Introduction to Neural Networks for C#, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Jeff Heaton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2008

Introduction to Neural Networks for C#, Second Edition, introduces the C# programmer to the world of Neural Networks and Artificial Intelligence. Neural network architectures, such as the feedforward, Hopfield, and self-organizing map architectures are discussed. Training techniques, such as backpropagation, genetic algorithms and simulated annealing are also introduced. Practical examples are given for each neural network. Examples include the traveling salesman problem, handwriting recognition, financial prediction, game strategy, mathematical functions, and Internet bots. All C# source code is available online for easy downloading.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Heaton Research, Inc.; 2 edition (October 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1604390093
• ISBN-13: 978-1604390094
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #733,248 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jeff Heaton is an author, consultant, artificial intelligence (AI) researcher and former college instructor. Heaton has penned more than a dozen books on topics including AI, virtual worlds, spiders and bots. Heaton leads the Encog project, an open source initiative to provide an advanced neural network and bot framework for Java and C#. A Sun Certified Java Programmer and a Senior Member of the IEEE, he holds a Masters Degree in Information Management from Washington University in St. Louis. Heaton lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book and supporting classes, March 10, 2009

By 

Sara Morgan Rea "Artificial Intelligence (AI)... (Baton Rouge, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Neural Networks for C#, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

I really like the way this guy has gone about breaking down a very difficult topic and making it easily digestable. He steps you through the basics of neural networks in a way that no programmer could not understand. But the best part of the book is the fact that Jeff offers online courses, in which he talks you through the important aspects of the book. Now, Jeff is not the best speaker in the world, but the fact that he reviews the book really helps to solifidy what you are learning.

I am working through the book and after I have read the chapter, I go back and watch the videos. I feel like I am really getting all this. I have looked at neural network books before, but none of them have explained everything in detail the way this guy is. I highly recommend this book.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Necessary practical review of methods for NNs, needs polishing, November 16, 2009

By 

SDB Mike (Texas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introduction to Neural Networks for C#, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

The author provides a needed introductory level book for NNs. I have several theoretical books on my shelf that hit me like a brick wall. Sifting through code with accompanying explanatory information is a luxury for non-theoretical folks like myself. Sadly, physically crunching the numbers (okay, letting code do it) while monitoring code execution is what some of us need to get a mathematical idea to sink in. This book provides that.

That being said, the author writes very mechanically, bordering on robotic. Just a little more writing finesse would greatly improve the readability. The text is still quite readable, though, and the references are available to dig deeper (Neural Smithing, for instance). In addition, for folks interested in the code architecture, this book is sadly lacking. Theoretical and mathematical information is first presented, followed by most of the code, and then code walkthrough. The code walkthrough is somewhat helpful and necessary, but discussion of the how and why of the code implementation is not adequately addressed. A few choice UML diagrams would greatly improve the reader's understanding of the code flow. This is especially important for the feedback sections.

Now, I bring this up because I think it is vital to an avid reader: I have only read the first 7 chapters. What? Really? And yet I am willing to rate it? Yes. It is the critique above that has kept the book sitting on my shelf the past several weeks. This is very interesting and directly applicable material and I should be willing and ready to devour it... and yet, I'm not. I will garner the will power to continue to the end because the Bot section was the content that queued me to by the book. Making learning agents, coupled with Buckland's approach in Programming Game AI by Example, is quite valuable to me. I think a 3rd edition could become a coder's gem.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book, January 6, 2009

By 

Eddie (Miami, FL, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introduction to Neural Networks for C#, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

The book explains everything in perfect detail, starting at the most basic level and finishing with advanced techniques. Source code is provided AND Maintained, with libraries open source and public, so you're getting more than what you paid for compared to most other books like this.

I own one other book by Heaton and he does the same there too, so I can safely say that this man understands what software developers are REALLY looking for. My new favorite author.