Ask HN: What are the best books with problem sets that test your understanding?

13•jimsojim•9mo ago

What books with end-of-chapter problems have you found most valuable for truly mastering a subject? Can be any field – computer science, math, physics, economics, etc.

Some of my best learning experiences have come from textbooks that forced me to apply concepts - attack problems directly and refer to the prose on need basis to fill the gaps.

My favourites are - 1. Problems in General Physics by I. E. Irodov 2. Concepts of Physics by H.C Verma Part I & II 3. How to Solve It by George Pólya

Comments

abhijat•9mo ago

It has been a while since I worked through it, but Haskell programming from first principles had some pretty good exercises IIRC.

brudgers•9mo ago

You could do worse than The Art of Computer Programming.

imvetri•9mo ago

Solve real life problems from work. It's easy to solve problems, so practice being a problem spotter.

ferguess_k•9mo ago

100% this. Problems from work are always realistic and they give you a push to solve them well. Side projects work too, but to a lesser extent.

I could never get through an Algorithm class (self-taught), but that didn't prevent me from learning and implementing some non-trivial algos for my side projects.

a_tartaruga•9mo ago

Some especially good ones

Sipser -- Theory of computation

Pinter -- Abstract algebra

Kleppner and Kolenkow -- Mechanics

Klein -- Organic Chemistry as a Second Language

jjice•9mo ago

+1 to Sipser. Excellent book. I'm not sure there's any real competition for CS Theory out there.

chyueli•9mo ago

There are several principles for reference: 1. Exercise quality: Exercises must cover core concepts, have a reasonable difficulty level, and preferably come with answers or explanations. 2. Practice orientation: Deepen theoretical understanding and cultivate application capabilities by solving problems. 3. Classics and reputation: Give priority to books that have been recognized by the academic community or learners for a long time.

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