books on data structes and algorithms

[cybo]

i have been doing coding for some time now but really never learned about data structures and algorithms formally. can anybody recommend good books on data structures and algorithms? the kind that i'm looking must have exercises and, preferably, solutions to them. it would be the best if the book would be written in the same manner as "Learning Perl" was. one request though, when you are going to recommend a book, assume that you are recommending it to a beginner (something like idiots guide to data structures or idiots guide to algorithms). in my experience it is easier to start with something simple and move on to something more complicated.

any recommendations and suggestions are appreciated.

ps. i mostly code in C, C++ and will soon start in Java.

[CptPicard]

Those things are not for idiots, so I don't think they can be well demonstrated in an idiot's guide... :)

Anyway, get a copy of Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest, Stein: Introduction to Algorithms. A very big, thorough textbook.