Episode · Lex Fridman Podcast · 2021-09-09

Books mentioned on #219 – Donald Knuth: Programming, Algorithms, Hard Problems & the Game of Life

6 books · With Donald Knuth · Listen · Watch on YouTube

Donald Knuth is a computer scientist, Turing Award winner, father of algorithm analysis, author of The Art of Computer Programming, and creator of TeX. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Coinbase: https://coinbase.

Donald Knuth recommended Physically Based Rendering by Matt Pharr and others, discussed Puzzle Box by Andy Parr and others, Surreal Numbers by Donald Ervin Knuth, On Beyond Zebra! by Dr. Seuss, and The Man from St. Petersburg by Ken Follett, and criticized Steve Allen Music Book by Steve Allen.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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  1. Physically Based Rendering

    Matt Pharr; Greg Humphreys; Wenzel Jakob · at 25:37

    Physically Based Rendering by Matt Pharr, Greg Humphreys, and Wenzel Jakob is an authoritative and comprehensive technical guide to the theory and practice of computer graphics rendering.

    Recommended
    “if they're gonna look it up that they should also look up this book by called physically based rendering by matt farr”
    Where to get it
  2. Steve Allen Music Book

    Steve Allen · at 31:41

    Critiqued
    “yo and jack benny i mean steve allen wrote this book about humor and it was the most boring book but he was one of my idols but but uh yeah it's called the funny men or something like that”
    Where to get it
  3. Puzzle Box

    Andy Parr, Donald Knuth, Ed Pegg, Jr., Erich Friedman, Gianni A. Sarcone, Helen Grabarchuk, Hasan Yurtoglu, Richard Candy, Suzanne Hazard, Tanya Grabarchuk · at 33:01

    Discussed
    “in fact in volume 2 i've got a cryptogram a message in cypher and in order to decipher it you're going to have to have to break an rsa key which is larger than people know how to break”
    Where to get it
  4. Surreal Numbers

    Donald Ervin Knuth · at 1:04:11

    Discussed
    “and so this book is now published as surreal number and ... i did nothing else except write up conway's theory”
    Where to get it
  5. On Beyond Zebra!

    Dr. Seuss · at 1:57:18

    Discussed
    “there's a book by dr seuss called on beyond zebra and he gave a name to that”
    Where to get it
  6. The Man from St. Petersburg

    Ken Follett · at 2:17:52

    Discussed
    “it was by ken follett and it was called the man from saint petersburg but it but but it was talking about the prequel to world war one”
    Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (4) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Passing The Art of Computer Programming
“don is a legendary computer scientist touring award winner father of algorithm analysis author of the art of computer programming creator of tech”
Passing The Art of Computer Programming
“don is a legendary computer scientist touring award winner father of algorithm analysis author of the art of computer programming creator of tech that led to late tech and one of the kindest and most fascinating human beings i've ever got a chance to talk to”
Plugged Surreal Numbers
“and and i i changed the name to surreal numbers that so this book is now published as surreal number and um and you know we figured out we'd always wonder what what what would he like to have an affair in a hotel room”