The Computer Shelf

A Gentle Introduction to Scientific Computing
Dan Stanescu, author
Long Lee, author
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487 www.crcpress.com
9780367206840, $99.95, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Scientific-Computing-Numerical-Analysis= /dp/0367206846

Synopsis: Scientific Computation has established itself as a stand-alone ar=
ea of knowledge at the borderline between computer science and applied math= ematics. Nonetheless, its interdisciplinary character cannot be denied: its=
methodologies are increasingly used in a wide variety of branches of scien=
ce and engineering.

"A Gentle Introduction to Scientific Computing" by Professor Dan Stanescu a=
nd Professor Long Lee intends to serve a very broad audience of college stu= dents across a variety of disciplines. It aims to expose its readers to som=
e of the basic tools and techniques used in computational science, with a v= iew to helping them understand what happens "behind the scenes" when simple=
tools such as solving equations, plotting and interpolation are used.

To make "A Gentle Introduction to Scientific Computing" as practical as pos= sible, the authors explore their subject both from a theoretical, mathemati= cal perspective and from an implementation-driven, programming perspective.

"A Gentle Introduction to Scientific Computing" features: Middle-ground app= roach between theory and implementation; Suitable reading for a broad range=
of students in STEM disciplines. Could be used as the primary text for a f= irst course in scientific computing; An introduction to mathematics majors,=
without any prior computer science exposure, to numerical methods; All mat= hematical knowledge needed beyond Calculus (together with the most widely u= sed Calculus notation and concepts) is introduced in the text to make it se= lf-contained.

Critique: An ideal textbook for college/university Scientific Computing cur= riculums, "A Gentle Introduction to Scientific Computing" is informatively = enhanced with the inclusion oif four major Appendices, a two page Bibliogra= phy, and a three page Index. While also available for personal and professi= onal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $99.95), "A Gentle Int= roduction to Scientific Computing" is unreservedly recommended for college = and university library collections.

Editorial Note #1: Dan Stanescu (https://www.uwyo.edu/mathstats/people/facu= lty/stanescu.html) received his undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineeri=
ng from the Polytechnical Institute in Bucharest, Romania. He then pursued = his graduate studies at McGill University and obtained his Ph.D. at Concord=
ia University, both in Montreal, Canada. His initial fascination with model= ing fluid flow led him to develop both frequency- and time-domain computati= onal methods for the study of aircraft noise. His publications include work=
in aeroacoustics, spectral methods, stochastic processes and biomathematic=
s. Upon joining the Mathematics Department at the University of Wyoming in = 2003, he directed the Institute for Scientific Computing for six years and = initiated an Interdisciplinary Computational Science Minor program. He has = taught a wide range of courses in applied mathematics and has been developi=
ng and using the material included herein, during the last ten years, for a=
core class that is part of this Minor.

Editorial Note #2: Long Lee (https://www.uwyo.edu/mathstats/faculty-pages/m= ath/llee.html) is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Wyoming i=
n Laramie, USA. He received his Ph. D. in Applied Mathematics from the Univ= ersity of Washington in Seattle, USA. Before his Ph.D., he received a BS in=
Engineering and an MS in Geophysics.

Artificial Intelligence
Robert H. Chen, author
Chelsea Chen, author
Chapman & Hall
c/o CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487 www.crcpress.com
9781032103471, $120.00, HC, 344pp

https://www.amazon.com/Artificial-Intelligence-Introduction-Inquisitive-Rea= der/dp/1032103477

Synopsis: With the publication of "Artificial Intelligence: An Introduction=
for the Inquisitive Reader", co-authors Robert and Chelsea Chen guides the=
ir readers through the history and development of AI, from its early mathem= atical beginnings through to the exciting possibilities of its potential fu= ture applications.

To make this journey as accessible as possible, the authors build their nar= rative around accounts of some of the more popular and well-known demonstra= tions of artificial intelligence including Deep Blue, AlphaGo and even Texa=
s Hold'em, followed by their historical background, so that AI can be seen =
as a natural development of mathematics and computer science.

