The Algorithm Design Manual

Part I: Practical Algorithm Design

- Introduction to Algorithms

- Algorithm Analysis

- Data Structures

- Sorting and Searching

- Graph Traversal

- Weighted Graph Algorithms

- Combinatorial Search and Heuristic Methods

- Dynamic Programming

- Intractable Problems and Approximations

- How to Design Algorithms.- Part II: The Hitchhiker's Guide to Algorithms

- A Catalog of Algorithmic Problems

- Data Structures

- Numerical Problems

- Combinatorical Problems

- Graph Problems: Polynomial-Time

- Graph Problems: Hard Problems

- Computational Geometry

- Set and String Problems

- Algorithmic Resources

- Bibliography

- Index

Steven Skiena is Professor of Computer Science at Stony Brook University. His research interests include the design of graph, string, and geometric algorithms, and their applications (particularly to biology). He is the author of four books, including "The Algorithm Design Manual" and "Calculated Bets: Computers, Gambling, and Mathematical Modeling to Win". He is recipient of the ONR Young Investigator Award and the IEEE Computer Science and Engineering Undergraduate Teaching Award.

From the reviews of the second edition:

"...the book is an algorithm implementation treasure trove, and putting all of these implementations in one place was no small feat. The list of implementations, an extensive bibliography ... make the book an invaluable resource for everyone interested in the subject." (ACM Computing Reviews)

"My absolute favorite for this kind of interview preparation is Steven Skiena's The Algorithm Design Manual. More than any other book it helped me understand just how astonishingly commonplace ... graph problems are -- they should be part of every working programmer's toolkit. The book also covers basic data structures and sorting algorithms, which is a nice bonus. ... every 1 - pager has a simple picture, making it easy to remember. This is a great way to learn how to identify hundreds of problem types." (Steve Yegge, Steve Yegge's Blog, March, 2008)

"For a decade, Steven Skiena's Algorithm Design Manual retained its title as the best and most comprehensive practical algorithm guide to help identify and solve problems. It is now available in an improved second edition that is worth buying simply for the updates. ... Every programmer should read this book, and anyone working in the field should keep it close to hand. ... Would I recommend it? Absolutely. This is the best investment ... a programmer or aspiring programmer can make." (Harold Thimbleby, Times Higher Education, November, 2008)

"Addressing the main difficulties of solving problems, this book goes far beyond the design of algorithms. It is essential for scientists, engineers, and any professionals who aim to solve problems, with a noticeable emphasis on real problems. It will not only serve as a valuable undergraduate textbook, but it will also become an irreplaceable reference guide for most professionals in the area." (Carlos Linares Lopez, Computing Reviews, February, 2009)

"Skiena focuses on the practical aspects of algorithm