I started my programming in the more "traditional" way i.e., C/C++ and then later python. When I started doing python, I was flabbergasted to find that I could just do 100**100 and get a complete number without using any additional libraries. Similarly, reversing string was trivial using the [::-1] notation. Heterogeneity of Lists, Dictionaries and the resulting versatility blew my mind. I now understand that I was discovering, at that time, what dynamic language had to offer over static languages.
I say all this because I would really like some great examples and use cases which would sort of highlight what LISP has to offer over the, for the lack of a better word, non-LISP languages. All of the articles that pop up in hacker news or other portals only seem to highlight the fact that LISP presents a new paradigm (?), enhances intuition (?), and that LISP macros are the best-thing ever. I would like to share the sentiment but ideally via a few digestible examples in lieu of a serious commitment required to basically learn an entire language. I would appreciate a few concrete examples (very much like [::-1] and 100**100) that would allow me to get what LISP really is about.
Simple digestable examples that show off power is kind of a cart before horse situation. However, I will try to feed your curiosity.
One simple example I can describe is from the book Practical Common Lisp and it is talked about to some degree in the SICP videos. The idea of the environment being captured as well as what it points to is a big idea. At the risk of not getting it explained 100% to everyone's satisfaction I would suggest reading about it.
I also would suggest the problem of the N queens board. It is a pretty good starting point into how this problem can be solved in lisp. I suggest the MIT SICP lecture on it because it is well paced and interesting. Also it shows off some, for the time, advanced language features.
Another good read is Norvig's PAIP book that you can read on Github. Lots of problems you can jump to with pretty good explanation in my opinion.
I'm sure there are more interesting things I could point to. However, I still consider a read of Practical Common Lisp a good starting point. The book is fairly well paced and not bogged down with learn all the language first-isms. Also, the SICP videos are pretty good to watch. I hope these points are helpful to you.
useful link:
https://github.com/norvig/paip-lisp
https://emacs.stackexchange.com/questions/5465/how-to-migrat...