📖 Overview
Glenn Brookshear and Dennis Brylow are computer science educators who collaborate on textbooks for introductory computer science courses. Brookshear served as a professor at Marquette University before his retirement, while Brylow continues as a faculty member there in the Computer Science Department.
Their primary work focuses on making computer science concepts accessible to students who may not have extensive technical backgrounds. They write textbooks that cover fundamental topics across the breadth of computer science rather than diving deep into specialized areas.
The authors emphasize clarity and broad coverage in their educational materials. Their approach aims to give students a foundation in multiple areas of computer science, from programming and algorithms to computer systems and theoretical concepts.
Their collaboration represents a continuation of Brookshear's educational philosophy with Brylow's updated perspective on current technologies and teaching methods. This partnership allows their textbooks to maintain relevance as the field of computer science evolves.
👀 Reviews
Students and instructors praise "Computer Science: An Overview" for its clear explanations of complex topics. Many readers note that the book successfully introduces computer science concepts without requiring prior programming experience. Instructors appreciate the breadth of coverage, which allows them to survey multiple areas of computer science in a single course.
Readers like the book's organization and the way it connects different areas of computer science. Students find the writing style accessible and mention that diagrams and examples help clarify difficult concepts. Many reviews highlight how the book balances technical depth with readability.
Some readers criticize the book for lacking sufficient depth in certain areas, particularly programming and algorithms. A few reviews mention that students seeking hands-on programming experience may find the coverage too theoretical. Some instructors note that the broad survey approach means individual topics receive limited treatment compared to specialized textbooks.
Several reviews indicate that while the book serves as a good introduction, students often need additional resources for practical programming skills.