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57

12

I have a printed copy of the TeXbook (from D.E. Knuth) at home. Now that I travel a lot, I don't want to take my library with me every time. Question:

Is there a legal way to obtain (=purchase) a PDF version of the TeXbook?

I know that there are non-official PDFs flying around in the internet, but I would really like to buy it.

tex-core plain-tex books knuth

share|improve this question

edited Apr 26 '13 at 8:51

topskip

asked Apr 26 '13 at 7:58

topskiptopskip

28.4k7116214

• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  An item more useful than a travel guide :)
  
  – jubobs
  Apr 26 '13 at 8:09
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  7
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Use lstinputlisting{texbook.tex} and you will get a PDF version indirectly and legally. DEK just prevented us from texing texbook.tex but he does not prohibit us to import it into our main input file. :-)
  
  – kiss my armpit
  Apr 26 '13 at 8:09
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  11
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Bugbusters; making a pdf version according to the texbook.tex file is not legal. If you look at ctan http://www.ctan.org/pkg/texbook it says: The source has pro­tec­tion against use to pro­duce a doc­u­ment: such use is only al­lowed with the per­mis­sion of the Copy­right holder and of the pub­lisher (Ad­di­son-Wes­ley).
  
  – Mythio
  Apr 26 '13 at 8:13
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  9
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Bugbusters but that doesn't contain the nice drawing from Duane Bibby.
  
  – topskip
  Apr 26 '13 at 8:13
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Bugbusters I would be very careful with such statements as they are most likely not true! Don has made the source available but under the clear understanding that it is not to be used for anything other than seeing an example (in source) on how the book was produced. There is the statement: "Permission for any other use of this file must be obtained in writing from the copyright holder and also from the publisher (Addison-Wesley)".
  
  – Frank Mittelbach
  Apr 26 '13 at 13:53
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 9 more comments

57

12

I have a printed copy of the TeXbook (from D.E. Knuth) at home. Now that I travel a lot, I don't want to take my library with me every time. Question:

Is there a legal way to obtain (=purchase) a PDF version of the TeXbook?

I know that there are non-official PDFs flying around in the internet, but I would really like to buy it.

tex-core plain-tex books knuth

share|improve this question

edited Apr 26 '13 at 8:51

topskip

asked Apr 26 '13 at 7:58

topskiptopskip

28.4k7116214

• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  An item more useful than a travel guide :)
  
  – jubobs
  Apr 26 '13 at 8:09
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  7
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Use lstinputlisting{texbook.tex} and you will get a PDF version indirectly and legally. DEK just prevented us from texing texbook.tex but he does not prohibit us to import it into our main input file. :-)
  
  – kiss my armpit
  Apr 26 '13 at 8:09
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  11
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Bugbusters; making a pdf version according to the texbook.tex file is not legal. If you look at ctan http://www.ctan.org/pkg/texbook it says: The source has pro­tec­tion against use to pro­duce a doc­u­ment: such use is only al­lowed with the per­mis­sion of the Copy­right holder and of the pub­lisher (Ad­di­son-Wes­ley).
  
  – Mythio
  Apr 26 '13 at 8:13
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  9
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Bugbusters but that doesn't contain the nice drawing from Duane Bibby.
  
  – topskip
  Apr 26 '13 at 8:13
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Bugbusters I would be very careful with such statements as they are most likely not true! Don has made the source available but under the clear understanding that it is not to be used for anything other than seeing an example (in source) on how the book was produced. There is the statement: "Permission for any other use of this file must be obtained in writing from the copyright holder and also from the publisher (Addison-Wesley)".
  
  – Frank Mittelbach
  Apr 26 '13 at 13:53
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 9 more comments

I have a printed copy of the TeXbook (from D.E. Knuth) at home. Now that I travel a lot, I don't want to take my library with me every time. Question:

Is there a legal way to obtain (=purchase) a PDF version of the TeXbook?

