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Computers & Typesetting #A
Computers & Typesetting, Volume A: The TeXBook
TeX represents the state-of-the-art in computer typesetting. It is particularly valuable where the document, article, or book to be produced contains a lot of mathematics, and where the user is concerned about typographic quality. TeX software offers both writers and publishers the opportunity to produce technical text of all kinds, in an attractive form, with the speed and efficiency of a computer system.
Novice and expert users alike will gain from The TeXbook the level of information they seek. Knuth warns newcomers away from the more difficult areas, while he entices experienced users with new challenges. The novice need not learn much about TeX to prepare a simple manuscript with it. But for the preparation of more complex documents, The TeXbook contains all the detail required.
Knuth’s familiar wit, and illustrations specially drawn by Duane Bibby, add a light touch to an unusually readable software manual.
The TeXbook is the first in a five-volume series on Computers and Typesetting, all authored by Knuth.
Novice and expert users alike will gain from The TeXbook the level of information they seek. Knuth warns newcomers away from the more difficult areas, while he entices experienced users with new challenges. The novice need not learn much about TeX to prepare a simple manuscript with it. But for the preparation of more complex documents, The TeXbook contains all the detail required.
Knuth’s familiar wit, and illustrations specially drawn by Duane Bibby, add a light touch to an unusually readable software manual.
The TeXbook is the first in a five-volume series on Computers and Typesetting, all authored by Knuth.
483 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
14 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Donald Ervin Knuth
107 books726 followersDonald Ervin Knuth, born January 10th 1938, is a renowned computer scientist and Professor Emeritus of the Art of Computer Programming at Stanford University.
Author of the seminal multi-volume work The Art of Computer Programming ("TAOCP"), Knuth has been called the "father" of the analysis of algorithms, contributing to the development of, and systematizing formal mathematical techniques for, the rigorous analysis of the computational complexity of algorithms, and in the process popularizing asymptotic notation.
In addition to fundamental contributions in several branches of theoretical computer science, Knuth is the creator of the TeX computer typesetting system, the related METAFONT font definition language and rendering system, and the Computer Modern family of typefaces.
A prolific writer and scholar, Knuth created the WEB/CWEB computer programming systems designed to encourage and facilitate literate programming, and designed the MMIX instruction set architecture.
Author of the seminal multi-volume work The Art of Computer Programming ("TAOCP"), Knuth has been called the "father" of the analysis of algorithms, contributing to the development of, and systematizing formal mathematical techniques for, the rigorous analysis of the computational complexity of algorithms, and in the process popularizing asymptotic notation.
In addition to fundamental contributions in several branches of theoretical computer science, Knuth is the creator of the TeX computer typesetting system, the related METAFONT font definition language and rendering system, and the Computer Modern family of typefaces.
A prolific writer and scholar, Knuth created the WEB/CWEB computer programming systems designed to encourage and facilitate literate programming, and designed the MMIX instruction set architecture.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 26, 2015
Going full on five stars, as I know I will read this again. And probably again. It truly stands as a testament to how I wish computer manuals were written.
That said, it is clearly in the realm of book where you know if you are the target audience if you have even found it. Not something that just comes up on a random walk through the book store.
Highlights for me included a selection of exercises that I could mostly accomplish, a perspective on how the interaction with the program is an iterative one, and a view into the wit of Knuth that is just plain fun to read.
That said, it is clearly in the realm of book where you know if you are the target audience if you have even found it. Not something that just comes up on a random walk through the book store.
Highlights for me included a selection of exercises that I could mostly accomplish, a perspective on how the interaction with the program is an iterative one, and a view into the wit of Knuth that is just plain fun to read.
November 19, 2013
"If you want an in-depth understanding of LaTeX you can start somewhere else. However, if you want to really understand TeX then there is no way to avoid the great Texbook..."
October 25, 2023
This book provides a great bit of detail about plain TeX. That alone probably makes it worth the read, even if LaTeX and other derivatives are the flavor of the day. Unsurprisingly, this book provides a lot of useful info about how any -TeX is working in the background.
However, this book also helped to make so many other concepts click for me. It provides a really tactile description of parsing/lexing/etc. But then also it provides great detail and description of typesetting with glyphs, glue, kerns etc. I might even consider re-approaching the Design Patterns book now that it makes more sense.
However, this book also helped to make so many other concepts click for me. It provides a really tactile description of parsing/lexing/etc. But then also it provides great detail and description of typesetting with glyphs, glue, kerns etc. I might even consider re-approaching the Design Patterns book now that it makes more sense.
April 15, 2020
This is the main book to read for TeX in my opinion.
September 4, 2007
Buku ini lucu karena disertai ilustrasi-ilustrasi yang menarik. Awalnya aku menemukan buku ini di perpustakaan Matematika. Lalu berkat aku kenal teman yang anak Matematika, aku bisa membawa buku ini pulang. Belakangan baru aku menemukan buku ini di salah satu lab ku.
Aku membaca buku ini karena pada saat itu aku ingin belajar mengetik menggunakan format LaTeX. Wah, buku ini terlalu pusing untuk belajar, jika yang diharapkan adalah "how-to". Buku ini banyak bercerita.
Akhirnya aku bisa juga mengetik dengan LaTeX. Caranya dengan mencari artikel-artikel sederhana di Internet. Tak lupa bertanya teman, bila tak kunjungn menemukan jawaban. Tugas Akhir ku aku ketik dengan format LaTex.
Aku membaca buku ini karena pada saat itu aku ingin belajar mengetik menggunakan format LaTeX. Wah, buku ini terlalu pusing untuk belajar, jika yang diharapkan adalah "how-to". Buku ini banyak bercerita.
Akhirnya aku bisa juga mengetik dengan LaTeX. Caranya dengan mencari artikel-artikel sederhana di Internet. Tak lupa bertanya teman, bila tak kunjungn menemukan jawaban. Tugas Akhir ku aku ketik dengan format LaTex.
January 13, 2010
So hard to rate: an excellent tutorial, a wretched reference manual.
January 7, 2011
One of my favorite tech books ever. The book is like Felini's 8 1/2, an self-referential and multi-readable journey through elegance in typography.
September 2, 2016
A documentation for a program couldn't be done better than Knuth does it for his. Clearly explained and engaging.
July 20, 2015
I've more skimmed through it than read it. It's pretty advanced and I don't think it'd be very useful for a basic tex user, but I really liked the humorous voice of the narrator, or so to say.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews