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Some TeX-related Publications

The following TeX-related publications are grouped by level of TeX expertise or subject area.
See also the "Authors' Corner" at the online AMS Bookstore.

LaTeX -- Beginner to Intermediate

  • The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX2e, PDF Document by Tobias Oetiker, Hubert Partl, Irene Hyna and Elisabeth Schlegl.
    This link is for the English version, but it is available as well in a number of other languages and some other formats.
    Included in TeX Live (texdoc lshort) and posted on CTAN (link above).
  • Formatting Information, A beginner's guide to typesetting with LaTeX, by Peter Flynn.
    This manual, first published in TUGboat, is for the true beginner, and provides information about installation and editing as well as about LaTeX. A PDF file is provided for printing, as well as an HTML version, the source, and a comprehensive README file.
    Posted on CTAN (link above)
  • Practical LaTeX, by George Grätzer (2014).
    This book covers the material that is needed to compose everyday LaTeX documents, based on the document class amsart. Available both as an e-book and softbound.
  • LaTeX for Complete Novices, by Nicola Talbot (2012).
    This introductory book covers the very basics of LaTeX with exercises along the way to get you started.
    Available as HTML or PDF (free) with links to the UK list of TeX Frequently Asked Questions, or as a print-on-demand softcover volume.
    A follow-on, Using LaTeX to Write a PhD Thesis (2013), is available in the same formats as the Novices volume.
  • LaTeX and Friends, by Marc van Dongen (2012).
    This book teaches by example, presenting all the ins and outs of LaTeX which are needed to write an article, report, thesis or book.
    A short film by the author can be viewed on YouTube.
  • Math into LaTeX, A Short Course, by George Grätzer (2007).
    This, Part I of Grätzer's More Math into LaTeX, is freely available from CTAN as a PDF file. PDF Document   Files of examples are also included in the CTAN distribution.
  • Topic-specific tutorials on LaTeX by the Indian TeX Users Group (2003).
    These tutorials, on a wide range of topics, are available formatted for both screen and print.
  • A Guide to LaTeX, Document Preparation for Beginners and Advanced Users, 4th edition, by Helmut Kopka and Patrick W. Daly (Addison-Wesley, 2004; ISBN 978-0-321-17385-0)
    See also the LaTeX Companions Boxed Set.
  • The LaTeX Companion, 2nd edition, by Frank Mittelbach and Michel Goossens, with David Carlisle, Chris Rowley and Johannes Braams (Addison-Wesley, 2004; ISBN 978-0-201-36299-2)
    See also the LaTeX Companions Boxed Set.
  • The PracTeX Journal, an electronic journal of the TeX Users Group, dedicated to the exchange of practical experience and instruction in the use of TeX and related systems.
  • LaTeX for Linux, by Bernice Sacks Lipkin (Springer, New York, 1999; ISBN 978-0-387-98708-8)
  • LaTeX: Line by Line: Tips and Techniques for Document Processing, 2nd edition, by Antoni Diller (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1999; ISBN 978-0-471-97918-0)
  • Learning LaTeX, by David F. Griffiths and Desmond J. Higham (SIAM, 1997; ISBN 978-0-89871-383-1)
  • LaTeX: A Document Preparation System, User's Guide & Reference Manual, 2nd edition, by Leslie Lamport (Addison-Wesley, 1994; ISBN 978-0-201-52983-8)

LaTeX -- Special Topics

  • The LaTeX Web Companion: Integrating TeX, HTML and XML, by Michel Goossens and Sebastian Rahtz, with Eitan M. Gurari, Ross Moore, and Robert S. Sutor (Addison Wesley Longman, 1999; ISBN 978-0-201-43311-7)
    See also the LaTeX Companions Boxed Set.
  • The LaTeX Graphics Companion, 2nd edition, by Michel Goossens, Sebastian Rahtz and Frank Mittelbach (Addison-Wesley, 2008; ISBN 978-0-321-50892-8)
    See also the LaTeX Companions Boxed Set.
    A review by Bill Casselman of The LaTeX Graphics Companion (first edition) and TeX Unbound appeared in the December 1999 issue of the AMS Notices.

