LaTeX: A Document Preparation System 2nd Edition

by Leslie Lamport (Author)

62 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0201529838

ISBN-10: 0201529831

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This authoritative user’s guide and reference for the LaTeX computer typesetting system, written by the system’s creator, has been revised to document features available in release LaTeX2e.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This authoritative user's guide and reference manual for the LATEX computer typesetting system has been revised to document features now available in the new standard software release - LATEX2e. The new edition features additional styles and functions, improved font handling, and enhanced graphics capabilities. Other parts of the book have been revised to reflect user comments and suggestions. Selected sections have been rewritten to explain challenging concepts or functions, and the descriptions of both MakeIndex and BibTEX have been updated. New LATEX users will want to start with this book, and current users, particularly as they upgrade to the LATEX2e software, will be eager to obtain the most up-to-date version of its associated manual.
Features

Revised version of the authoritative user's guide and reference manual for the LATEX computer typesetting system.

Features the new standard software release - LATEX2e.

Sections rewritten to explain difficult concepts or functions.

0201529831B04062001

About the Author

Leslie Lamport, a computer scientist, is well known for his contributions to concurrent computing and distributed systems. His "Time, Clocks, and the Ordering of Events in a Distributed System" paper has been honored for its enduring influence on the field. Lamport is also known for creating the LaTeX typesetting system and the best-selling book, LaTeX, Second Edition, which documents it (Addison-Wesley, 1994). Now at Microsoft Research in Mountain View, California, he began his work on TLA+ at the Digital (later Compaq) Systems Research Center in Palo Alto. Lamport, who earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from Brandeis University, is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

0201529831AB06262002

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Addison-Wesley Professional; 2nd edition (June 30, 1994)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0201529831
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0201529838
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.12 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.24 x 7.42 x 0.48 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #116,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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62 ratings

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2 star		3%
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Just a guy with a job

The most important LaTeX documention; still great in 2017

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2017

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Though I have read a fair number of LaTeX books, some of which are superb, I think that this relatively short book by the original author of LaTeX is still the most essential reference (and the first two chapters are still the best "getting started" guide). If you are new to LaTeX this is definitely the place to start, but it has much to offer long-time users, as well.

One of the benefits of writing documents in LaTeX (and directly in TeX) is that the investment in learning the tool pays off across decades. My copy has a copyright date of 1994 and a printing date of 1996, and is still entirely relevant in 2017.

For very casual users of LaTeX, this book combined with the excellent documentation that comes with LaTeX itself may be all that you ever need to use the system comfortably. However, I suspect most users would want to supplement that material with The LaTeX Companion by Mittelback and Goossens (isbn: 0201362996) and The Guide to LaTeX by Kipka and Daly (isbn: 0-321-17385-6).

8 people found this helpful

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Terribly outdated, but still necessary

Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2019

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I hate LaTeX. I really hate it. It's incredibly powerful, but incredibly dated, with the community relying on an endless carousel of add-on packages, replacing earlier add-on packages, back to the release of LaTeX 2e in 1994. Much of this is just to do the basics, tables being a glaring example. And like much FOSS software, there is a seriously lack of documentation that is complete, up to date, and understandable, let alone all three at once.

If you're going to learn LaTeX well enough to understand what you're doing (a worthy goal if you use LaTeX regularly), this book is still required reading. This is unfortunate, because anything you learn within may or may not be what you're supposed to do nowadays. On the upside, the writing is clear and complete, and certain bits of LaTeX knowledge that are difficult to piece together otherwise are explained here. Get yourself a copy; it's worth it.

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Amazon Customer

Bought used copy of book in excellent condition. Great contents!

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2018

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I purchased a used copy of this book from Thriftbooks at about $ 6 which is far lower than the price of a new book. The book was delivered in 3-4 days, and it was in an EXCELLENT condition. No torn pages, no scribbles nothing.

This is the 1st time I have purchased a used book and am very pleased with this experience. It's a very good option
to buy such books which don't age with editions, at a very reasonable price.
Skimmed thru the contents, and like all other reviews, this is certainly a good book, covering lots of useful
material about Latex. I also purchased a used copy of LaTeX Companion by Mittelbach & Goossens (from another
source), and that too came in a very good condition.

