Selected Papers on Discrete Mathematics

Rating:
Summary: An interesting side-companion to TAoCP Volume 1
Review: As an electrical engineering undergrad with a passion for programming, I was immeadiately drawn to the style and humor of Knuth's technical writings in The Art of Computer Programming. In the first chapter of that book (not the one I'm currently reviewing) he covers a few of the topics in mathematics that he found most pertinent in computational theory. It should be no surprise that there is a strong emphasis on discrete mathematics in a majority of the sections, and his background as a mathematician is evident.

Unfortunately from what I have seen, this very important and timeless strength of his books is attacked by many (just search his reviews on Amazon). I cannot fathom why accomplished, intelligent individuals continue to discredit it. The mathematical 'rigor' inside has attracted and continues to attract (if I am any proof) many computer science enthusiasts to exercise their math muscles.

With that, I think the Selected Papers on Discrete Mathematics is a perfect addition to the library of any individual that was drawn as I was to the aforementioned first chapter. I do not find myself reading the chapters of this book so much for applicability, as I do for taking part in and rediscovering a few interesting mathematical musings from one of the most important mathematicians and computer scientists of the twentieth century.