I've skipped around but basically read the entire book. This book is great for learning data structures that are necessary to making a game or an engine. if you think you don't need data structures like these, you really do need to buy this book. All of the structures come with implementation as well as graphical, interactive demonstrations. Very good book overall

...Now for the good: The book is awesome. It is well written, packed full of information about everything relating to data structures and games; and the best part: It is written in such a way so that you can apply the structures and algorithms to non-game programs as well! They should have called this "Data Structures For Anyone". This is easily one of the greatest books I've ever bought.

The title is scary. Really scary. Data structures ... *shudder* ... it brings up nightmare images of professors who droned for hours while the class snored ... it sounds like one of those books that is so dry you have to soak it in water before you read it. It isn't.

This book is excellent. My husband thinks I'm nuts because it kept me up late reading in bed, but it's that good. The author explains complex concepts very clearly, with some humor to keep it entertaining. He's a game programmer writing for other game programmers, which is a refreshing change from the myriad books that seem to be by academics writing for review committees.

It explains all of the many ways data can be handled, from simple arrays to recursive structures, hashing, and other complex forms. Ok, any good advanced programming book would tell you this -- but they rarely if ever bring up considerations like how memory caching should influence your choice of data structures, or the impact of those choices on game design.

In addition to data structures, the author covers what you can do with them, and why. Topics such as pathfinding are covered and demonstrated. SDL, a cross-platform graphics library, is used for the demos and the coverage of that is almost worth the price of admission. (though I recommend Focus on SDL in addition)

If you're writing a game you need to know this stuff. Read this book.