Donald Ervin Knuth was born in California. He began to work with computers at the age of twelve, and continued to develop his skills. After receiving his B.S. in mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley, he went on to receive an M.S
in computer science from Stanford University in 1963 and a Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University in 1969, where he worked under Donald Davies. He became a professor at Stanford University in 1969, where he remained until his retirement in 1993, when he became professor emeritus of computer science.
His research interests are primarily theoretical computer science, especially the theory of algorithms and computational complexity. He authored the textbook "Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach" (Prentice-Hall, 3rd edition, 1988), which has become the standard text on AI, and co-authored "The Handbook of Computational Complexity" (Prentice-Hall, 1996). He is also the author of "Knuth's Art of Computer Programming" (Addison-Wesley Professional, 3rd edition, 1998) and co-author of "The Art of Software Testing" (Addison-Wesley Professional, 2nd edition, 2000).
Dr. Knuth is currently serving as an Advisory Board Member for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and as a member of the National Commission on Excellence in Education and on the Board of Directors of The Knuth Foundation for Child Development and Education.
Science is what we understand well enough to explain to a computer art is everything else.Donald Ervin Knuth
An algorithm must be seen to be believed.Donald Ervin Knuth
Overstimulation has been the real drawback. I need to find ways to stop thinking about analysis of algorithms, in order to do various other things that human beings ought to do.Donald Ervin Knuth
