Bookshelf Classic: The Art Of Computer Programming
Anyone involved in computer programming should be familiar with the works of Donald Knuth (the K is hard and the name is pronounced Ka-Nooth). If not, the New York Times can remedy that, having recently published a profile on Knuth titled The Yoda of Silicon Valley . Wise he is. Show he does, the dark and light arts of algorithms: Volume 1: Fundamental Algorithms Volume 2: Semi-numerical Algorithms Volume 3: Sorting and Searching Volume 4A: Combinatorial Algorithms A very important concept, however, can be found in the title. While students study computer science , Knuth reminds us it's still an art . In that sense, I would compare his books to the collected works of Shakespeare -- creative, insightful, but difficult to read and better understood in a study group or book club. Whether Knuth or Shakespeare, their works are rarely read in their entirety, but their impact can still be felt throughout society. Programming is a science, but it is apart from