Lisp is more than a single programming language - it is a family of languages with roots in the 1950s. The name comes from "LISt Processor": lists are central in Lisp, and even the code itself is represented as lists. That enables powerful metaprogramming: programs that generate programs.

What makes Lisp unique is its macro system and its homoiconic nature - code is data and data is code. This lets you define custom language constructs and domain-specific languages tailored to your problem domain. It’s like having a language that adapts to your needs rather than the other way around.

Today, Lisp lives on through dialects such as Common Lisp, Scheme and Clojure. Common Lisp is a versatile, feature-rich variant used for everything from AI research to web development. With tools like SLIME (for Emacs) you get an interactive development environment where you can experiment and modify code in real time. If you appreciate expressive abstractions and metaprogramming, Lisp is well worth exploring.