A great introduction to the general landscape of basic algorithms.
Basic computer science concepts and algorithms are introduced in a friendly comic-book format, similar to ‘Maus’ at times. As someone who self-taught themselves programming without a formal university background in computer science this filled many elementary holes I had in my understanding of software.
Bhargava makes each subject simple without being patronising. He also builds up to more complex examples deftly, introducing them slowly and piecemeal, and knowing when to dip into examples to pique interest, and answer obvious questions.
If only he went on to explain more!