[plt-scheme] The Lambda Calculus behind functional programming

Matthias Felleisen wrote:
> 
> On Aug 29, 2007, at 7:10 PM, Michael Vanier wrote:
> 
>> I've recently been working through the book "An Introduction to Lambda 
>> Calculi for Computer Scientists":
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Lambda-Calculi-Computer-Scientists/dp/0954300653/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-0899652-5021466?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188428868&sr=8-1 
>>
>>
>> It's a decent book.  Not without flaws, but it gets the job done.
> 
> I don't know Chris's book. I do know that lazy fp people tend to have an 
> abusively narrow view of the connection between CS and LC. So study the 
> source, Luke, is still a good thing.

Can you elaborate?

> 
> 
>> It's nowhere near as comprehensive as Barendregt, but it goes over the 
>> essentials in a reasonably short space.
>>
>> Also, I just noticed that Church's original monograph on lambda 
>> calculus is in print:
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/Calculi-Lambda-Conversion-Mathematics-Studies/dp/0691083940/ref=sr_1_2/103-0899652-5021466?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188428868&sr=8-2 
>>
> 
> I read the original book (194x) during my dissertation time, I own it of 
> course, and I cannot recommend it for a computer scientist.
> 
> It's like studying physics from Newton's manuscript in the late 1800s. 
> They had made progress and we need to acknowledge the man but not that 
> writing.
> 
> -- Matthias
> 

No argument.  I was thinking of it mainly for its historical interest.

Mike