logic, an advanced topic rarely found in introductory books.The example program HYPER is a very powerful learner as compared to other "propositional" machine learning methods such as decision trees, neural networks, or support vector machines.I have ported HYPER to Lisp and am still exploring it.

Prolog is not a very popular language nowadays, but basic knowledge of it is still essential to learning logic-based AI.

Why is this the the best textbook on prolog?
Although this text is always mentioned in the same breath as other introductory textbooks on prolog, I don't think I've ever seen it described as "the best."
The book which usually takes the palm in such comparisons is"Art of Prolog."While "Art of Prolog" is an outstanding book, I think that now, in 2006, it has been eclipsed by the 3rd edition Bratko's book.Why?

Simply this: Bratko's textbook is (as far as I'm aware) the _only_ textbook on prolog which treats the language as a living, developing language!Other textbooks are great for their time, but they are unfortunately stuck in their time.Its as if nothing has happend to the prolog language since February 16, 1987.But this isn't true at all!

The biggest case in point: constraint logic programming!Bratko's text is the only introductory prolog textbook to even acknowledge the existance of CLP.And Bratko gives very lucid descriptions of it, along with very helpful examples and challenging exercises.

Another case in point: inductive logic programming!An entire new branch of machine learning theory has risen, based on logic programming, and NONE of the other introductory prolog textbooks cover it?Come on guys!

I would love to see a 4th edition of this book, because since this one has been published, logic programming has moved even further ahead.Constraint handling rules (CHR), logical functional languages (like Curry), using prolog for the semantic web, etc etc etc.It might be the best kept secret in computer science, but logic programming is really still one of the most exciting areas of programming, and Bratko's book does the best job of staying abreast of, and conveying the excitment of, this living and dynamic field.

Great book for learning AI with Prolog, but....
... a horrible Prolog tutorial.

This is not a good first book on Prolog. If you are new to Prolog and Logic Programming, you should read 'Art of Prolog' first.

Prolog is quite different from other languages, and you'll need some time to get it. This book doesn't give you that time: after briefly introducing the basic concepts, Bratko dives at breakneck speed into recursion and list processing.

Don't get me wrong, this is a magnificent book on how to do AI with Prolog, but it shouldn't be your first Prolog book. It's an excellent second book.

An excellent introduction to Prolog and concepts in AI
Professor Bratko has done a tremendous job of putting all the fundamental concepts of Prolog and its applications in various areas of AI. Although this book is focused on Prolog, the concepts that he has discussed are so fundamental that they can be implemented in other languages like Java as well.

I recommend this book to everyone who wants to learn Prolog. I would also recommend the readers to use a Prolog system to work out the examples and exercises as s/he goes through every chapter. A DEC10 Prolog system (like SICStus Prolog) would probably be the best companion for this book.

I thought the book could be better
I find the book does not adequetly explain the more complex code examples.First of all the code is not adequetly commented.Secondly, it does not explain the code well for programmers.First when introducing a program like in the expert systems shell chapter it should first define an interface for the program, and explain each goal listed.It should adequetly explain what each goal and clause should hope to achieve.Also, for the more complicated programs it should draw some type of diagram, maybe a flow chart or something that explains the concepts involved.It leaves too much figuring out and guessing for the reader.It is not very user-friendly!
On the positive side, it does an adequate job of explaining concepts when complex code is not involved.I found that I could follow along on even the more advanced chapters mostly everything at least until code was suddenly introduced.Then it became a guessing game as to what it was trying to do.
The author does not seem to realize that it is more difficult to try to understand somebody else's program than it is to write your own program from scratch.As a consequence the reader wastes a lot of time trying to guess what his program is doing.
Note: this review is of the 2nd edition and does not necessarily reflect the 3rd.But, then again, every other review on this page prior to mine is about the 2nd edition as well! ... Read more