As "Artificial Intelligence: An Introduction for the Inquisitive Reader" mo= ves forward, more technical descriptions are presented at a pace that shoul=
d be suitable for all levels of readers, gradually building a broad and rea= sonably deep understanding and appreciation for the basic mathematics, phys= ics, and computer science that is rapidly developing artificial intelligenc=
e as it is today.

The only mathematical prerequisite for reading "Artificial Intelligence: An=
Introduction for the Inquisitive Reader" is an elementary knowledge of cal= culus making it accessible to anyone with an interest in AI and its mathema= tics and computer science.

Critique: "Artificial Intelligence: An Introduction for the Inquisitive Rea= der" is an ideal textbook for use in curriculums for AI or the History of M= athematics and Computer Science studies in regard to artificial intelligenc=
e. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Artificial Intelligence: An=
Introduction for the Inquisitive Reader" is especially recommended for per= sonal, professional, community, college, and university library AI and Comp= uter Science collections.

Editorial Note #1: Robert H. Chen is the author of three books in English o=
n Personal Computers, Liquid Crystal Displays, and Einstein's Relativity, a=
nd four books in Chinese on LCDs & Intellectual Property, Patents, Anglo-Am= erican Contract Law, and Technology & Copyright Law, and many scholarly art= icles in physics and the law. He has a Ph.D. in Space Physics and a J.D. in=
law and is a member of the California Bar. He divides his time between Cal= ifornia and Taiwan with his wife and daughter.

Editorial Note #2: Chelsea C. Chen graduated in physics and computer scienc=
e from U.C Berkeley and is a software development engineer at a major tech = company in Silicon Valley. She presently lives in Northern California.

Dive Into Systems: A Gentle Introduction to Computer Systems
Suzanne J. Matthews, author
Tia Newhall, author
Kevin C. Webb, author
No Starch Press
www.nostarch.com
9781718501362, $79.99, PB, 816pp

https://www.amazon.com/Dive-Into-Systems-Introduction-Computer/dp/171850136=
6

Synopsis: "Dive Into Systems: A Gentle Introduction to Computer Systems" pr= ovides a crash course in the major hardware and software components of a mo= dern computer system. Designed for use in a wide range of introductory-leve=
l computer science classes, it guides readers through the vertical slice of=
a computer so they can develop an understanding of the machine at various = layers of abstraction.

Early chapters begin with the basics of the C programming language often us=
ed in systems programming. Other topics explore the architecture of modern = computers, the inner workings of operating systems, and the assembly langua= ges that translate human-readable instructions into a binary representation=
that the computer understands.

Later chapters explain how to optimize code for various architectures, how =
to implement parallel computing with shared memory, and how memory manageme=
nt works in multi-core CPUs. Accessible and easy to follow, the book uses i= mages and hands-on exercise to break down complicated topics, including cod=
e examples that can be modified and executed.

Critique: An ideal textbook for introductory computer science curriculums, = "Dive Into Systems: A Gentle Introduction to Computer Systems" by the team =
of Suzanne J. Matthews, Tia Newhall, and Kevin C. Webb is comprehensive, ex= ceptionally well organized, and thoroughly 'student friendly' in presentati= on. Unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and aca= demic library Computer Science collections, it should be noted for both stu= dents and non- specialist general readers with an interest in the subject t= hat "Dive Into Systems: A Gentle Introduction to Computer Systems" is also = available in a digital book format (Kindle, $41.99).

Editorial Note #1: Suzanne J. Matthews is an Associate Professor of Compute=
r Science at the United States Military Academy, West Point. She holds a Ph=
D in Computer Science from Texas A&M University. Her research interests are=
in parallel computing, single board computers, and computer science educat= ion.

Editorial Note #2: Tia Newhall is a professor in the computer science depar= tment at Swarthmore College. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from the U= niversity of Wisconsin. Her research interests are in parallel and distribu= ted systems.

Editorial Note #3: Kevin C. Webb is an Associate Professor of Computer Scie= nce at Swarthmore College. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from UC San D= iego. His research interests are in networks, distributed systems, and comp= uter science education.

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