Customer Reviews

Numerical Recipes with Source Code CD-ROM 3rd Edition: The Art of Scientific Computing

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The book and the CD sounded like a convenient bundle. Unfortunately, the CD has some very restrictive terms for its use. Nonetheless, the CD is not the primary part of this purchase. Consider that many of the algorithms in the book are available in standard C libraries or the C++ STL. The more mathematically intensive algorithms are often freely available from [...]. The value of the book, however, is that it thoroughly explains the basis of the algorithms, rather than the behavior of the algorithm. Thus it builds a fundamental understanding of the material.

There seems to be considerable overlap with the 2nd edition. Typically, the algorithms covered by this book and its earlier editions are well known and heavily used. While progress does go on in algorithm research, it is usually beyond the introductory level of the text.

The code samples in C++ can be useful. Saves you from writing them.

If you already have the 2nd edition, you may want to take a pass on this. Save some money.

If you want to go beyond the treatment in this book, try Knuth's Art of Computer Programming, The, Volumes 1-3 Boxed Set (2nd Edition) (The Art of Computer Programming Series). A far deeper treatment, that takes you into the finding and analysis of algorithms. Whereas the current book is more about explaining the algorithms it covers, than about finding new and better ones.