title: What's a good beginning text on functional programming?
body: <p>I like to study languages outside my comfort zone, but I've had a hard time finding a place to start for functional languages.  I heard a lot of good things about <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/0070004846" rel="noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Structure and Interpretations of Computer Programs</a>, but when I tried to read through it a couple of years ago it just seemed to whiz over my head.  I do way better with books than web sites, but when I visit the local book store the books on LISP look kind of scary.</p>
  
  <p>So what's a good starting point?  My goal is to be able to use a functional programming language to solve simple problems in 6 months or so, and the ability to move to more advanced topics, recognize when a functional language is the right tool for the job, and use the language to solve more problems over the course of 2-3 years.  I like books that are heavy on examples but also include challenges to work through.  Does such a thing exist for functional languages?</p>