I know that there are non-official PDFs flying around in the internet, but I would really like to buy it.

tex-core plain-tex books knuth

share|improve this question

edited Apr 26 '13 at 8:51

topskip

asked Apr 26 '13 at 7:58

topskiptopskip

28.4k7116214

share|improve this question

edited Apr 26 '13 at 8:51

topskip

asked Apr 26 '13 at 7:58

topskiptopskip

28.4k7116214

share|improve this question

edited Apr 26 '13 at 8:51

topskip

asked Apr 26 '13 at 7:58

topskiptopskip

28.4k7116214

asked Apr 26 '13 at 7:58

topskiptopskip

28.4k7116214

asked Apr 26 '13 at 7:58

topskiptopskip

28.4k7116214

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

16

AFAIK no. The only authority here is the publisher; please ask this question there, although I have not found an easy way to address that question on their website... :-(

Edit: I personally doubt that DEK is satisfied with the typography of ePubs (which is essentially XHTML & CSS) and would demand PDF - and since the publisher(s) would then probably require DRM (which I presume DEK detests the same as most of us), I consider ebooks of DEK's works unlikely. Also paper lasts longer than ebooks. :-)

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 14 '13 at 18:07

answered Apr 26 '13 at 21:47

Martin SchröderMartin Schröder

12.9k640125

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  My question was about PDF only. And I really wonder why (besides from the "no one will buy one" fear) the publisher doesn't prepare a PDF. I am afraid I have to accept your answer...
  
  – topskip
  Apr 27 '13 at 15:58
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Preventing even legal owners of a paper TeXbook from making a PDF is IMHO exactly that kind of DRM nonsense you think DEK detests.
  
  – mafp
  Jun 27 '13 at 17:08
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

17

Rather than the TeXbook, there are a number of legitimately available .pdfs which have similar content:

• 
  TeX for the Impatient: ftp://tug.org/tex/impatient/book.pdf (I scanned in and provided the images for this --- hopefully someone will work out how to add them to the file)


• 
  TeX by Topic: http://eijkhout.net/texbytopic/texbytopic.html
  


• 
  Making TeX Work: http://makingtexwork.sourceforge.net/mtw/
  

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 27 '13 at 16:24

WillAdamsWillAdams

5,4912032

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thanks (+1)! I really should use these resources more often. But I always have the feeling that I miss "the finest detail in the behavior of TeX" when not reading the original TeXbook. Next time I'll look into these.
  
  – topskip
  Jun 28 '13 at 6:24
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There is also A Gentle Introduction to TeX by Michael Doob (texdoc gentle).
  
  – ShreevatsaR
  May 7 '17 at 1:08
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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16

AFAIK no. The only authority here is the publisher; please ask this question there, although I have not found an easy way to address that question on their website... :-(

Edit: I personally doubt that DEK is satisfied with the typography of ePubs (which is essentially XHTML & CSS) and would demand PDF - and since the publisher(s) would then probably require DRM (which I presume DEK detests the same as most of us), I consider ebooks of DEK's works unlikely. Also paper lasts longer than ebooks. :-)

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 14 '13 at 18:07

answered Apr 26 '13 at 21:47

Martin SchröderMartin Schröder

12.9k640125

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  My question was about PDF only. And I really wonder why (besides from the "no one will buy one" fear) the publisher doesn't prepare a PDF. I am afraid I have to accept your answer...
  
  – topskip
  Apr 27 '13 at 15:58
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Preventing even legal owners of a paper TeXbook from making a PDF is IMHO exactly that kind of DRM nonsense you think DEK detests.
  
  – mafp
  Jun 27 '13 at 17:08
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

16

AFAIK no. The only authority here is the publisher; please ask this question there, although I have not found an easy way to address that question on their website... :-(

Edit: I personally doubt that DEK is satisfied with the typography of ePubs (which is essentially XHTML & CSS) and would demand PDF - and since the publisher(s) would then probably require DRM (which I presume DEK detests the same as most of us), I consider ebooks of DEK's works unlikely. Also paper lasts longer than ebooks. :-)

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 14 '13 at 18:07

answered Apr 26 '13 at 21:47

Martin SchröderMartin Schröder

12.9k640125

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  My question was about PDF only. And I really wonder why (besides from the "no one will buy one" fear) the publisher doesn't prepare a PDF. I am afraid I have to accept your answer...
  
