Book · 1968
The Art of Computer Programming
by Donald E. Knuth
Four volumes of algorithms and combinatorics Donald Knuth started in 1962 and still hasn't finished, cited more often than it's actually read.
What does Reddit think of The Art of Computer Programming?
Reddit doesn't really discuss The Art of Computer Programming so much as cite it. r/programming's most-upvoted quote (↑2282) repeats the same 'personal library' line (SICP, On Lisp, TAOCP, Effective C++) that shows up in three of the top eight excerpts here, and the ↑446 reply calls it out directly: the poster wanted credit for owning these titles, not for finishing them. That's the accurate reading of these excerpts: TAOCP gets named as a credential more often than it gets described as an actual read. r/learnprogramming's classics lists (↑257, ↑222) still slot it next to SICP without irony, and the ↑114 commenter's story about mailing Knuth an erratum and getting a handwritten reply back is the one excerpt that treats the book as a living project rather than a shelf ornament. r/Python's advice to a beginner is blunter: skip it, come back later.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · TAOCP as the stock prop in Reddit's 'personal library' copypasta genre
- · A four-volume project started in 1962 that nobody in these threads claims to have finished
- · Beginner reading lists (r/learnprogramming, r/Python) that route new programmers around it
- · A handwritten reply from Knuth himself as proof the book is a living project, not a trophy
Common praise
- + The ↑114 commenter mailed Knuth a correction and got a short handwritten note back acknowledging the error was already logged.
- + r/learnprogramming's ↑257 and ↑222 lists still put it next to SICP as a real recommendation, not just a name-drop.
Common criticism
- − The ↑2282 'personal library' line gets called out directly by the ↑446 reply as someone padding credentials with unread titles.
- − r/Python's ↑204 comment tells a beginner to skip it entirely and try Code Combat first.
- − None of the top eight excerpts here have anyone claiming to have read all four volumes.
Who it's for
Own it if you want the reference on your shelf; read it if you work in algorithms daily and need combinatorial techniques nobody else writes down. If Code Combat already feels like a stretch, r/Python's advice is to circle back after you've shipped something first. Where it earns its keep is as a look-up text, so treat the volumes like a reference shelf, not a syllabus assignment. If your only exposure is quoting it in a comment thread to sound serious, r/programming has already made a copypasta out of exactly that move.
Mentions over time
Which Reddit comments matter for The Art of Computer Programming?
The most relevant excerpts across the subreddits where this book is mentioned — opinionated, argued takes first, then top-upvoted mentions. Click through to read the full thread.
“>I have a personal library that includes SICP, On Lisp, TAOCP, Expert C Programming, Effective C++, and textbooks on algorithms, distributed computing, security, graphics, and various branches of math. >I contribute to open-source projects in multiple languages such as C++, Perl, Python, and variou…
“>What distinguishes a bad developer? I have a personal library that includes SICP, On Lisp, TAOCP, Expert C Programming, Effective C++, and textbooks on algorithms, distributed computing, security, graphics, and various branches of math. While I may not have a university degree, I am a passionate pr…
“Here's the list, for anyone interested in just that: 1. The Pragmatic Programmer by David Thomas & Andrew Hunt (67% recommended) 2. Clean Code by Robert C. Martin (66% recommended) 3. Code Complete by Steve McConnell (42% recommended) 4. Refactoring by Martin Fowler (35% recommended) 5. Hea…
“THANK YOU. I feel like I am going insane. “I have a personal library that includes SICP, On Lisp, TAOCP, Expert C Programming, Effective C++, and textbooks on algorithms, distributed computing, security, graphics, and various branches of math.” Here I thought he was going to list the libraries he …
“Here's my list of the classics: **General Computing** * But How Do It Know? - The Basic Principles of Computers for Everyone * The Elements of Computing Systems: Building a Modern Computer from First Principles * […
“Probably, you should go for books that deal with pragmatic approaches to programming and code quality: + "Think Like A Programmer" by V. Anton Spraul + "The Pragmatic Programmer" by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas + "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs" (SICP) by Abelson, Sussman, Sussma…
“Code combat is fantastic. I've had many people learn python that way. Go check it out. Now! I'd avoid the art of computer programming and c++ at this stage. You can wait for those.
“I had been given Volume 1 of TAOCP back when I was in college (~20 years ago) and I found an error. I wrote a letter to Dr. Knuth and actually got back a short, hand-written note from him saying something like, "Thanks for writing me about the mistake you found, but this errata has already been iden…
“Lining up this interview was a process that spanned the latter half of 2020. Professor Knuth has not maintained a public email inbox since 1990, so I typeset a letter in LaTeX, printed it out, figured out where to put a stamp on an envelope, and sent it to Professor Knuth's office. Some months later…
“I think Knuth is still writing the art of computer programming lol
“I feel theoretical books are far more important than pop/hard non fiction. - **Concrete Mathematics**: A Foundation for Computer Science by Knuth et al. - **Introduction to Algorithms**, by Cormen et el ( or **The Algorithm Design Manual** by Steven Skiena — I'm particularly fond of this book than …
“>practice leet code Absolutely not. If you truly want to master algorithms and data structures, you study books like *Introduction to Algorithms* or *The Art of Computer Programming*. Leetcode pales in comparison.
“My absolute favorite book(s) to recommend is The Art of Computer Programming by Knuth. They definitely read more like a math book than a programming book, but if you take the time to really absorb and interact with the material I can almost promise you'll never have to "grind LC." Very high a-ha-mom…
“What college? DSA from Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest over 4 classes (2 fundamental, 2 special topics). Went deep af with proofs in addition to taking a survey course on The Art of Computer Programming by Knuth, where we read and discussed sections and problems. In comparison, LC hard is like getting d…
“He wants to stay language independent on purpose for two reasons: Languages change (granted, C has been around some while, but will it still be in another 50 years? TAoCP will still he relevant then). Second and more important: Because it his language, he can define the exact semantics. For C, the s…
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Readers also mention
Books that share discussion threads with The Art of Computer Programming — counted from the comments, not curated.
The Art of Computer Programming — frequently asked
Is The Art of Computer Programming worth actually reading cover to cover?+
Depends on the volume and your job. The r/learnprogramming quotes (↑257, ↑222) put it on 'classics' lists next to SICP, but nobody in the displayed threads claims to have finished all four books. r/Python's ↑204 comment tells a beginner to skip it and 'wait for those,' which is closer to how the book actually gets used: consulted, not read straight through.
Why does The Art of Computer Programming keep showing up in a fake resume copypasta?+
Because r/programming turned it into a punchline. The ↑2282 and ↑1031 comments both quote the same 'personal library' brag that lists TAOCP alongside SICP and Effective C++ as credentials, and the ↑446 reply says outright it reads like someone padding a CV with unread books. The joke isn't about the book's quality, it's about citing it as a personality trait.
Did Donald Knuth really write back about an error in The Art of Computer Programming?+
Yes, according to the ↑114 r/programming commenter, who found a mistake in Volume 1 roughly twenty years ago and got a short handwritten note back acknowledging it was already logged. It's the kind of author-reader loop cited as proof the book is taken seriously by the person who wrote it, not just by people quoting its title.
Should beginners start with The Art of Computer Programming?+
No, per the data here. r/Python's ↑204 commenter tells a new learner to avoid it and C++ at this stage and try Code Combat instead. The books that actually appear on r/learnprogramming's beginner lists are Think Like a Programmer and The Pragmatic Programmer; this one shows up once you're already past that stage, not before it.