Why is a Monad Like a Writing Desk?

Embark on a whimsical journey through the world of monads in this 31-minute conference talk from Strange Loop 2012. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, explore the concept of monads and their implementation in Clojure. Follow the adventures of a developer who falls asleep while reading Philip Wadler's papers on monads, and discover why these constructs are crucial for functional programming. Gain insights into three types of monads: the Identity Monad, the Maybe Monad, and the State Monad. Learn from Carin Meier, a software developer with a diverse background in ballet, physics, and 15 years of enterprise and entrepreneurial software development experience. Meier's passion for Clojure's simplicity, power, and elegance shines through as she guides you towards a deeper understanding of monads in this entertaining and enlightening presentation.