$17.99 sale price when purchased online
$22.95 list price
Target Online store #3991
About this item
Highlights
- An engaging and approachable resource for beginning-to-intermediate coders eager to learn advanced ideas in computer programming.
- 8.9" x 5.9" Paperback
- 200 Pages
- Young Adult Nonfiction, Computers
Description
About the Book
"The Computer Always Wins is a joyful and accessible introduction to computer science, with the key ideas framed through the lens of board games and strategy games that readers already know"--Book Synopsis
An engaging and approachable resource for beginning-to-intermediate coders eager to learn advanced ideas in computer programming. In The Computer Always Wins, Elliot Lichtman will teach you some of computer science's most powerful concepts in a refreshingly accessible way: exploring them through word games, board games, and strategy games you already know. Learn recursion by playing tic-tac-toe, efficient search through puzzle games like sudoku and Wordle, and machine learning by way of the playground classic rock-paper-scissors. Finish the book, and you'll come away with not only a deeper understanding of these foundational programming techniques but also a new appreciation for the amazing feats that can be accomplished using simple, readable code.About the Author
Elliot Lichtman started teaching online classes in computer science when he was a freshman in high school. Small classes quickly grew into a series of larger and longer offerings, and from those, this book was born. Elliot is currently a sophomore at Yale University.Dimensions (Overall): 8.9 Inches (H) x 5.9 Inches (W) x .6 Inches (D)
Weight: .7 Pounds
Sub-Genre: Computers
Genre: Young Adult Nonfiction
Number of Pages: 200
Publisher: MIT Press
Format: Paperback
Author: Elliot Lichtman
Language: English
Street Date: April 29, 2025
TCIN: 93181956
UPC: 9780262551694
Item Number (DPCI): 247-46-9259
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.
Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 0.6 inches length x 5.9 inches width x 8.9 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.7 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO
Return details
This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, shipped, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or made ready for pickup.
See the return policy for complete information.
Trending Teen & Young Adult Books
Discover more options
$14.30
MSRP $18.99
$16.99
MSRP $20.00
Related Categories
5.0 out of 5 stars with 1 reviews
100% would recommend
1 recommendations
Great book for advanced middle and high school readers & teachers
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Computer Science Mom - 3 months ago
When you are ready to learn the true power of coding, THIS is the book. With entertaining and understandable examples, Lichtman teaches readers how to combine the building blocks of an introductory coding class into programs that deliver magical results. Let's be honest: no one is excited to code because they want to create loops and conditionals; middle school and high school students learn to code because they want their code to DO SOMETHING. Lichtman knows this, so he meets students where they are: teaching them to code by showing them how to craft programs that can play strategy games like rock-scissors-paper and Connect Four, and solve puzzles like Wordle. This is a great book for teachers who want to inspire their advanced middle and high school students, and a great book for middle and high school students who want to engage in an inspiring and engaging self-study adventure. (And the book website has tons of support materials like sample code, a place to ask questions, and even an online book club.) In short, a wonderful and engaging new resource for students who are ready to step beyond purely introductory coding concepts.