Books Recommended by Donald Knuth
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A Dual Autobiography
Will Durant
Source: "Superbly written, a great story about how a man and woman can work creatively and sustainably together despite the mysteries of the human sex drive." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderBlacklist
Sara Paretsky
Source: "A brilliant characterization of the tragic state of politics and class relations in America that also happens to be an action-packed murder mystery." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderFeynman
Jim Ottaviani
Source: "Vivid, witty, hilarious, poignant: I laughed, I cried, I learned; demonstrates the unreasonable effectiveness of a graphic novel." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderAmerica
A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
Jon Stewart
Source: "Has graffiti even better than the marginal notes in 'Concrete Mathematics.'" - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderBlasphemy
Wyman Ford, Book 2
Douglas Preston
Source: "The best novel to deal with 'science versus religion' that I've ever encountered." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderEfronia
An Armenian Love Story
Stina Katchadourian
Source: "Diaries and letters of a remarkable Armenian woman." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderMountains Beyond Mountains
The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World
Tracy Kidder
Source: "About how Paul Farmer's local and global life combines theory and practice." - Donald Knuth
The Travels of Ibn Battutah
Ibn Battutah
Source: "Fascinating and eye-opening journal by a 14th-century Muslim scholar." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderThe Hornet's Nest
A Novel of the Revolutionary War
Jimmy Carter
Source: "A revolutionary novel about the Revolutionary War at all levels." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderThe Golden Gate
Vikram Seth
Source: "The Great California Novel, entirely in 14-line sonnets." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderLifeline Rule
Doug Nufer
Source: "The rule: parity to vowel; an awesome conovowel opus." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderFood
An Authoritative and Visual History and Dictionary of the Foods of the World
Waverley Root
Source: "His magnum opus, a wonderful history of everything delicious." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderDeath of a Salesperson
And Other Untimely Exits
Robert Barnard
Source: "[The author] is at his best in short stories like these." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderThe Age of Faith
A History of Medieval Civilization - Christian, Islamic, and Judaic - From Constantine to Dante
Will Durant
Source: "Volume 4 of his series, covers the years 325--1300." - Donald Knuth
1 recommender- 1 recommender
The Abominable Man
Martin Beck, Book 7
Maj Sjöwall
Source: "One of their brilliantly Swedish detective novels." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderHackers
Heroes of the Computer Revolution
Steven Levy
Source: "Incredibly well written tale of our times." - Donald Knuth
- 1 recommender
Gaudy Night
Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 12
Dorothy L. Sayers
Source: "Captures Oxford high-table small-talk wonderfully." - Donald Knuth
1 recommenderThe Man Who Knew Infinity
A Life of the Genius Ramanujan
Robert Kanigel
Source: "Biographies of Ramanujan and Hardy." - Donald Knuth
3 recommenders
FAQ
Did Donald Knuth recommend all these books?
While this list primarily comprises books enthusiastically recommended by Donald Knuth, it also includes a variety of titles that Donald Knuth has mentioned or suggested in various contexts. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive reading list that reflects Donald Knuth's literary influences, interests, and recommendations, though not every book on the list may be an explicit endorsement.
How do you know Donald Knuth mentioned these books?
Our team meticulously verifies each book mention attributed to Donald Knuth. This involves extensive research, including reviewing interviews, articles, podcasts, social media posts, and other public statements where Donald Knuth has discussed their reading preferences. The sources validating these mentions are linked next to each book for transparency and to provide our users with the context in which Donald Knuth referred to the book.
Did Donald Knuth actually create this list?
No, Donald Knuth did not personally compile this list. Our editorial team curates these reading lists by consolidating all verified mentions and recommendations from Donald Knuth. We ensure the authenticity of the list by providing sources for each recommendation. These lists are intended to reflect Donald Knuth's reading tastes and influences as accurately as possible.
Are these books endorsed or sponsored by Donald Knuth?
The books listed are not part of any endorsement or sponsorship agreement with Donald Knuth. They are selected based on genuine mentions and recommendations made by Donald Knuth in various public platforms. Our goal is to provide readers with an authentic insight into the reading preferences of influential individuals.
How often is the list updated?
We update these lists regularly to include new recommendations or mentions by Donald Knuth. Our team keeps a close eye on Donald Knuth's latest interviews, writings, and public statements to ensure the list remains current and comprehensive.
Can I suggest a book to add to the list?
While we primarily focus on books directly mentioned by Donald Knuth, we welcome suggestions from our readers. If you know of a book that Donald Knuth has talked about but is not featured on our list, feel free to contact us with the source of the mention, and our editorial team will review it for potential inclusion.
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