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Here is the definitive guide to the use of TeX, written by the system's 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. 0201134489B04262002
From the Back Cover
Here is the definitive guide to the use of TeX, written by the system's 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.
0201134489B04262002
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Spiral-bound
I'm new in TeX and this is my first TeX book. After having gone through the first few chapters I consider my self rather lucky to have chosen this book and I strongly recommend it for anyone new in TeX.
The book is very well written and very well structured so as any reader can easily go through it no matter what his background is in computing. I consider it to be really helpfull, at least for new users, especially because of the variety and clarity of given examples and exersices.
The book is addressed to both new and experienced users, but everything is so well structured that neither new users will find difficulty in understanding any of the content nor will experienced users consider reading the book a waste of time. The author states explicitly which paragraphs should be avoided by new users for this purpose.
If this book had to be rated up to 5 I would give it a 4.9.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Spiral-bound
If you're into typesetting using TeX, LaTeX (or the numerous spin-offs), you need this book. It sets down the syntax of TeX and shows you all sorts of tricks to enhance the printed output, even if you're using one of the complex styles available today.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Spiral-bound
When we first got WYSIWYG and desktop publishing people would say "Anyone can do it" and leave out the last word, "badly".
The primary limitation of this book is that it tells you how to use a (brilliant) program to typeset documents. In that sense it is a very good piece of work. The writing is clear, concise and humorous. The author is self evidently an expert in three fields (typesetting, coding and explaining). He leads you through many areas of deep knowledge so you know the how and why of what you're doing. And if you work through all the exercises, you will be good at what you do. Unmatched actually.
Implicit in this is the readers have an eye for beauty (this is about producing beautiful, readable text after all), but how many people do? Knuth tells us everything we need to know about how to spot beautiful typesetting, but this is a different skill, and I know from experience that a badly laid out TeX document is as bad as any MS Word document.
So this book wont give you that skill. If you don't have the eye, you'll be competent, not exceptional (but TeX has good defaults, so it may not effect you).
But the book has other levels. If you find yourself having to develop a Domain Specific Language then TeX is the primary example of a big DSL and the disciplin needed. It demonstrates many principles, but the key one is that you can't just capture a process and throw code at it. An excellent result needs both knowledge of how to code, why to code and what to code.
The third level is that this is a manual that demonstrates very clearly what a manual can be like. The dry-as-dust appraoch you see in many vendors manuals makes them difficult to read, provide skills without insight, and re-create the a world where 'Anyone can do it, badly'.
So, 5 stars.
The primary limitation of this book is that it tells you how to use a (brilliant) program to typeset documents. In that sense it is a very good piece of work. The writing is clear, concise and humorous. The author is self evidently an expert in three fields (typesetting, coding and explaining). He leads you through many areas of deep knowledge so you know the how and why of what you're doing. And if you work through all the exercises, you will be good at what you do. Unmatched actually.
Implicit in this is the readers have an eye for beauty (this is about producing beautiful, readable text after all), but how many people do? Knuth tells us everything we need to know about how to spot beautiful typesetting, but this is a different skill, and I know from experience that a badly laid out TeX document is as bad as any MS Word document.
So this book wont give you that skill. If you don't have the eye, you'll be competent, not exceptional (but TeX has good defaults, so it may not effect you).
But the book has other levels. If you find yourself having to develop a Domain Specific Language then TeX is the primary example of a big DSL and the disciplin needed. It demonstrates many principles, but the key one is that you can't just capture a process and throw code at it. An excellent result needs both knowledge of how to code, why to code and what to code.
The third level is that this is a manual that demonstrates very clearly what a manual can be like. The dry-as-dust appraoch you see in many vendors manuals makes them difficult to read, provide skills without insight, and re-create the a world where 'Anyone can do it, badly'.
So, 5 stars.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Extremely useful as an introduction to TeX
I found this book enormously helpful. Written by the creator of TeX, it provides an actual understanding of TeX, how it works, and why it does things the way it does. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Nicholas
Must to have for TeXnician and an example of an manual
Manuals has bad reputation, but if they would be as good as mr Knuths TeXbook general opinion about manuals would be very different. Read more
Published on 15 April 2007 by Kerola Sami
A must have for all TeX users
LaTeX that most peoples prefer to TeX is useful for reams of technical paper where quality doesn't matter (reports, notes, thesis), but without turning to a professional... Read more
Published on 3 Aug 1999
If you use TeX, this is the one indispensable reference.
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. Read more
Published on 24 Mar 1997
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