How to Learn Clojure Through Brave Clojure

Brave Clojure (braveclojure.com) is a learning hub built around the free online book Clojure for the Brave and True. The main path is to read the book to learn Lisp and functional programming, then extend that foundation with the site's Quests, open-source project list, and email resources. It suits self-directed beginners who want a free, book-led route into Clojure; it is not a structured course with exercises, grading, or a fixed schedule.

Start With the Book

The site's core resource is Clojure for the Brave and True, described as a way to "unravel the mysteries of Lisp and functional programming." The book is the spine of the learning path: it introduces Clojure concepts and, per the site, uses playful scenarios (the page mentions punching hobbits and tracking down glittery vampires) to keep the material engaging.

You have three access options, all listed on the page:

The page does not state prices or whether the Amazon/No Starch editions differ in content, so check those links directly before buying.

Build a Study Routine Around the Book

Because the site provides a book rather than a syllabus, you supply the structure. A workable approach:

1. Read one chapter at a time in the free online edition, typing out the code examples rather than copying them.
2. Reproduce each example from memory after reading, then compare against the text. This surfaces gaps in your understanding of Lisp syntax and functional patterns.
3. Note concepts you can't yet explain — the site frames Clojure as introducing "powerful concepts implemented in a simple, cohesive, and practical language," so expect unfamiliar ideas like immutability and higher-order functions to need repeat passes.
4. Verify progress by writing a small program that uses the chapter's concepts without referring back to the text.

The site does not publish a chapter list or estimated completion time, so pace yourself by chapter rather than by a promised schedule.

Extend Beyond the Book

Once you're working through the book, the site offers three supplementary routes:

Brave Clojure Quests

Quests are described as "a steady stream of instructional material for deep topics." The first planned quest covers parallel programming and Clojure's reducers library. Note the page says it "will be finished pretty soon" — treat Quests as a future resource, not something to plan your current study around. You can follow @nonrecursive or join the announcements mailing list to hear when content lands.

Open Source Clojure Projects

The site curates projects that are "well documented and actively seeking new contributors." This is the practical bridge from reading to writing real code. Use it after you're comfortable with the book's basics: pick one project, read its documentation, and start with a small issue. The page does not list the specific projects, so browse the section on the site for current entries.

The Clojure Atom Email

A bi-weekly email promising "a single link to a high-quality, free instructional resource" every other Thursday. The page describes it as still being prepared ("Once it's ready..."), so sign up for the announcements list if you want it when it launches. This is a low-effort way to keep a steady trickle of material coming in alongside the book.

Consider the Job Board Only Later

Brave Clojure Jobs is billed as "the first and only job board just for Clojurians," with listings for people who want to "get paid to write Clojure." It's relevant once you can build things, not while you're learning syntax. Employers are also addressed on the page as a way to find candidates — useful context if you're evaluating the site's credibility as a community hub, but not part of the learning path itself.

Decide If This Fits You

Choose Brave Clojure if you want a free, book-first introduction to Clojure and functional programming, you're comfortable structuring your own study, and you plan to move into open-source contribution afterward. Look elsewhere if you need graded exercises, a cohort, or a guaranteed sequence of lessons — the site's Quests and email are described as forthcoming, and the book is the only complete learning resource named on the page.