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Selected Papers on Fun and Games byKnuth
Donald E. Knuth’s influence in computer science ranges from the invention of methods for translating and defining programming languages to the creation of the TeX and METAFONT systems for desktop publishing. His award-winning textbooks have become classics that are often given credit for shaping the field, and his scientific papers are widely referenced and stand as milestones of development over a wide variety of topics. The present volume is the eighth in a series of his collected papers.
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First published October 15, 2010
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About the author
Donald Ervin Knuth
107 books717 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 9, 2022
This book is Don's final Volume in his CSLI Selected Papers (in computer science) series. It's a catch all for his papers (See vol. 1 for Selected CS papers) which didn't really quite fit into other the other volumes on algorithms, languages, etc.
To give you a sense of the contents his earliest paper while he was in high school was to Mad Magazine. I won't spoil it for you, but this is not an excuse to buy this book. He has a wide variety of other unrelated papers on little mathematical hobbies including car license plates, Yellow road warning signs, Christmas cards, and I'll stop. You know to know and understand DEK why he collected this various papers papers into this volume.
If you think this book sounds from one of the world's great living intellects, just skip this review: you are wasting your time. Don't both to look at the book except in a public library. You won't fathom by he collected the papers in this volume.
Knuth (you are still here) is known for his The Art of Computer Programming (TAOCP) and a host a papers and other books. This are highly technical books criticize by some in this era of higher level languages for continuing to use a version of his MIX machine assembly language code (now MMIX). He has his reasons; I won't go into those.
But these paragraphs are supposed to be for Fun and Games, in the mathematical and computer science sense. You can examine scanned pages of the Table of Contents and sample pages on Amazon before purchase; you can buy a paperback printing. I've said the major points. If you are really brave, you might buy the other 7 volumes, and so far 4 volumes of TAOCP.
To give you a sense of the contents his earliest paper while he was in high school was to Mad Magazine. I won't spoil it for you, but this is not an excuse to buy this book. He has a wide variety of other unrelated papers on little mathematical hobbies including car license plates, Yellow road warning signs, Christmas cards, and I'll stop. You know to know and understand DEK why he collected this various papers papers into this volume.
If you think this book sounds from one of the world's great living intellects, just skip this review: you are wasting your time. Don't both to look at the book except in a public library. You won't fathom by he collected the papers in this volume.
Knuth (you are still here) is known for his The Art of Computer Programming (TAOCP) and a host a papers and other books. This are highly technical books criticize by some in this era of higher level languages for continuing to use a version of his MIX machine assembly language code (now MMIX). He has his reasons; I won't go into those.
But these paragraphs are supposed to be for Fun and Games, in the mathematical and computer science sense. You can examine scanned pages of the Table of Contents and sample pages on Amazon before purchase; you can buy a paperback printing. I've said the major points. If you are really brave, you might buy the other 7 volumes, and so far 4 volumes of TAOCP.
December 5, 2015
Some papers where definitely worth reading, as usual. They combine fun and deep thoughts about maths or life.
However, I've disliked some papers I consider too heavy and NOT fun, even they look like puzzles or games.
However, I've disliked some papers I consider too heavy and NOT fun, even they look like puzzles or games.
June 19, 2024
Dense.
January 13, 2019
Knuth è Knuth. Per un matematico e informatico quale io sono è la cosa più vicina a un dio in terra. Se aggiungete la mia rinomata serietà, capirete perché non potevo non comprarmi questo volume, che raccoglie articoli non esattamente accademici, da "Controesempio a una congettura di Peano" che dimostra che 1+1=3 in certi casi, come per l'appunto la nascita del suo primo figlio, oppure due lunghe dissertazioni su targhe automobilistiche "vanità" e cartelli stradali americani. Non spaventatevi troppo dalla lunghezza del testo: più di 100 pagine sono dedicate al codice per Adventure (chi ha la mia età sa bene di che si parla). Ci sono anche tratti personali, come le cartoline matematiche natalizie che lui e sua moglie hanno spedito negli anni agli amici o il concorso che aveva vinto da ragazzo trovando il maggior numero di anagrammi parziali del nome dello sponsor di una trasmissione televisiva. Il libro è insomma consigliato ai fan di Knuth (quorum ego) ma non al lettore comune.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews