I want to improve my ability to write efficient algorithms. I

>>59135637
Skiena's algorithm design manual and Sedgewick's algorithms are really good companions (but bad if you're using them as your only book) to CLRS since I found CLRS to be terse and boring as fuck. Some of the explanations for algorithms are really bad if you're studying alone with no previous exposition to the topic. TAOCP is not suited as a first algorithm book imo.

>>59135754
So do you mean I should read all 3 concurrently? As in, read CLRS, of which I'll absorb a % of since it's boring and terse, and then fill in my gaps with the accompanying sections in Skiena and Sedgewick?

Which books should I do the problems out of? Or all 3?

>>59135637
https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Algorithms-Creative-Udi-Manber/dp/0201120372

CLRS is very handy but horrible to read.

If you have a guided plan it's good or if you are using it as a reference. It's a giant book and it doesn't make much sense to go cover to cover.

>>59136526
I don't really have much of a guided plan.
I took an introductory algorithm and data structures class about a year ago, and I felt as though I barely glimpsed what there was to know. I'm doing this all self-study (I'm a math major, so I'm finished with all my CS classes for my undergrad, just taking math classes at this point)

>>59135637
http://aofa.cs.princeton.edu/home/

http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783540779735
http://www.springer.com/cn/book/9783540435501

Is data from databases like Oracle or SQL Serves just a bunch of .txt files?

>>59135637
Shut up and code.

>>59135637
my fav reference book (despite having to hide the cover art from coworkers) is:

"Data Structures and Algorithms Made Easy"

the english gets choppy here and there but you can get it cheap and it's all C++ w/ sample questions

https://www.amazon.com/Data-Structures-Algorithms-Made-Easy/dp/B00RKQJP0I/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1488160816&sr=8-5&keywords=data+structures+and+algorithms+made+easy

>the cover still kills me

>>59136789
Try MIT 6046 ocw