Computer Science: An Overview (10th Edition) | 
 enlarge | Author: J. Glenn Brookshear
Publisher: Addison Wesley
Category: Book
List Price: $98.60
Buy New: $69.70
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Rating:  30 reviews
Sales Rank: 39859
Media: Paperback
Edition: 10
Pages: 688
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.3
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 8 x 1
ISBN: 0321524039
Dewey Decimal Number: 004
EAN: 9780321524034
Publication Date: January 6, 2008
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Product Description
The sixth edition of this classic text for the breadth-first computer science course has been thoroughly updated to discuss increasingly important trends such as networking, object-oriented programming, and genetic algorithms. Author and educator J. Glenn Brookshear continues to introduce students to the discipline of computer science by providing accurate and balanced coverage of CS as a whole and of a variety of CS topics, including programming languages and artificial intelligence. This edition features new sections on public key encryption, evolutionary programming and genetic algorithms, as well as thoroughly revised sections on data manipulation, operating systems and networking. Features Updates students on recent changes and current trends in the industry, such as networking, genetic algorithms and object-oriented programming Puts learning in perspective by using real-life analogies and concrete examples to make even the most complex topics accessible to students Web site provides students and instructors with online resources of topics found in the text New and extended ethical sections in software engineering and database systems, in addition to optional "Computers and Society" sections at the end of each chapter, allow students to think critically about computer science issues Designed to be compatible with a variety of programming languages, including Java, C++, and C "FYI" boxes call out points of interest to students and professors Brookshear's clear and friendly writing style invites majors and non-majors alike to learn more about computer science
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| Customer Reviews: Read 25 more reviews...
 "An Overview!!!!!!!!" March 12, 2005
C. L. Messina (Columbus, GA)
29 out of 30 found this review helpful
First, some quick advice to those who found the book too basic or general: read the title if you can't make it to page one of the preface! This book is an overview of computer science. You can't expect it to be "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs" + "Introduction to Algorithms, 2nd ed" + "Principles of Compiler Design" + "C Primer Plus", etc. . . If you're looking for that kind of topic depth refer to books that specialize in certain topics. If the book is too basic for you then you simply shouldn't be reading it. I don't think that's any reason to slam it though.
As for the intended audience (i.e. true computer newbies) this is your starting point. I haven't read the 8th edition and am not sure how the 7th might be improved upon other than perhaps a little more depth in the database section. This book will not teach you how to program in C, how to build a compiler or how to perform a SQL query. It will tell you what you need to know to move onto these and other computer science areas sensibly as well as point you toward the best sources of topical info (i.e. the golden books of computer science) for further study should you wish to make a career of it. This study approach is truly advantageous because you avoid basic computer science knowledge gaps and start with a better framework for topical studies and specilization. If you take the other route (e.g. grab a "learn to program in 10 minutes" book and just 'go at it') you stand to miss details that will come back to haunt you later in your career as you make mistakes yet are uncertain where your knowledge gaps lie.
MIT Comp Sci students typically skip this course and begin with the more technical "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs"- truly a great place to start. For those of you who haven't been immersed in computers for the last half of your lives, this book is your stepping stone, a great foundation and a very enjoyable read. My advice is to start with this book then use its references to explore the computer science topics (i.e. languages, architecture, A.I., etc.) that interest you. You'll start on much more solid ground than those who just 'jump on in' and keep going until they (and their programs) crash.
A Wonderful Non-Programming Computer Science Overview March 8, 2000
A. Scudiero (Minneapolis, MN United States)
26 out of 27 found this review helpful
This book provides the fundamentals of the Science behind computing and the machines called computers in a down to earth, straightforward, easy to understand manner. An absolute MUST READ for anyone who works with computers and computer science, and simple enough to understand that anyone interested in computers can read it. If you are interested in learning the details of how comptuers work but don't know much about them yet, this is a WONDERFUL place to start as it assumes no prior knowledge and FINALLY MEANS IT FOR ONCE! You can pick up this book having never seen a computer and understand it. It's about time!
A good survey--can it help with the GRE/CS? July 29, 1999
Benjamin Wells (University of San Francisco)
35 out of 38 found this review helpful
As noted by other reviewers, this book is a useful and usable broad survey for beginning CS and other interested students, and as such it deserves five stars. But I wish to describe it from a narrow perspective. Readers of another review of mine who sought help with the GRE/CS mentioned this book; I was surprised to find it now as a top match under Book Search: GRE Computer Science, because it makes no claim to prepare students for the GRE/CS, and it does not appear in the Full Result list. Given its elementary nature, can it help with the GRE/CS? A qualified YES, if the text and problems are studied thoroughly: it will definitely aid moving from a scores in the 500s to ones in the 600s, but I doubt it would help move from 700s to 800s. What it does is give the reader a positional sense of core concepts and techniques plus cover material in areas that typically appear on the GRE/CS but may lie beyond the average liberal-arts undergraduate required curriculum. The solutions go somewhat beyond answers, unlike the required ETS books (if you can get the old editions). The result should be quicker knowledge for factual questions on the exam, confidence to tackle more of the novel problems, and better discernment on which to leave unanswered.
The best one-volume overview of Computer Science May 8, 1999
18 out of 20 found this review helpful
I agree completely with the reader from Colorado. This is a great book.I picked it up on impulse when purchasing a textbook for a computer architecture course at university. Usually when I buy a book on impulse, I regret it. Not this time. This is the best one-volume coverage of computer science I've seen. The book is written as an "overview", but anyone who reads it thoroughly will come away with quite a sophisticated understanding of the fundamentals of computing. It covers basically everything -- starting with simple concepts like binary and working all the way through to artificial intelligence and other advanced ideas. It covers databases, programming, hardware, networking, and everything else. I can't think of an important topic in computer science that has been left out of this book. I also agree with the reader from Colorado that the writing is dense in places, but that is only because there is no unnecessary fluff. You may have to re-read a paragraph here and there, but if you do, you are almost guaranteed to understand the concepts presented. This is not a "Dummies Guide to Computer Science". It's a book for intelligent, interested students. As a result, the author does not talk down to the reader at all. His writing tone is very professional and matter-of-fact throughout. (The diagrams are also excellent, and complement the text very well.) As a bonus, there are "review" questions at the end of every section, and clear, well explained answers at the end of the book. I admit I haven't been doing all the exercises, but I have skimmed over some, and I am sure that anyone who does the exercises for each section will come away with a very solid understanding of the subject. If you want a broad understanding of what computer science is about, and how all the different topics interrelate, I highly recommend this book. If you're new to computer science (especially if you are just starting a university course), this will help you. Even if you are graduating with a computer science degree, this will help you to integrate what you have learned, and will help you see the forest as well as the trees. This book is in its fifth edition for a reason: It's very good.
One of the better introduction to CS books December 27, 2003
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
This isn't a book about programming, it isn't a book about laying out a spreadsheet, reading this book isn't going to give you skills on the latest Microsoft operating system.It's a book on COMPUTER SCIENCE. Computer Science is more related to math than the "computers" most people think of. It isn't practical, it's theoretical -- it's supposed to be. It cracks me up to read the reviews where the reader just doesn't get the whole premise of the book. I first read this book in the Fourth Edition when I had a CS-101 class. About 8 years have passed, and I'm considering going for a MSCS, so I wanted a refresher. This book was invaluable in the 4th Ed, the 7th Ed is even better. The material is easier to follow, better diagrams, and expanded material. Get it if you want a good overview of Computer Science -- if you're looking for Microsoft training, look elsewhere.
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