Customer Reviews

The Armchair Universe: an Exploration of Computer Worlds

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The Armchair Universe, a collection of A.K. Dewdney's articles in the Computer Recreations section of Scientific American, contains pages of the most interesting pursuits you'll find anywhere. With subjects such as Infinite Graphics, Mathemagadgets, Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Insanity, and Life in Automata, among others, it's guaranteed that you will find a number of thought-provoking and technically interesting articles. To enjoy the book fully, either a small amount of knowledge about computer programming, or the drive to learn is a must. The majority of articles outline simple methods for examining the curiosities put forth on your own computer. This greatly facilitates the amount of knowledge you will pick up by reading this book. Overall, this is one of the most interesting, fun books I have ever read.

This is a good, engaging book on computer and programming recreations. I am not a computer science graduate, but am a self-taught programmer. This book has introduced me to quite a number of fascinating computer science topics while giving me lots of fun in the process. The algorithms of the book make stimulating, sometimes challenging, coding practice, and often lead to pretty results on screen.

Nearly ten years later on better computers Would-Be Worlds: How Simulation Is Changing the Frontiers of Science that talks about the same sort of problems: the Castni book is just not as well written, so I'd say the Dewdney book like Gardener's books
is on the way to becoming a classic. Dewdney isn't afraid to put in programs
and doesn't dumb the text down absurdly like some others.
I really liked his section on analog problem solvers.
When the problems are classic and well handled, the book
just yellow with age,
but not old.