I’ve always believed that work shouldn’t leak into everyday life. But then I became a programmer, and while I hate to admit it, that belief didn’t quite hold up. Programming consumes most of my days, and I sometimes find myself optimizing even while making pumpkin soup. Last month, I bought the book Algorithms to Live By by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths. Algorithms are my guilty pleasure. I love optimizing my life and ensuring steps connect smoothly (not just in making soup). Here’s my review of how I liked the book.
Algorithms All Around Us
I tend to think of algorithms as belonging to scientific fields. When I hear “algorithm,” I picture bubble sort (though I’m not particularly fond of it). But algorithms aren’t exclusive to computer science—they’re everywhere. Tying your shoelaces, making pumpkin soup, packing a bag for a trip—all these involve algorithms.
Personally, I enjoy it when things work for me, to my benefit. So, I was excited about this book, hoping it would help me optimize my daily routines.
Don’t Open It If You’re Not Ready…
… step out of your programming bubble. I was pleasantly surprised that this book wasn’t just about computer science algorithms. True to its title, it delves into computer science, math, biology, and more. I enjoyed the section on the “secretary problem.” Do you feel like you often make bad choices? Well, you might be onto something. If you’re choosing from three or more options, there’s a 67% chance you’ll choose poorly. Scary, isn’t it?
Algorithms That Apply Everywhere
I loved that this book takes algorithms down from the IT pedestal and shows that they’re everywhere. Understanding and optimizing them makes life simpler and more enjoyable. The book shows that algorithms aren’t just abstract theories but tools we can apply to improve our lives.
Practical Benefits of Algorithms:
The book shows how algorithms can be applied to everyday tasks and help us:
- Optimize decision-making: Learn to make better, more efficient decisions.
- Plan time effectively: Algorithms can assist in organizing activities and managing time better.
- Boost productivity: By using algorithms, we can avoid decision paralysis and improve performance.
Reading this book helps bring algorithms into the realm of everyday tasks, showing that many of them can be managed more effectively than we might realize.
Did It Help Me as a Programmer?
I bought this book to optimize my own life, and I have to say it helped me quite a bit in that regard. For instance, laundry has become a more enjoyable activity thanks to some optimizations. As Atomic Habits says, optimization reduces friction.
But what about my work as a programmer? I can report progress here, too, as the book uses fantastic examples to reveal the true nature of algorithms. Unlike complex definitions in computer science, the algorithms here have clear real-world applications, which helps me far more than a pile of dry facts.
Conclusion
Would I buy this book again? Absolutely! It has earned a special place on my Kindle, and I’m sure I’ll read it again someday. This book offers tools to help you look at decision-making from a fresh perspective and take control of your choices. If you’re looking to improve your decision-making process and optimize daily life, this book is well worth diving into.
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