What's the best way to learn LISP? [closed]

Question

I have been programming in Python, PHP, Java and C for a couple or years now, and I just finished reading Hackers and Painters, so I would love to give LISP a try!

I understand its totally diferent from what i know and that it won't be easy. Also I think (please correct me if I'm wrong) there's way less community and development around LISP. So my question is: what's the best way to learn LISP?

I wouldn't mind buying books or investing some time. I just don't want it to be wasted.

The "final" idea would be to use LISP for web development, and I know that's not so common so... I know it's good to plan my learning before picking the first book or tutorial and spending lots of time on something that may not be the best way!

Thank you all for your answers!

edit: I read Practical Common Lisp and was: ... long, hard, interesting and definitely got me rolling in Lisp, after that i read the little schemer, and it was short, fun and very very good for my overall programming. So my recommendation would be to read first the little schemer, then (its a couple of hours and its worth it) if you decide lisp(or scheme or whatever dialect) is not what you where looking for, you will still have a very fun new way of thinking about recursion!

Answer 1

Berkeley offers CS61a in podcast format. This is an intro to CS class based around SICP. It's a more modern version than the 1982 videos MIT has available.

Answer 2

I enjoyed reading Practical Common LISP and ANSI Common LISP.

On LISP looks interesting, but at $190 seems a little expensive for a book.

Answer 3

I don't know that there's anything special about Lisp that makes it different from learning any other language. You just need to start using it and trying out its features.

One option might be to try a simple project.

Another option, that's specific for Lisp, would be to write an Emacs extension that assists you in your regular work.

Answer 4

There are several options here. First of all, Scheme and Common Lisp are fairly different in rather deep ways (like scoping); you should pick one to start with and stick with it for a while. I'm a Common Lisp fan, but that may be one of those vi-vs-EMACS religious questions.

For Scheme, go for Kent Dybvig's Scheme Programming Language, followed by SICP.

For Common Lisp, as well as Practical Common Lisp, I'd recommend David Lamkins's Successful Lisp. Successful Lisp is also available online for free.

After than, look at Lisp in Small Pieces by Queinnec, and Norvig's Lisp in AI book.

Marty Hall has a nice list at Johns Hopkins.

Updated: I don't mean stick to it forever, just that trying to learn both at once would be confusing.

Answer 5

Once I had a problem. I didn't know lisp. So I decided to download LISP in a box.

Then I found myself with an Emacs install without any help or documentation.

Then I had two problems.

Answer 6

I'd recommend Project Euler as an excellent source of small bite-sized problems you can use to teach yourself any new programming language.