&quot;LISP is such an EPIC language...&quot;<p>IMO, the true advantage of lisp nowadays is that of an abstract syntax tree algebra ripped clean of cruft (well, that&#x27;s scheme, but...). It&#x27;s much more useful as a way of thinking rather than as a language. &quot;Structure and interpretation of computer programs&quot;is great because if one goes through the entire book and especially implements the scheme interpreter in e.g. C++ or whatever living language it gives you this fantastic general normalized thought model of programming languages which makes it much easier to learn new languages and concepts. That&#x27;s anyway my experience.<p>So, to me, Lisp is useful similarly as say, relational theory is useful in software designed (having a relational model is wonderful for complex systems even with a lack of SQL database as a part of the system - if there is more than one &#x27;thing&#x27; screw objects and rather use explicit tables and maps).