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Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

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Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#41

Post by mhh__ »

hintymad wrote: post #23

I still read TAOCP, particularly vol 4, for fun from time to time, but I have to admit that the days are long gone when an ordinary engineer needs to study algorithms in depth. The vast number of libraries and services are good enough that most people just need to know a few terms to function adequately for their jobs. I guess it's a good thing as it shows how robust the software abstractions are, in contrast to math…

There will always be a "higher" type of engineers who want to read TAOCP and similar.

My issue with the books is that they're actually quite long winded even by what you'd expect from the tone.

There's some really cool stuff in them, obviously, but I think they're objectively not very good textbooks for any purpose.

Then again I'm coming from a background of physics rather than mathematics so I'm not set out for a real battle of wits when it comes to constructing proofs.

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#42

Post by ciphol »

zerop wrote: post #4

I admire Donald Knuth for his contribution on algorithms and CS stuff. He is one of greatest computer scientist of our time. But would his every advice outside CS fields will be great? I am not sure about this.

Anyone who achieves on his level possesses not just raw innate brainpower but also other skills, for example organizational skills.

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#43

Post by maxerickson »

bigcat12345678 wrote: post #7

> Recently, I came across a few old and new interviews of Donald Knuth I have developed the conclusion that reading digestive summary from original source materials is ultimately ineffective for me at this stage of the life. Unfortunately, the author did not provide links to these interviews. For anyone who is writing a summary from other source material, please do provide references. That's one of the things I learn…

Ironically, a significant portion of Knuth's lifetime work consists of digested summaries of original source materials.

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#44

Post by theonething »

lliamander wrote: post #39
dhosek wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In evangelical Christianity, there is also the Red Letter Christians movement https://www.redletterchristians.org which is very much a minority movement, but that I would hope is growing.¹ ⸻ 1. I say this, though as an outsider, being a Catholic. We Catholics have our own battles between those who would make Catholicism all about sex and those who think that maybe it should be concerned with a bit more than that.

This looks more like political agitprop and a rehash of the social gospel movement of the early 20th century than a serious biblical exegesis.

> serious biblical exegesis

We (Christians) need this desperately in this day and age.

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#45

Post by wnolens »

bowsamic wrote: post #3

> One day, when I realized how hard it was to find any reason for my current unhappiness, I thought, "Wait a minute. I bet this unhappiness is really something chemical, not actually caused by circumstances.*" I began to speculate that my body was programmed to be unhappy a certain percentage of the time, and that hormones or something were the real reason behind moments of mild depression." This is exactly what happ…

How did you value another enough to enter into marriage with them? What was that decision like?

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#46

Post by mymythisisthis »

maxerickson wrote: post #43
bigcat12345678 wrote: post #7

> Recently, I came across a few old and new interviews of Donald Knuth I have developed the conclusion that reading digestive summary from original source materials is ultimately ineffective for me at this stage of the life. Unfortunately, the author did not provide links to these interviews. For anyone who is writing a summary from other source material, please do provide references. That's one of the things I learn…

Ironically, a significant portion of Knuth's lifetime work consists of digested summaries of original source materials.

Do you have quick summary of Knuth stating this? Just want to know, curious.

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#47

Post by hoten »

zerop wrote: post #4

I admire Donald Knuth for his contribution on algorithms and CS stuff. He is one of greatest computer scientist of our time. But would his every advice outside CS fields will be great? I am not sure about this.

Don't you think well accomplished people are qualified to talk about problem solving and work habits? Seems those skills would be necessary for their achievements.

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#48

Post by copperx »

belter wrote: post #35
bigcat12345678 wrote: post #7

> Recently, I came across a few old and new interviews of Donald Knuth I have developed the conclusion that reading digestive summary from original source materials is ultimately ineffective for me at this stage of the life. Unfortunately, the author did not provide links to these interviews. For anyone who is writing a summary from other source material, please do provide references. That's one of the things I learn…

Donald Knuth interviews are so interesting, but would like to particularly highlight this little piece of advice, out of this great playlist: "Donald Knuth - My advice to young people": https://youtu.be/75Ju0eM5T2c Complete Playlist - "Donald Knuth (Computer scientist)" [97 videos]: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVV0r6CmEsFzeNLngr1Jq... Also the "Oral History of Donald Knuth" from the Computer History Museum…

There's one interview where he talks about a special sofa that he uses to read (and write, I believe), but I haven't been able to find it with all my Google-fu.

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#49

Post by copperx »

mymythisisthis wrote: post #46
maxerickson wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ironically, a significant portion of Knuth's lifetime work consists of digested summaries of original source materials.

Do you have quick summary of Knuth stating this? Just want to know, curious.

He has indeed said that, I can confirm that much. It should be easy to find in one in the interviews.

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#50

Post by bowsamic »

wnolens wrote: post #45
bowsamic wrote: post #3

> One day, when I realized how hard it was to find any reason for my current unhappiness, I thought, "Wait a minute. I bet this unhappiness is really something chemical, not actually caused by circumstances.*" I began to speculate that my body was programmed to be unhappy a certain percentage of the time, and that hormones or something were the real reason behind moments of mild depression." This is exactly what happ…

How did you value another enough to enter into marriage with them? What was that decision like?

It just seemed like the obvious thing to do. We are more like very stable roommates that hug, rather than lovers.
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