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Head First Programming VS Rationality: From AI to Zombies

Compare Head First Programming VS Rationality: From AI to Zombies and see what are their differences

Head First Programming logo Head First Programming

Looking for a reliable way to learn how to program on your own,without being overwhelmed by confusing concepts?Head FirstProgrammingintroduces the core concepts of writing computerprograms -- variables, decisions, โ€ฆ - Selection from Head First Proโ€ฆ

Rationality: From AI to Zombies logo Rationality: From AI to Zombies

How to make good decisions under uncertainty.
  • Head First Programming Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-05
  • Rationality: From AI to Zombies Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-28

Head First Programming features and specs

  • Engaging Format
    The Head First series is known for its visually rich format that makes learning more engaging and less monotonous. This often helps in retaining information better.
  • Beginner-Friendly
    The book is designed for beginners, making complex programming concepts more accessible through clear explanations and hands-on exercises.
  • Interactive Exercises
    Includes practical exercises and activities that reinforce learning by allowing readers to apply concepts immediately.
  • Real-World Examples
    Provides real-world scenarios and examples that help readers understand how programming is applied in everyday situations.

Possible disadvantages of Head First Programming

  • Informal Tone
    The casual writing style might not appeal to everyone, especially if someone prefers formal or traditional textbook approaches.
  • Surface-Level Depth
    While excellent for beginners, the book might not delve deeply into advanced topics, leaving some readers wanting more details.
  • Pacing
    Some readers might find the pace too slow, particularly those with prior exposure to programming.
  • Heavy Use of Visuals
    The reliance on images and diagrams can sometimes distract from the core content for those who prefer text-heavy learning materials.

Rationality: From AI to Zombies features and specs

  • Comprehensive Coverage
    Rationality: From AI to Zombies covers a wide range of topics concerning human cognition, decision theory, and artificial intelligence, providing readers with a well-rounded understanding of rational thinking and its applications.
  • Engaging Writing Style
    The book is written in an engaging and accessible style, making complex topics approachable and interesting for readers of varying backgrounds.
  • Thought-Provoking Content
    The essays challenge readers to rethink their assumptions and improve their thinking processes, fostering deeper introspection and critical analysis.
  • Logical Structure
    The book's logical progression helps readers build on previous knowledge, reinforcing learning and facilitating a clearer understanding of rationality concepts.
  • Open Access
    The book is available for free online, allowing unrestricted and easy access for anyone interested in exploring the concepts of rationality and decision-making.

Possible disadvantages of Rationality: From AI to Zombies

  • Dense Material
    Some sections contain highly complex and dense material, which might be challenging for readers who aren't familiar with certain philosophical or technical concepts.
  • Length
    With over 1,900 pages, the book can be daunting for some readers who prefer more concise works or have limited time to invest in reading.
  • Repetitive Themes
    Certain themes and concepts may be repeated frequently throughout the essays, which can seem redundant to readers already familiar with rationality principles.
  • Requires Prior Knowledge
    Readers without a background in logic, probability, or philosophy might find some parts of the book require additional research or prior knowledge to fully grasp.
  • Focus on Specific Styles of Rationality
    The book primarily focuses on the style of rationality advocated by the LessWrong community, which may not encompass or agree with all perspectives on rational thinking.

Head First Programming videos

Highly Recommended* "Head First Programming" Humble Bundle

Rationality: From AI to Zombies videos

Rationality: From AI to Zombies 4

More videos:

  • Review - Rationality: From AI to Zombies Ep 1
  • Review - Rationality: From AI to Zombies 20 - Focus Your Uncertainty

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Head First Programming and Rationality: From AI to Zombies)
Online Learning
47 47%
53% 53
Education
41 41%
59% 59
LMS
41 41%
59% 59
Learning Resources
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Rationality: From AI to Zombies seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Head First Programming mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Head First Programming yet. Tracking of Head First Programming recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Rationality: From AI to Zombies mentions (5)

  • This AI-generated quote would make our author proud
    I did not make this, unfortunately, and it is sad as an amateur high-concept author (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc) that an AI can outwit me. I don't have confirmation but I would bet he used his custom "Loom" interface to GPT-3 to refine the story - I have seen many interesting things, so don't take it lightly when I say that it is one of the most interesting things I've seen in my life. But the prompt is the start of the... Source: about 3 years ago
  • Have you read anything since hpmor that you enjoyed as much as hpmor or more?
    Rationality: From AI to Zombies by Eliezer Yudkowsky: The edited version of The Sequences, which are the founding text of rationalism. In them, Eliezer teaches you how to think almost from first principles, starting from the very concept of truth and through to reductionism, mental biases, evolutionary psychology, and the rest. Skip the first two listings and just download the whole thing from the button on the... Source: about 3 years ago
  • What should I read from LessWrong to be sure Iโ€™m not missing out?
    An abridged and slightly edited compilation of them was also released in a book form. It's a fine selection, but unfortunately it doesn't include comments, where plenty of good discussion happened. So I read the posts in the book's order, then looked at the comments. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Thoughts.
    Adding to what the other comments are saying about checking out sequels like Significant Digits, I suggest checking out the author's non-fiction work, which goes deep into the ideas he explores in HPMOR and many more. Here's a curated compilation, or here if you'd rather download the entire thing. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • If you could send a book back to the year 1900, what would it be, and why?
    Eliezer Yudkowsky's Rationality: From AI to Zombies argues that the current favorable Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics is favored solely because it was discovered first. If the Wheeler, Many Worlds interpretation had been discovered first it would have been the obvious choice. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Head First Programming and Rationality: From AI to Zombies, you can also consider the following products

The Design of Everyday Things - A timeless book, The Design of Everyday Things explores the fundamentalprinciples behind all design, and how to understand the psychology behind how we use things, and why they frustrate us.

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The Elements of Typographic Style - The primary form of communication on the web is through text which makes typography one of the most important aspects to design for.

Coursera - "Compilers" by Stanford - The course explores how high-level languages are compiled to low-level assembly.

CS50x - HarvardX (edX) - An introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming.

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