&gt; based on its stellar reputation as one of the indispensible, foundational computer science books that every programmer should read.<p>A while back, I was joking with some friends that TAoCP is to the programming world what Finnegans Wake is to English literature: you&#x27;re not supposed to read it, nobody&#x27;s ever actually read it. We all just <i>say</i> we&#x27;ve read it, talk about how brilliant it is, and place it prominently on our office bookshelves to silently humblebrag to anyone who drops by. Sorry you had to spend $178.08 on that lesson, mate.