What is the big idea with algorithms?
raffi: Understanding algorithms and how to analyze them will make you a better programmer.  Should you memorize every algorithm and clever trick that others have come up with?  I haven't.  However knowing that there are different approaches with various space/time trade offs gives me options to consider when coding something up.  It also helps make me aware of the pitfalls of doing things a certain way.Could I whip up a tree balancing routine on a whiteboard on command?  No!  But, I'm aware that such algorithms exist and what situation I'd need to apply them to.I think this is what you should shoot for.  As for Algorithms in a Nutshell, if it is the book I'm thinking of then bravo.  I like how the authors chose to present the algorithms using code and not the awful psuedo-code found in most algorithms texts.