Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Donald Knuth, Founding Artist of Computer Science

Donald Knuth owns multiple copies of his <I>The Art of Computer Programming</I> books translated into numerous languages. The ideas inside transcend language, offering lessons on the essential grammar for constructing fast, elegant programs.
David Kestenbaum, NPR
Donald Knuth owns multiple copies of his The Art of Computer Programming books translated into numerous languages. The ideas inside transcend language, offering lessons on the essential grammar for constructing fast, elegant programs.

Copyright 2005 NPR

Corrected: March 25, 2005 at 12:36 PM MST
This report incorrectly states that 256 is written like 10 million (or a 1 followed by 7 zeroes). It looks like 100 million, or a 1 followed by 8 zeroes.
David Kestenbaum
David Kestenbaum is a correspondent for NPR, covering science, energy issues and, most recently, the global economy for NPR's multimedia project Planet Money. David has been a science correspondent for NPR since 1999. He came to journalism the usual way — by getting a Ph.D. in physics first.