Why Don Knuth Doesn't Use Email - Computerphile

Email is an unwelcome distraction, so CS legend Don Knuth simply doesn't use it. He hasn't done since 1990. Brady asked him why.

Interview by Brady Haran

[wishcraftu]

This guy *started* using email in *1975* and *stopped* in *1990*. Most people I know that were adults back then didn't even know it existed. Talk about being ahead of the curve.

[DustinRodriguez_]

Don't interrupt Don Knuth! That goes for everybody! He's still got a long way to go to finish The Art of Computer Programming, and the world needs it!

[AtriumComplex]

It's awesome that titans of the field like Knuth are still around.

[JEREN]

When I first read the title I had in mind that it would be a very in-depth analysis why e-mail is worse than XYZ and why we should move to XYZ.
It isn't that but still wasn't dissatisfied.

[phampton]

Someone should introduce him to Twitter, everything he hates about email but x100 !

[joshk]

More Knuth! This man is so dedicated to his work. I'm reading TAOCP currently (and trying to fill in the gaps in my maths knowledge as I go along), and he's genuinely inspiring.

[salerio]

I missed this one when it came out, nice to see Knuth is still going strong. His was the reference book when I was doing computer science (as it was then) in 1978

[IMortage]

You do meet a great selection of people.

[yojishinkawa]

If email is too distracting, imagine his reaction to twitter.

[notarabbit]

Don Knuth, filmed in front of a bookshelf containing the first half of his book: "The Art of Computer Programming"

[finthegeek]

Two things. Time Management and setting peoples expectations.

I don't stress email. people don't push me in the work place. I don't feel compelled to reply urgently.

if its urgent they will call.if they think email is an appropriate way of communicating in an urgent situation they are wrong. If its not urgent and they call it will get responded to on my timescales.

If you don't stick to these strict rules people will, with out intending to, walk over you.

oh, and when you do go out your way for someone, make sure they fully acknowledge it, mainly because they know for a fact your rushing for them was the exception to your norm.

I work hard for my 40 hours a week and get a lot done. It's so depressing that some of my colleagues do 70+ hours a week and send emails frequently at 1am, 6am and throughout the day.

Ultimately, no one in any project or business is irreplaceable. that means others can answer the questions or decided what to do with the lack of your response.

basically, make sure you put yourself first sometimes...rant over :)

[aliasmask]

That's what personal assistants are for. If he's part of an institution I'm sure they can provide one for college credit and/or minimal pay. The assistant can create a knowledge base online so when the same question comes up he can direct them to the answer online. The assistant can also get the answer at his convenience and formulate the answers in to the knowledge base.

[realraven]

He has a secretary. :)

I still use email; I use it as a information repository (Thunderbird has quite good database query capabilities, and I improved the information flow by writing various Addons aimed at better filing and automating the filing process). The important thing with email is that it is a great way of storing information along a time line and along other domains, such as people, workgroups, social groups, projects and businesses. The other thing to rememeber is that not every email needs to be answered, there is always a "final" email that ends a conversation.

Also I quite enjoy mailing lists where brainstorming can be carried out in a somehwat unstructured way. Comment threads are similar but become useless as they are scattered across so many places; whereas emails live in the aforementioned "domains" which makes it easy to find related information.

[dizzymetrics]

Poor guy, I get it when I have to do long replies. I can't imagine doing it every day for multiple people.

[shayneoneill]

Kernigan, Knuth, wow. Bradys on fire with some of these interviews.

[lohphat]

Simple solution: Turn off notifications for email.

Email is asynchronous -- spend time on it in batches when you want to.

SMS is synchronous -- reserve it for urgent issues which need attention now/soon.

[mnuuu]

I adore how he's beyond good and evil. Thank you Mr. Knuth for some of the most thought-provoking CS literature I've ever read.

[gulllars]

Donald Knuth is a legend. I hope of more computerphile videos with him :)

[majoro]

More Donald Knuth please! I, like most people on cPhile, would prefer in-depth topics/advice over this. It's still fine though; was enjoyable.

[Velzen]

E-mail seems less interruptive to me then a phonecall.
You don;t have to answer them right away (if at al).