Donald Knuth is a computer scientist, Turing Award winner, father of algorithm analysis, author of The Art of Computer Programming, and creator of TeX. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

– Coinbase: https://coinbase.com/lex (https://coinbase.com/lex) to get $5 in free Bitcoin

– InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex (https://insidetracker.com/lex) and use code Lex25 to get 25% off

– NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/lex (http://netsuite.com/lex) to get free product tour

– ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod (https://expressvpn.com/lexpod) and use code LexPod to get 3 months free

– BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex (https://betterhelp.com/lex) to get 10% off

EPISODE LINKS:

Donald’s Stanford Page: https://profiles.stanford.edu/donald-knuth (https://profiles.stanford.edu/donald-knuth)

Donald’s Books: https://amzn.to/3heyBsC (https://amzn.to/3heyBsC)

PODCAST INFO:

Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast (https://lexfridman.com/podcast)

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr (https://apple.co/2lwqZIr)

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 (https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8)

RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ (https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/)

YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman (https://youtube.com/lexfridman)

YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips (https://youtube.com/lexclips)

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

– Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast

– Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman (https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman)

– Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman (https://twitter.com/lexfridman)

– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman (https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman)

– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman)

– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman (https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman)

– Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman (https://medium.com/@lexfridman)

OUTLINE:

Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.

(00:00) – Introduction

(07:02) – First programs

(30:26) – Literate programming

(33:35) – Beauty in programming

(39:30) – OpenAI

(48:41) – Optimization

(54:46) – Consciousness

(1:03:29) – Conway’s game of life

(1:16:16) – Stable marriage

(1:19:35) – Richard Feynman

(1:30:29) – Knuth-Morris-Pratt Algorithm

(1:40:02) – Hardest problem

(1:57:41) – Open source

(2:02:54) – Favorite symbols

(2:12:27) – Productivity

(2:20:08) – Meaning of life