title: Learning Algorithms
body: <blockquote>
    <p><strong>Possible Duplicate:</strong><br>
    <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5282969/learning-efficient-algorithms">Learning efficient algorithms</a>  </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  
  
  <p>I recently came across an problem that was solved by applying the correct algorithm: <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6287160/calculating-plugin-dependencies">Calculating plugin dependencies</a></p>
  
  <p>While I was eventually able to understand the logic of the prescribed algorithm, it was not an easy task for me.  The only reason I was able to come up with code that worked was because of the logic example on the wikipedia page.</p>
  
  <p>Being entirely self taught, without any CS or math background, I'd like to at least get some practical foundation to being able to apply algorithms to solve problems.</p>
  
  <p>That said, are there any great books / resources (something akin to 'algorithms for dummies') that doesn't expect you have completed college Algebra 9 or Calculus 5 that can teach the basics?  I don't expect to ever be a wizard, just expand my problem solving tool-set a little bit. </p>
  
  <p>Doing an amazon search turns up a bunch of books, but I'm hoping you guys can point me to the truly useful resources.</p>
  
  <p>The only language I have any real experience with is Python (a tiny bit of C) so whatever I find needs to be language agnostic or centred around Python/C.  </p>