Reddit mentions of Data Structures and Other Objects Using Java (4th Edition)

So my guess is that you'll have a hard time finding something like that specifically for ruby. I'm not sure what your skill level is, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say you're a novice programmer (passe correct me if I'm wrong). If that's the case I would recommend a more general book on data structures. Such a book would teach you fundamental constructs that would help you learn ruby concepts more easily. The benefit to learning from a data structures book first is that data structures books are often filled with visual aids by virtue of their topic.

Personally, I learned this stuff from Data Structures and Other Objects Using Java (4th Edition). But that requires a basic understanding of Java which is maybe not in the cards here. There are other fantastic books on the topic.

Secondarily, if you're visually inclined, maybe an online course would be best. Especially the courses with high production value like Code School often have tons of visual aids and in depth explanations of the more complex topics. Admittedly Code School is typically frowned upon because the library they have doesn't really justify their asking price, but that was just one example. Other excellent online resources exist, some of them are even free.

I'll use this opportunity to name drop one of my favorite resources: Learn Ruby The Hard Way. He takes a bottom up approach building new concepts on top of old ones in a step-by-step fashion which I think is excellent for a lot of novices. The book is free to read online but if you pay for it, you also get a bunch of video lectures which many find helpful.

Lastly, I'll leave you with some food for thought. I am reminded here of one of my math professor's from college. She was teaching us how to read a math textbook when she said (paraphrased):

>What matters is not that you understand the proof right away but rather that you understand the theorem. Understand what something does first, then later understand why it works that way.

I am reminded by this because you don't always grasp something perfectly the first time around. However if you first just gain a working understanding of the topic and then give it some time and revisit the topic when you're older and wiser, you'll be able to understand it perfectly.

http://www.amazon.com/Structures-Other-Objects-Using-Edition/dp/0132576244