Lamport's book is, of course, a classic, like K&R's book on C. I learnt a lot just reading through (as this book suggests)
going thru chaps 2 & 3. I can't wait to get back to my LaTeX Project.

Keep up this exchange of good quality used books thru Amazon! It's quite a steal. Great service by Thriftbooks for
sourcing this excellent copy of a used book. Highly recommended provider!

One person found this helpful

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David B. Thompson

Essential for Use of LaTeX

Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2006

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I started using LaTeX (and TeX) over 15 years ago. I was dissatisfied with the way that Word handled equations (it didn't then) and sought software that would typeset my technical text and mathematics well. A friend and colleague introduced me to LaTeX. I bought a copy of Lamport's book, a PC port of the software, and started using LaTeX to set my work.

I've been using LaTeX ever since. I use it for everything I write, with the exception of a few works that require me to use Word, either because my colleagues use it or the research sponsor requires it. Recently, one of my principal research sponsors began accepting PDF format reports, so I may escape one more instance of using Word. That pleases me. But, I digress.

LaTeX is a set of macros (programs) that implement a variety of styles in the TeX language. Use of LaTeX is through a number of mark-up commands (in the same fashion that web documents are set with HTML mark-up) that are applied to textual elements of a document. Most of your LaTeX documents comprise your text. A small amount of text will be allocated to LaTeX mark-up.

This book provides the necessary instruction for learning to use LaTeX. It is written for technical users, but not computer experts. That is, Lamport expects the users of the software to have a technical background because that's the goal of the software -- to set technical documents. But he doesn't expect the reader to be a computer expert.

The book is manageable in length too. It is not so long as to require multiple sittings to work through it. Once familiar with the content, it is fairly easy to find what you are looking for in the text. The index is complete and useful. When using Lamport, I'm reminded of Kernighan and Ritchie (The C Programming Language) -- Lamport has a similar kind of easy flow to the text.

While the material is not easy, Lamport's book does a good job of conveying use of a highly technical piece of software in a readable fashion. If you are going to use LaTeX, you will want a copy of this book. You will also want a copy of Mittelbach and others LaTeX Companion (2nd edition) to help use the plethora of add-on packages available for LaTeX.

So, download a install of TeX (and LaTeX -- Google the TeX User's Group) for your computer, buy a copy of Lamport (and Mittelbach and others), read through Lamport, and start playing with LaTeX. If you write technical documents that require mathematics, you'll find LaTeX very useful. When you find yourself writing longer documents, the ability to automatically generate tables of contents, lists of figures and tables, bibliographies, and indices will make the software all the more valuable and the time invested learning to use it well-spent.

Welcome to the world of LaTeX. Don't forget to join the TeX User's Group and support development of the software!

16 people found this helpful

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spicybeefsoup

Must-have for beginner

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2021

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Book quality very good. I consider this as a LaTeX beginner guide with verbose on.

Also I find it very helpful that many seemingly obvious and basic concepts are very well and clearly explained here.

Not terribly outdated. these are essential background for understanding LaTeX better.

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Chris Hinde

The definitive Latex manual

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 2, 2013

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Latex: a document preparation system was stolen in a burglary, along with my laptop. Not having this book makes writing papers a lot harder to get right. Mainly reference to remind me how things are done; but necessary to prepare well laid out and attractive papers. The content is solely my problem. Indispensible.

ken

If you need a book on LaTeX then this is as good as any.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 6, 2014

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well written/structured and very informative

Blanka75

Latex

Reviewed in Italy on November 10, 2018

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Il libro è arrivato anche prima del previsto. È un vecchio libro ma è sempre una buona base per imparare. Consiglio a tutti gli appassionati di LaTeX.

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Qishu Cai

Excellent book

Reviewed in Canada on October 3, 2013

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Very good book! I love it! Very useful for my research work! Just as what I expected and as it was described!

One person found this helpful

AHMED RIZWAN C L

Very poor quality.......

Reviewed in India on March 14, 2015

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no one should buy it again, very poor quality.