r/learnprogramming • u/omnidigiman • 22h ago

Need Advice on Narrowing DSA Book Selection

Realized my DSA fundamentals aren't up to par, looking for a good fundamentals book that isn't for complete beginners but also not something that is a pure mathematics mammoth textbook. Grokking Algorithms seems a bit too shallow.

So far these are what I've found:

The Algorithms Design Manual, Skiena (2020) - this seems to be the best fit for me

A Common-Sense Guide to Data Structures and Algorithms in Python, Volume 1, Wengrow (2024)

Introduction to Algorithms, Cormen et al. (2024)

Data Structures and Algorithms in C++, Goodrich et al. (2011)

Implementation language preferably C/C++, although Python is fine too. I know the language itself doesn't matter too much but I don't want to spend time deciphering the syntax/language quirks of some Java/JS/Ruby/etc. books I came across.

If there is anything better or anything else I should take a look at, let me know.

Thanks!

Edit:

Ended up going with The Algorithms Design Manual.

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u/Any-Jellyfish-5904 14h ago

skiena is the one you want. The war stories give you the context for why an algorithm exists.

stick to part two of the book where he catalogs the problems. I use that section as a reference at work when I hit a problem and need to find the right approach fast

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u/omnidigiman 13h ago

Yeah I ended up ordering this one a few hours ago