This book investigates the utility of the SNOBOL programming language as a practical tool for non-scientific research and data processing within the humanities. Susan Hockey, drawing on her experience teaching at Oxford, provides a structured pedagogical framework designed to bridge the gap between complex computing environments and the specific needs of scholars in literary and historical fields. The text argues that SNOBOL's unique capabilities make it an accessible and powerful asset for researchers working on both mainframe and microcomputer systems.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for humanities scholars seeking to integrate computational methods into their research. Readers frequently note the clarity of the instructional design, which effectively demystifies programming for those without a technical background.