Why is Python popular, while Lisp and Scheme aren't?

[Terry Reedy]

"Jens Axel Søgaard" <usenet at soegaard.net> wrote in message
news:3dd1ffd7$0$63936$edfadb0f at dread15.news.tele.dk...

> Beating
>
>   http://www.htdp.org

Thanks.  I'll learn a few things from this. However, apropos to the
thread topic, I am somewhat flabbergasted that anyone could think that
Scheme's

   (sort (cons 1297.04 (cons 20000.00 (cons -505.25 empty))))
   ;; expected value:
   (cons 20000.00 (cons 1297.04 (cons -505.25 empty)))

(section 12.2) is a sensible list notation to inflict on anyone, let
alone newcomers, in preference to anything like Python's [1297.04,
2000.00, -505.25], etc.  I understand that there is a pedagogical
point in using such notation to explain list construction and
destruction, but the above comes well beyond that part ot the book.

> and
>
>  http://www-mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/

I read the hard copy a few years ago due to recommendations of Python
posters.  Also good.

> are hard though.

Terry J. Reedy