@g_macrae I'd dabble. Start here: http://cdn.oreillystatic.com/news/graphics/prog_lang_poster.pdf then skim the LISP 1.6 manual + HAKMEM, & https://www.amazon.com/Programmers-Work-Interviews-Computer-Industry/dp/1556152116/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1507506772&sr=1-1&keywords=programmers+at+work & https://www.amazon.com/Out-their-Minds-Discoveries-Scientists/dp/0387982698/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QM7X65ZEBV8S1N7TSEC7