In my approach to programming I think that the collected writing of Brian Kernighan are the most influential books on how to think like a programmer I've encountered. On the cover of "The Practice of Programming" are the words:
- Simplicity
- Clarity
- Generality
which given your noted interest in Python reads like the short form of PEP 20. Algorithms are a means to an end as are recipes in cooking. While it is true that you cannot make bread without knowing about the care and feeding of yeast, knowing that you want bread in the first place is the goal. Even though Kernighan's books may seem hopelessly outdated, their unifying themes of the craftsman spoken with a elegance that few technical writers even aspire to make for.
Machines are getting so fast that the formal study (e.g. Knuth) of algorithms can indeed make for a competent mechanic - but that's actually the easy part. What the apprentice of today should strive for is the artistry of the field because that is where humans are truly at their best.
