The reviewer appreciates the depth and clarity of Knuth's work in Volume 4A of 'The Art of Computer Programming', highlighting its rigorous analysis of algorithms and historical context. They find the book therapeutic and enjoyable, particularly the discussions on Latin and Greek squares and bitwise techniques.
The reviewer has a long-standing appreciation for Donald Knuth's 'The Art of Computer Programming' series, which has been instrumental in their career as a computer programmer. Volume 4A, focusing on combinatorial algorithms, continues this tradition with its comprehensive analysis and historical insights. The reviewer enjoys the book's depth, particularly the sections on Latin and Greek squares and bitwise techniques, and finds it therapeutic and enjoyable. They also appreciate the book's design and the care taken in its production, noting that Knuth's work is like Picasso's in its field, with multiple significant achievements. The reviewer believes the book is not just a cookbook of algorithms but a resource for understanding why certain methods are superior and how to analyze their performance.
Quick quotes
I greatly enjoyed the discussion of Latin and Greek squares (the clearest I have ever read), and I know I am going to enjoy reading more of the discussion on bitwise tricks and techniques, a topic that has always fascinated me.
The book is surprisingly therapeutic — it will help you lose any guilt you may feel over designing and working puzzles.
Knuth in his field is like Picasso in his. He has had multiple simultaneous and serial careers, any of which would be more than the lifetime achievement of most people.