I have to say that the phrase isn't particular apt, since there obviously exist
computer science books less read than TAOCP. It is true that
the *ratio* of pages-thoroughly-read to pages-purchased is pretty low for TAOCP,
because different people are interested in different pages. But still
I like to think that the pages read are so great that the buyers aren't
unhappy overall. (Or else they just want their friends to think that
they ave mastered a lot of tough material, which I must confess is not
easy for anybody I know including myself. Einstein said it best:
'Make things as simple as possible but no simpler.' Some theories are
inherently unsimplifiable ... we can even *prove* that!)
My favorite related comment is the enclosed ad that ran about ten years ago,
when it was rumored that John Grisham was thinking of responding by writing
a seven-volume treatise.
Anyway the bottom line is that I'm enthused about sending a memo
to The Internet about this particular phrase. The web has
thousands of tales that aren't true, about virtually everybody in public life.
(Including the story about me and Pixar's CEO.) I *did* say
things like 'Premature optimization is the root of all
evil in programming' and 'Beware of bugs in the
above code -- I've only proved it correct not actually run it.'
Original context here, along with some nitwittery:
Transcript:
