Honest Review: Data Structures And Algorithms Made Easy By Narasimha Karumanchi

If you are studying computer science or preparing for software engineering interviews, you have probably searched for the perfect study materials. When I wanted a resource to help me deeply understand core programming concepts mostly so I could create better YouTube videos I noticed one specific book with incredibly high ratings on Amazon. That book is Data Structures And Algorithms Made Easy By Narasimha Karumanchi. I decided to buy it to see if it was really as good as people said. After reading through it, I want to share my honest, first-hand review with you.

Let me start with a warning: if you are a total beginner looking for deep explanations, this book might disappoint you. When I looked at the chapter on Queues, I immediately felt that the theory was lacking. The explanations are not very detailed. In most good textbooks, authors will explain a concept slowly and revisit it multiple times so it really sticks in your mind.

However, reading Data Structures And Algorithms Made Easy By Narasimha Karumanchi feels more like reading a student’s personal study notes. The topics are mostly explained in quick bullet points. The author often leaves it up to the reader to figure things out, assuming you already remember everything from the previous pages. Because it is written like a fast summary, it can be very confusing. I do not recommend this book to anyone who is just starting to learn about data structures and algorithms.

Now, let us talk about the positive side, because there is a big reason why this book is so famous. While it lacks deep theory, it is absolutely amazing for practice problems. If you look at any chapter, you will find a huge number of coding problems related to that specific topic.

The author does a wonderful job of breaking down these problems using helpful diagrams and step-by-step logic. Finding a book that explains problem-solving visually is actually very rare. If you already know the basic theory and just want to solve interview-style questions, then this book is exactly what you need.

But before you buy it, there is a major catch. Every single problem in this book is solved using C and C++. If you are learning to code using Python, Java, or JavaScript, this book is a bad idea. You will waste most of your time struggling to read the syntax instead of learning the actual algorithm. Only buy this book if you are already comfortable reading and writing in C or C++. If you are, you will find the problem explanations and code implementations to be excellent.

I also noticed that the book is written with a very specific goal in mind. It follows a typical Indian textbook style, which means it is heavily focused on getting a specific outcome like passing a competitive exam or clearing a job interview. It is not written to make you a more creative or innovative thinker. It simply gives you the exact tools you need to pass a test.

So, what is my final verdict? If you are a complete beginner, do not start here. Instead, I highly recommend starting with a book by Michael T. Goodrich. His books explain the theories and background concepts in beautiful detail.

Once you have built a strong foundation with a detailed textbook, then you should return to Data Structures And Algorithms Made Easy By Narasimha Karumanchi. At that point, the book will be incredibly useful to you. It is the perfect tool for practicing coding problems and preparing for job interviews, even if it falls short on teaching the initial concepts.

If you want a book that teaches you basic then I recommend watching this video here.