Computer Science: An Overview: WITH Business Information Systems, Analysis, Design, and Practice AND Objectives First with Java, a Practical Introduction Using BlueJ [IMPORT] (Paperback)

by Graham Curtis (Author), David Cobham (Author), David Barnes (Author), Michael Kolling (Author), J. Glenn Brookshear (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Addison Wesley; Coursepack edition (September 19, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405888008
• ISBN-13: 978-1405888004
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 8 x 2.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "An Overview!!!!!!!!", March 12, 2005

By	C. L. Messina (Columbus, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Computer Science: An Overview (Paperback)

First, some quick advice to those who found the book too basic or general: read the title if you can't make it to page one of the preface! This book is an overview of computer science. You can't expect it to be "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs" + "Introduction to Algorithms, 2nd ed" + "Principles of Compiler Design" + "C Primer Plus", etc. . . If you're looking for that kind of topic depth refer to books that specialize in certain topics. If the book is too basic for you then you simply shouldn't be reading it. I don't think that's any reason to slam it though.

As for the intended audience (i.e. true computer newbies) this is your starting point. I haven't read the 8th edition and am not sure how the 7th might be improved upon other than perhaps a little more depth in the database section. This book will not teach you how to program in C, how to build a compiler or how to perform a SQL query. It will tell you what you need to know to move onto these and other computer science areas sensibly as well as point you toward the best sources of topical info (i.e. the golden books of computer science) for further study should you wish to make a career of it. This study approach is truly advantageous because you avoid basic computer science knowledge gaps and start with a better framework for topical studies and specilization. If you take the other route (e.g. grab a "learn to program in 10 minutes" book and just 'go at it') you stand to miss details that will come back to haunt you later in your career as you make mistakes yet are uncertain where your knowledge gaps lie.

MIT Comp Sci students typically skip this course and begin with the more technical "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs"- truly a great place to start. For those of you who haven't been immersed in computers for the last half of your lives, this book is your stepping stone, a great foundation and a very enjoyable read. My advice is to start with this book then use its references to explore the computer science topics (i.e. languages, architecture, A.I., etc.) that interest you. You'll start on much more solid ground than those who just 'jump on in' and keep going until they (and their programs) crash.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Non-Programming Computer Science Overview, March 8, 2000

By	A. Scudiero (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Computer Science: An Overview (6th Edition) (Paperback)

This book provides the fundamentals of the Science behind computing and the machines called computers in a down to earth, straightforward, easy to understand manner. An absolute MUST READ for anyone who works with computers and computer science, and simple enough to understand that anyone interested in computers can read it. If you are interested in learning the details of how comptuers work but don't know much about them yet, this is a WONDERFUL place to start as it assumes no prior knowledge and FINALLY MEANS IT FOR ONCE! You can pick up this book having never seen a computer and understand it. It's about time!

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good survey--can it help with the GRE/CS?, July 29, 1999

By	Benjamin Wells (University of San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computer Science: An Overview (Paperback)

As noted by other reviewers, this book is a useful and usable broad survey for beginning CS and other interested students, and as such it deserves five stars. But I wish to describe it from a narrow perspective. Readers of another review of mine who sought help with the GRE/CS mentioned this book; I was surprised to find it now as a top match under Book Search: GRE Computer Science, because it makes no claim to prepare students for the GRE/CS, and it does not appear in the Full Result list. Given its elementary nature, can it help with the GRE/CS? A qualified YES, if the text and problems are studied thoroughly: it will definitely aid moving from a scores in the 500s to ones in the 600s, but I doubt it would help move from 700s to 800s. What it does is give the reader a positional sense of core concepts and techniques plus cover material in areas that typically appear on the GRE/CS but may lie beyond the average liberal-arts undergraduate required curriculum. The solutions go somewhat beyond answers, unlike the required ETS books (if you can get the old editions). The result should be quicker knowledge for factual questions on the exam, confidence to tackle more of the novel problems, and better discernment on which to leave unanswered.