This looks like a draft version of the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Think-About-Algorithms-Jeff-Edmonds/dp...

Because of this, I wonder a bit what's the legal status of this .pdf, but maybe I'm overreacting...

The Preface does mention that it is a draft in progress and even asks for feedback.

The author even goes so far as to note that the drawings are copyrighted and he would love to find someone who can help him with originals. Maybe that is someone on HN?

Looking at the TOCs they seem quite different. Pretty natural since the pdf is from 2003 and the book is from '08.

I love books formatted with LaTeX.

I also agree wholeheartedly with the idea behind the book--a little bit of abstract thinking can go a long way!

The biggest fault I had with AP CS in high school--it was a horrible class throughout, so this was particularly appalling--was that it failed to encourage thinking. Everybody would blindly apply whatever we had just learned and turn their minds off at the first hint of adversity.

A well structured course that promotes thinking is exactly what's needed.

yeah AP CS (at least for me +15 years ago) was a joke. stupid trick syntax stuff and no conceptual anything

Just started reading this book and am very excited to dig deeper into algorithms. As a front end developer practicing being a better back end programmer, my minute understanding of algorithms and their application sometimes discourages me. I hope this book will be a step in the right direction.

What is the legal status of this?

I thought it was good as I found it linked from a University site but I guess it might not be.