wizard book

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)

Wizard Book
 n.

   Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (Hal Abelson, Jerry
   Sussman and Julie Sussman; MIT Press, 1984, 1996; ISBN 0-262-01153-0),
   an excellent computer science text used in introductory courses at
   MIT. So called because of the wizard on the jacket. One of the
   {bible}s of the LISP/Scheme world. Also, less commonly, known as the
   {Purple Book}. Now available on the
   http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/full-text/book/book.html

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Wizard Book

   <publication> {Hal Abelson}, {Gerald Sussman} and Julie
   Sussman's "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs"
   (MIT Press, 1984; ISBN 0-262-01077-1), an excellent computer
   science text used in introductory courses at MIT.  So called
   because of the wizard on the jacket.  One of the {bibles} of
   the LISP/Scheme world.  Also, less commonly, known as the
   {Purple Book}.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1995-01-10)

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