The Self-Taught Computer Scientist - by Cory Althoff (Paperback)

About the Book

"Get a head start in a rapidly growing industry with help from a Silicon Valley insider. Computer science is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and shows no signs of slowing down. In The Self-Taught Computer Scientist: The Beginner's Guide to Computer Science, expert programmer and author Cory Althoff shows you the hands-on exercises, stories, and examples, you need to help you become a successful computer scientist. You'll discover how to: Understand computer science fundamentals, including how memory and compilers work, how the TCP/IP stack works, and how to pass a technical job interview Use data structures and algorithms, both of which are essential to a successful programming career Write your first programs in Python, an easy-to-use programming language ideal for beginners Perfect for self-taught programmers everywhere, The Self-Taught Computer Scientist will help you get up to speed and ready for a job in computer science whether you're brand new to coding or you've already learned a language or two."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

The follow-up to Cory Althoff's bestselling The Self-Taught Programmer, which inspired hundreds of thousands of professionals to learn to program outside of school!

Fresh out of college and with just a year of self-study behind him, Cory Althoff was offered a dream first job as a software engineer for a well-known tech company, but he quickly found himself overwhelmed by the amount of things he needed to know, but hadn't learned yet. This experience combined with his personal journey learning to program inspired his widely praised guide, The Self-Taught Programmer. Now Cory's back with another guide for the self-taught community of learners focusing on the foundations of computer science.

The Self-Taught Computer Scientist introduces beginner and self-taught programmers to computer science fundamentals that are essential for success in programming and software engineering fields. Computer science is a massive subject that could cover an entire lifetime of learning. This book does not aim to cover everything you would learn about if you went to school to get a computer science degree. Instead, Cory's goal is to give you an introduction to some of the most important concepts in computer science that apply to a programming career. With a focus on data structures and algorithms, The Self-Taught Computer Scientist helps you fill gaps in your knowledge, prepare for a technical interview, feel knowledgeable and confident on the job, and ultimately, become a better programmer.

• Learn different algorithms including linear and binary search and test your knowledge with feedback loops
• Understand what a data structure is and study arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, hash tables, binary trees, binary heaps, and graphs
• Prepare for technical interviews and feel comfortable working with more experienced colleagues
• Discover additional resources and tools to expand your skillset and continue your learning journey

It's as simple as this: You have to study computer science if you want to become a successful programmer, and if you don't understand computer science, you won't get hired. Ready for a career in programming, coding, or software engineering and willing to embrace an "always be learning" mindset? The Self-Taught Computer Scientist is for you.

From the Back Cover

Prepare for an exciting new career in software development

The Self-Taught Computer Scientist is Cory Althoff's follow-up to The Self-Taught Programmer, which inspired hundreds of thousands of professionals to learn how to program outside of school.

In The Self-Taught Programmer, Cory showed readers why you don't need a computer science degree to program professionally and taught the programming fundamentals he used to go from a complete beginner to a software engineer at eBay without one.

In The Self-Taught Computer Scientist, Cory teaches you the most important computer science topics that all self-taught programmers should understand to have outstanding careers. The book focuses on data structures and algorithms: two subjects all future programmers need to understand. The Self-Taught Computer Scientist will not only make you a better programmer; it will also help you pass your technical interview: the interview all programmers have to pass to land a new job.

Whether you are preparing to apply for jobs or sharpen your knowledge on data structures and algorithms, reading The Self-Taught Computer Scientist will improve your programming career. It's written for complete beginners, so you should have no problem reading it even if you've never studied computer science before.

About the Author

CORY ALTHOFF is a programmer, speaker, and author whose work includes The Self-Taught Programmer and The Self-Taught Computer Scientist. After graduating with a major in political science, Cory taught himself to program, eventually becoming a software engineer at eBay. Cory's books have been translated into eight languages, and he has been featured in publications like Forbes and CNBC. Over 250K developers are part of the self-taught programmer community he created through his popular Facebook group, course, and newsletter. Cory is a senior vice president at CompTIA, where he helps people learn the skills they need to have successful careers in tech. Cory lives in California with his wife and daughter.