Donald Knuth's influence in computer science ranges from the invention of methods for translating and defining programming languages to the mathematical analysis of algorithms and the creation of the TeX typesetting system. He is undoubtably one of the foremost computer scientists and a pioneer of the field. His papers are widely referenced and stand as milestones of development over a wide range of topics.
This collection focuses on Knuth's publications that were addressed primarily to a general audience rather than to specialists. The papers, still timely today, survey the field of computer science and the nature of algorithms. Special topics include the relationship between computer science and mathematics, and between theory and practice, as well as the known limitations on what can be computed in a reasonable amount of time. Several papers discuss the history of computer science, from ancient Babylon to modern times.
