Data Structures and Algorithms Made Easy in Java: Data Structure and Algorithmic Puzzles Paperback – Illustrated, 20 Aug. 2013

well laid out

Before beginning the book, I had decent knowledge about the concepts of the language and could solve some problems. But when I tried to solve higher level problems, i would get stuck and couldn't arrive at a solution. This book helped me to get the direction of programming. With my knowledge and this help, I'm able to solve a decent level of questions. This course not only increased my programming skills but also my confidence. The pattern this course has is too good. Time is used effectively. It is interactive and hands-on. Before reading the book I was not comfortable because the book is focused at coding in Java. I felt Python would be simple language to code with coz it does not have pointers. But, after completion of the book I feel very comfortable coding in Java.

Nice and would have awesome if they could add more explanations!

Useful if we have prior knowledge on data structures

Solutions emphasize on the concept of collaborative learning

After having read 2/3 of the book, i think i can write a review about it.I bought the book, as i wanted a book on algorithms with a couple of problems to solve (so not purely theoretical). Additionally, i wanted a book which the implementation of the algorithms is in Java, rather than pseudocode.It was a really bad purchase. I was very disappointed with the quality of the book, the examples in it and the Java implementations of different algorithms. Below i outline what is wrong with this book:- The writer probably is in a confusion. He doesn't seem an expert on both areas (algorithms and data structures), as many times he cannot clearly explain concepts and the procedure he follows in order to implement the algorithms. I find this quite bad, as someone with no knowledge at all on algorithms and data structures he/she would get misleading information.- The books is full of typos and errata. There are plenty of cases where the words are mixed up (i.e at a problem the words stack and queue are used the other way around) leaving the reader confused while trying to decrypt what the actual problem is trying to solve and how it is trying to do it.- The Java implementation of the algorithms is absolutely awful. It feels like the writer translated pseudocode in Java. It doesn't follow any of Java's conventions and to someone who is a fairly familiar with the language the implementations provided in the book does not make any sense at all. Especially when the book mentions 'Java' in its title, i would expect to use the language properly.- The book provides many problems to solve, but at the same time many solutions are not really mentioned, or the writer gives an one sentence explanation for the solution. Again, that is fine for someone who is able to code the proper solution, but not for someone who would like to get to know the solution by seeing its proper implementation.Summarising, this book has nothing to offer except a broad range of questions to problems (That is the only reason i gave it 2/5 stars). The writing is very poor, confusing and misleading. The Java implementation are really bad and cannot really add any value to anyone familiar with the language. I would stay away from it and rather just choose a proper books on algorithms and data structures with solid pseudocode (or even C) implementations.