The Computer Always Wins: A Playful Introduction to Algorithms through Puzzles and Strategy Games

by Elliot Lichtman

Overview

An engaging and approachable resource for beginning-to-intermediate coders eager to learn advanced ideas in computer programming.

In The Computer Always Wins, Elliot Lichtman will teach you some of computer science’s most powerful concepts in a refreshingly accessible way: exploring them through word games, board games, and strategy games you already know. Learn recursion by playing tic-tac-toe, efficient search through puzzle games like sudoku and Wordle, and machine learning by way of the playground classic rock-paper-scissors. Finish the book, and you’ll come away with not only a deeper understanding of these foundational programming techniques but also a new appreciation for the amazing feats that can be accomplished using simple, readable code.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780262551694
Publisher:	MIT Press
Publication date:	04/29/2025
Pages:	200
Sales rank:	1,376,806
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Elliot Lichtman started teaching online classes in computer science when he was a freshman in high school. Small classes quickly grew into a series of larger and longer offerings, and from those, this book was born. Elliot is currently a sophomore at Yale University.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Marvelously crafted. Just the kind of book every young computer scientist would want to master before college.”
—Isaac Chuang, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT

“Through approachable yet compelling examples, Lichtman beautifully demonstrates how to turn instincts for strategic gameplay into concrete principles for strategic programming.”
—Grant Sanderson, 3Blue1Brown

“Half my age and twice as wise, Lichtman is the teacher I wish I’d had. Scratch that: he’s the teacher I’m grateful to have now.”
—Ben Orlin, author of Math with Bad Drawings

“What fun! Written with clarity and humor, this book can be appreciated by readers at every level, from teenagers at the start of their coding journey to even college professors like me.”
—Arthur Benjamin, author of The Magic of Math

“A real delight. The joy of algorithms shines through, page after page.”
—John MacCormick, author of Nine Algorithms That Changed the Future

“Great introductions to complex topics not only teach new tools, but open up entirely new ways of thinking. The Computer Always Wins is that great introduction for the eager, curious reader who wants to learn to think algorithmically. A real treat. I would have loved it when I was a student.”
—Richard Rusczyk, founder and CEO, Art of Problem Solving