  – topskip
  Apr 27 '13 at 15:58
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Preventing even legal owners of a paper TeXbook from making a PDF is IMHO exactly that kind of DRM nonsense you think DEK detests.
  
  – mafp
  Jun 27 '13 at 17:08
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

AFAIK no. The only authority here is the publisher; please ask this question there, although I have not found an easy way to address that question on their website... :-(

Edit: I personally doubt that DEK is satisfied with the typography of ePubs (which is essentially XHTML & CSS) and would demand PDF - and since the publisher(s) would then probably require DRM (which I presume DEK detests the same as most of us), I consider ebooks of DEK's works unlikely. Also paper lasts longer than ebooks. :-)

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 14 '13 at 18:07

answered Apr 26 '13 at 21:47

Martin SchröderMartin Schröder

12.9k640125

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 14 '13 at 18:07

answered Apr 26 '13 at 21:47

Martin SchröderMartin Schröder

12.9k640125

answered Apr 26 '13 at 21:47

Martin SchröderMartin Schröder

12.9k640125

answered Apr 26 '13 at 21:47

Martin SchröderMartin Schröder

12.9k640125

17

Rather than the TeXbook, there are a number of legitimately available .pdfs which have similar content:

• 
  TeX for the Impatient: ftp://tug.org/tex/impatient/book.pdf (I scanned in and provided the images for this --- hopefully someone will work out how to add them to the file)


• 
  TeX by Topic: http://eijkhout.net/texbytopic/texbytopic.html
  


• 
  Making TeX Work: http://makingtexwork.sourceforge.net/mtw/
  

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 27 '13 at 16:24

WillAdamsWillAdams

5,4912032

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thanks (+1)! I really should use these resources more often. But I always have the feeling that I miss "the finest detail in the behavior of TeX" when not reading the original TeXbook. Next time I'll look into these.
  
  – topskip
  Jun 28 '13 at 6:24
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There is also A Gentle Introduction to TeX by Michael Doob (texdoc gentle).
  
  – ShreevatsaR
  May 7 '17 at 1:08
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

17

Rather than the TeXbook, there are a number of legitimately available .pdfs which have similar content:

• 
  TeX for the Impatient: ftp://tug.org/tex/impatient/book.pdf (I scanned in and provided the images for this --- hopefully someone will work out how to add them to the file)


• 
  TeX by Topic: http://eijkhout.net/texbytopic/texbytopic.html
  


• 
  Making TeX Work: http://makingtexwork.sourceforge.net/mtw/
  

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 27 '13 at 16:24

WillAdamsWillAdams

5,4912032

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thanks (+1)! I really should use these resources more often. But I always have the feeling that I miss "the finest detail in the behavior of TeX" when not reading the original TeXbook. Next time I'll look into these.
  
  – topskip
  Jun 28 '13 at 6:24
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There is also A Gentle Introduction to TeX by Michael Doob (texdoc gentle).
  
  – ShreevatsaR
  May 7 '17 at 1:08
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Rather than the TeXbook, there are a number of legitimately available .pdfs which have similar content:

• 
  TeX for the Impatient: ftp://tug.org/tex/impatient/book.pdf (I scanned in and provided the images for this --- hopefully someone will work out how to add them to the file)


• 
  TeX by Topic: http://eijkhout.net/texbytopic/texbytopic.html
  


• 
  Making TeX Work: http://makingtexwork.sourceforge.net/mtw/
  

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 27 '13 at 16:24

WillAdamsWillAdams

5,4912032

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 27 '13 at 16:24

WillAdamsWillAdams

5,4912032

answered Jun 27 '13 at 16:24

WillAdamsWillAdams

5,4912032

answered Jun 27 '13 at 16:24

WillAdamsWillAdams

5,4912032