Computers & Typesetting, Volume A: The TeXbook (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This guide to computer typesetting using TeX is written by Donald Knuth, the system's creator. TeX offers both writers and publishers the ability to produce plain or technical text, especially text containing a great deal of mathematics, comparable to the work of the finest printers. Novice and expert alike will find The TeXbook useful; it is accessible to the beginner, and also contains the details required by experienced users. --This text refers to the Spiral-bound edition.

From the Back Cover

creator, Donald E. Knuth.

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.

0201134470B04062001

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional (January 11, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201134470
• ISBN-13: 978-0201134476
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #308,100 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, but weak as a reference, June 1, 2002

By	Christopher League (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The TeXbook (Spiral-bound)

I bought the TeXbook two years ago, but finally spent a few days reading it cover to cover -- and I am impressed. As many others, I started exploring plain TeX because I wanted more from LaTeX. I was surprised to find how simple and, yes, *elegant* TeX is in comparison. I guess TeX is to LaTeX as C is to C++. Certainly do not buy this book if you just want to use LaTeX!

The writing is superb, full of fine detail and more than a few clever jokes. Why can't recent books about modern systems be so delightful? Maybe David Pogue's Missing Manual series comes close, but the topics are not quite as technical.

As a reference, the TeXbook is weak because each command or concept is scattered across so many places: one introductory chapter, one summary chapter, in exercises, in "dangerous bend" passages, and so on. I believe the book is best organized for front to back reading, although probably in two or three passes if you include the dangerous bends. For reference, I prefer TeX by Topic by Victor Eijkhout. It is out of print, but available for download on his web site.

The paperback edition of the TeXbook is spiral bound. I appreciate that it lays flat, but the back pages are always falling out of the binding!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you use TeX, this is the one indispensable reference., March 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The TeXbook (Spiral-bound)

While I have to give this book a 10, it is only fair to mention that there are many who find it impossible to read. Knuth wrote three books simultaneously: a guide to TeX for the nontechnical (typesetters, academic department secretaries), for the technical (computer scientists, mathematicians), and for the expert (Knuth himself).

II you are coming to this book for the first time, follow Knuth's advice and ignore the "dangerous bends."

Knuth is one of the world's leading computer scientists and TeX is his most famous program. It is extremely rare for a programmer at Knuth's level to write the documentation -- and rarer still for him to succeed.

However, after you've read this book, and before you decide that you know everything there is to know about design and typography, please read "The Elements of Typographic Style" by Robert Bringhurst

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly readable, June 28, 2005

By	Adam Baker (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The TeXbook (Spiral-bound)

I'm feeling kind of stupid that I spent time reading other books about TeX. I assumed that this one would be incomprehensible, but nothing is further from the truth. It's readable, yet precise. The exercises are helpful. The jokes really are funny, and not distracting. It's amazing that computer science's most brilliant mind is also it's most brilliant writer (that I have run across, anyway).

I agree with the one reviewer that the organzation is imperfect. But, I can't say I've found a book about TeX that does a better job.