Book · 2015
Elements of Programming Interviews in Python
by Adnan Aziz
300 problems, a built-in online judge, and a study guide calibrated to get you through a FAANG coding interview in four weeks flat.
What does Reddit think of Elements of Programming Interviews in Python?
A ↑42 comment uses EPI as the anchor in a full DS&A acronym glossary alongside CLRS and CTCI, which tells you exactly the company it keeps. A ↑26 comment calls it "phenomenal" and catalogs what you get: 300 problems, C++, Java, and Python editions, solutions, a study guide, and an online judge for every problem. That's the pitch in one place. That framing positions EPI as a pacing tool, not just a problem dump. r/Python surfaces it twice, though both threads are really about whether LeetCode-style prep is worthwhile at all. Sentiment across all three subs registers as neutral. Nobody is raving; nobody is burning the book.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · FAANG interview preparation
- · Data structures and algorithms
- · Structured multi-week study curriculum
- · Comparison with CTCI and CLRS
- · Python-specific edition for interview coding
Common praise
- + The built-in online judge for all 300 problems removes the friction of tracking down extra practice platforms.
- + r/cscareerquestions regulars cite it alongside CLRS and CTCI as one of the three texts you actually need to know.
- + The study guide lets you build a realistic timeline — r/ExperiencedDevs pegs FAANG-readiness at two to four weeks on it.
- + Having Python, Java, and C++ editions means you can work in the language your interview will actually use.
Common criticism
- − The 300-problem volume works against anyone who can't carve out consistent nightly hours — the ↑43 r/cscareerquestions thread makes clear that even experienced devs sometimes decide the prep cost isn't worth it.
- − Sentiment is flat across all three subreddits, which means enthusiasm is present but not overwhelming.
- − r/Python threads surface it mostly as a footnote in debates about whether algorithmic prep matters at all, not as a standalone recommendation.
- − No commenter in the dataset distinguishes the Python edition from the C++ or Java versions, so it's unclear whether the Python translation adds anything beyond syntax.
Who it's for
If you're targeting a FAANG or FAANG-adjacent coding interview and want a single book that includes the problems, the solutions, and a judge to verify your answers, this is the one r/cscareerquestions points to. The r/ExperiencedDevs crowd treats it as a curriculum tool: block off two to four weeks, do 1-2 hours most nights, and use the study guide to sequence your work. If you're a hobbyist or a self-taught developer who finds Leetcode-style prep alienating — both the ↑43 and ↑24 threads are full of people saying exactly that — this book will feel like more of the same grind. It doesn't make the case for itself philosophically. It just gives you 300 reps.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for Elements of Programming Interviews in Python?
Top-upvoted quotes across the subreddits where this book is mentioned. Click through to read the full thread.
“This approach to interviewing basically has me not even wanting to bother, and I don't have anywhere near your experience. I have a comfy lazy underpaid dev job. I'd love to make more money but I'm 40+ w/a family and don't have time for this s***. You're probably good w/just more Leetcode practice…
“All acronyms from grandparent post: DS&A: Data Structures and Algorithms (well-known texts include CLRS aka "Introduction to Algorithms" by Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, and Clifford Stein.) CTCI: Cracking The Coding Interview by Gayle Laakmann McDowell EPI: Elements …
“All it takes is time, repetitions, and a proper study curriculum to keep you always challenged, but still moving forward. If you can dedicate 1 to 2 hours *most* nights, you can prepare for a FAANG coding interview in 2 weeks without being completely burned out. Another 2 weeks and you can be prepa…
“Elements of Programming Interviews is a phenomenonal resource. The book comes with 300 problems, solutions, a study guide, and an online judge (like LeetCode) for all 300 problems. It has C++, Python, and Java editions.
“Leetcode is not the only way. I never use it, and I had never heard about it when I got my first dev job. I find it much more satisfying and challenging to create my own projects, and learn about best practices etc. while working on them. Solving random, generic coding challenges online can be fin…
“I work at Faang and will be very transparent, you will get demolished if you went into a data structure and algorithm interview today with that level of prep. I get that everyone is trying to be encouraging in this thread and saying what do you have to lose and while this is true, I have a similar f…
“If you want to crush these programming interviews using python then you'll want to immerse yourself in the following: **Introduction to Algorithms (CLRS)** [](
“This is key, OP if you can start saving any money to slowly build into an emergency fund it really calms the nerves. If you can get that plus unemployment it can help stretch out your runway. It may seem hard at first, but every bit helps. Once you get say 3 months savings it can really change your…
Convinced? Pick up Elements of Programming Interviews in Python
What else does r/cscareerquestions read?
Other books mentioned in the same sub, ranked. Shared-sub overlap with this title breaks ties.
Cracking the Coding Interview
Gayle Laakmann McDowell
The book that turned software hiring into a sport — written by the ex-Googler who introduced programming challenges to the process in the first place.
Designing Data-Intensive Applications
Martin Kleppmann
A backend engineer's field guide to the tradeoffs behind every database, queue, and distributed system you will ever touch.
The Pragmatic Programmer
Andy Hunt
Two veterans hand you a checklist for the craft: don't write code you don't need, own your tools, and fix the broken window before someone else does.
Clean Code
Robert C. Martin
The book 536 Reddit threads cite when arguing about naming variables — revered by beginners, argued over by seniors.
Design Patterns
Erich Gamma
The 1994 Gang of Four catalog that named 23 object-oriented patterns, gave developers a shared vocabulary, and taught a generation to over-apply both.
The Mythical Man-Month
Frederick P. Brooks Jr.
Fred Brooks spent the 1960s building IBM's OS/360 and wrote down everything that went wrong — in 1975, and it still lands.
Elements of Programming Interviews in Python — frequently asked
Is Elements of Programming Interviews in Python better than Cracking the Coding Interview?+
Depends on what you want from the comparison. In the dataset, EPI appears alongside CTCI in the same glossary-style comment (↑42, r/cscareerquestions) treating both as canonical DS&A texts. EPI's edge is the bundled online judge and the study guide; CTCI has a larger community and more name recognition. Neither sub in the data declares a winner outright.
What does Reddit actually say about Elements of Programming Interviews in Python?+
The ↑26 comment calling it "phenomenal" is the warmest take. Most mentions slot it into a curriculum list rather than single it out. Nobody argues against it; nobody makes a strong case you'd be lost without it.
Is Elements of Programming Interviews worth it if I'm not trying to get into FAANG?+
Probably not the right fit. Every recommendation in the dataset is anchored to FAANG prep specifically — the r/ExperiencedDevs framework is explicitly about passing a FAANG coding interview. If you're aiming at mid-market or startup roles, the ↑43 r/cscareerquestions thread is instructive: a comfortable dev with a family decided the 300-problem grind wasn't worth it for a pay bump.
How long does it take to work through Elements of Programming Interviews in Python?+
The r/ExperiencedDevs data gives the clearest answer: 1-2 hours most nights gets you FAANG-ready in two weeks on the aggressive end, four weeks without full burnout. That framing comes from a ↑34 comment treating EPI as part of a structured curriculum. Your mileage will vary based on your existing DS&A foundation.