Conversation

Julia Evans

@b0rk

·

Mar 12

random poll: have you ever learned a computer topic primarily by reading a book? (for example something like Rust or React or OpenGL) I'm curious because I struggle a lot with tech books, I almost always read 1 chapter and then give up immediately.

• yes

  55.9%
• no

  44.1%

9,426 votes·Final results

466

67

319

Tom Schouten

@tom_zwizwa

Replying to

@b0rk

yes, but it takes a _lot_ of effort. payoff is proportional: i've reached much deeper understanding from reading books and doing exercises as opposed to learning in "pull mode": identify what i need to know, then learn by building. books are "push mode", a bigger challenge.

6:18 PM · Mar 12, 2022·Twitter Web App

32

Likes

Julia Evans

@b0rk

·

Mar 12

Replying to

@tom_zwizwa

that's super interesting -- what's one thing you learned from a book that you don't think you would have learned in 'pull mode'?

5

2

Tom Schouten

@tom_zwizwa

·

Mar 12

Replying to

@b0rk

I'll give you two: 1. how Scheme is implemented (Essentials of Programming Languages), and 2. relationships between programming paradigms from Concepts Techniques and Models of Computer Programming (harder to summarize). 1/2

2

6

Show replies