Rating: 
Summary: I can't stand discrete!
Review: ...that shouldn't reflect badly on this book though. While I think discrete sucks, I think this book does a good job for the discrete courses I did. I think the examples are good & helpful with doing the problems, and the problems range from easy verifications of theorems or mechanical computations to trickier problems or proofs of theorems. This book was pretty good, IMO. (for a discrete text anyway)
Rating:
Summary: I can't stand discrete!
Review: ...that shouldn't reflect badly on this book though. While I think discrete sucks, I think this book does a good job for the discrete courses I did. I think the examples are good & helpful with doing the problems, and the problems range from easy verifications of theorems or mechanical computations to trickier problems or proofs of theorems. This book was pretty good, IMO. (for a discrete text anyway)
Rating:
Summary: A math book that's actually understandable
Review: Finally! A math book which is acutally well written, has enough examples to illustrate key concepts, and has enough problems to keep the math student busy. Discrete mathematics is a fairly involved subject and books on the topic range from relatively basic to extremely difficult treatises which only a PhD or a math professor could understand. Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics : An Applied Introduction by Ralph Grimaldi is a book which will appeal to both sides of the spectrum. The book is written so that most undergraduate students will have little difficulty understanding, but graduate students will also find it indispensable as a reference. The illustrated examples are actually relevant to the homework problems, which is often missing in mathematical texts. Finally, the book does not try to overwhelm the reader with lofty proofs or stilted language. Each chapter builds on the previous subjects learned. That's all I can ask for in a math text. I like the coverage of combinatorics in the first chapter, which does a better job than many probability textbooks. And be sure to understand Euclid's theroem and the examples given in the book. Quite a few high-tech companies will ask you about the problem Grimaldi gives as an example of Euclid's theorem in their job interviews.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent introductory discrete math text
Review: Grimaldi has produced a wonderful book. All the important topics in discrete math are explored, with many applications to computer science, the main client field of discrete math. The text is well balanced between theory and application. Especially nice is the introduction to modern algebra, with applications to coding theory. I highly recommend this text to anyone wishing to explore discrete mathematics. A good understanding of the concepts presented by Grimaldi will prepare the reader for more advanced work in discrete math (Aigner), computer science (Knuth), or theory of computation (Sipser).
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Summary: A classic introduction to discrete and combinatorial math
Review: Grimaldi surveys the world of discrete math and combinatorics in his book, which is suitable for a full-year college course in the subject. The book is chock full of examples and proofs, although explanations would sometimes be more effective if less terse and more conversational. Grimaldi's book focuses on the practical, focusing on elements of discrete and combinatorial math that are used in engineering, science, and computer science. For example, the book teaches about finite state machines and graph theory; I've made good use of both subjects in my work in the software industry. Disclaimer: I, too, am a former student of Grimaldi's.
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Summary: Good book!
Review: Grimaldi's examples are very terse. His answers to his exercises are even worse. A study guide that showed the reasoning behind his answers would be very helpful. As it is, his "solutions" often present only the solution and none of the steps. I'm not sure how he's getting good reviews on his book. In my 3 years of college math, Grimaldi's is the most difficult book I've ever had the displeasure of learning from. I can't wait to sell it back.
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Summary: Poor excuse for a textbook
Review: I used this book for a Discrete math class I took. I found it generally confusing and poorly written. I was so exasperated with the book, I was tempted to give it to an NRA member for target practice. Now, when I need to look something up, I refer to Edward Scheinerman's book or Susanna Epp's excellent Discrete Math text. Zamir Bavel's "Math Companion" is also excellent. Grimaldi is fine for math geniuses, but since I'm not one and neither is anyone taking Discrete math for the first time, it's a useless book.
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Summary: #1 discrete math book
Review: In my oponion this book is excellent. It is clear and full of useful examples and worthy problems. The style of the auther is very nice. He solves the examples by explaining wrong ways which many of students may think of as correct ways. This characteristic is one of the best points about this book.
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Summary: It is possible to study on your own
Review: It is common to feel you need someone to explain what you are reading while studying from a book and even more if the subject is mathematics. That is what surprises readers while starting to explore this interesting book.
At the beginning it is hard to believe how simple it becomes to understand the different topics. That is a consequence of the easy way readers assimilate what is learnt by analyzing general and particular examples. That is the way in which the book presents the different units: the usual incomprehensible explanations are replaced by a lot of short examples which are easily understandable. Students not only feel they understand what they read but also enjoy and are attracted by a subject that is nice when comprehended.
Even if it seems to be too long, its more than eight-hundred pages do not reflect the period of time which takes to learn each unit. They are considerably short and are also divided in sections that reduce the difficulty of continuous reading, especially after having stopped for a wile, leaving aside the need to go over the last pages.
I consider this is a recommendable book for those students who are studying all the mathematic points which are analyzed in the volume. I believe it is the best complement for daily classes or a good option to study on your own.
Rating: 
Summary: This is unreadable
Review: There is no doubt Grimaldi must have been paid per page, because if quality mattered at all, the book would have been cut down to around 200 pages, and it would still be an easy read for first-year students. The redundancy and amount of trivial examples is so overwhelming that actually finding any content becomes like a search for a needle in a haystack. This is unfortunate, becase what the book covers is rather interesting.
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