Math

  • First Steps in LaTeX, by George Grätzer (Birkhäuser, 1999; ISBN 978-0-8176-4132-0)
  • More Math into LaTeX, by George Grätzer (Springer, 2007; ISBN 978-0-387-32289-6)
    This is the fourth edition; the first three editions were published by Birkhäuser. Part of this new edition is available from CTAN, including example files and a PDF file for "Math into LaTeX, A Short Course". PDF Document
  • Handbook of Writing for the Mathematical Sciences, second edition, by Nicholas Higham (SIAM, 1998; ISBN 978-0-89871-420-3)
  • The Joy of TeX, 2nd edition, A Gourmet Guide to Typesetting with the AMS-TeX Macro Package, by Michael Spivak (AMS, 1990, fourth printing, 2004; ISBN 978-0-8218-2997-4)
  • Mathematical TeX by Example, by Arvind Borde (Academic Press, 1993; ISBN 0-12-117645-2)
    Files of examples are available from CTAN.

Plain TeX -- Beginner to Intermediate

  • A Beginner's Book of TeX, by Silvio Levy and Raymond Seroul (Springer Verlag, 1991, third printing with corrections, 1995; ISBN 978-0-387-97562-7)
    German translation: TeX Praxis, 1994; ISBN 978-3-7643-2823-8
  • TeX Starting from Square 1, by Michael Doob (Springer Verlag, 1993; ISBN 978-3-540-56441-6)
    This book is an expansion of A Gentle Introduction to TeX, which is still available from CTAN, in Greek as well as English.
  • TeX by Example, by Arvind Borde (Academic Press. 1992; ISBN 0-12-117650-9)
  • A Plain TeX Primer, by Malcolm Clark (Oxford University Press, 1992; ISBN 978-0-19-853724-3)
  • TeX for the Beginner, by Wynter Snow (Addison-Wesley, 1992; ISBN 978-0-201-54799-3)
  • TeX for the Impatient, by Paul W. Abrahams with Karl Berry and Kathryn Hargreaves (Addison-Wesley, 1990; ISBN 0-201-51375-7)
    This book is out of print from the publisher, but the rights have reverted to the authors, who have made both a PDF file and the sources freely available from CTAN. A French version is also available there.

Some prior knowledge helpful

Reference and Special Purpose

  • Computers & Typesetting, by Donald E. Knuth, all five volumes in a Millennium Boxed Set (Addison Wesley, 2001; ISBN 978-0-201-73416-4)
    Includes
    • Volume A, The TeXbook,
    • Volume B, TeX: The Program,
    • Volume C, The METAFONTbook,
    • Volume D, METAFONT: The Program,
    • Volume E, Computer Modern Typefaces
    All corrections to date were incorporated in this edition.
    In 2012, the source code for the entire set was reworked to include the latest corrections, and new hardcover printings were produced from the updated files. The details are given on DEK's TeX web page. Since book dealers often do not make a distinction between different printings (as opposed to editions), order through the TUG web site and specify the latest printing; if the object delivered is not what was requested, an inquiry to the publisher's Customer Service address should straighten things out.
  • Digital Typography, by Donald E. Knuth (CSLI Publications, Stanford University, 1999; ISBN 0-157586-011-2)
    For a more complete description of the contents, see DEK's Web pages; this includes a complete list of errata so far, along with the usual promise of US$2.56 to the first finder of any bug.
  • The LaTeX Companions Third Revised Boxed Set, by Mittelbach, Goossens, Rahtz, Roegel, Voss, Kopka, and Daly: A Complete Guide and Reference for Preparing, Illustrating and Publishing Technical Documents, 3rd edition (Addison Wesley Professional, 2007; ISBN 978-0-321-51443-1)
    Includes
    • A Guide to LaTeX, 4th edition
    • The LaTeX Companion, 2nd edition
    • The LaTeX Graphics Companion, 2nd edition
    • The LaTeX Web Companion
  • TeX by Topic, by Victor Eijkhout (Addison-Wesley, 1992; ISBN 0-201-56882-9)
    The rights to this book, out of print for several years, have been reverted to the author, who has now made it freely available in PDF form. PDF Document
  • TeX, XML, and Digital Typography, Proceedings of an International Conference held jointly with the 25th Annual Meeting of the TeX Users Group, August 30--September 3, 2004, in Xanthi, Greece (Springer, 2004; ISBN 978-3-540-22801-1
  • Digital Typography Using LaTeX, by Apostolos Syropoulos, Antonis Tsolomitis, and Nick Sofroniou (Springer New York, 2003; ISBN 978-0-387-95217-8)
  • Audio System for Technical Readings, by T.V. Raman (Springer New York, 1999; ISBN 978-3-540-65515-2)
    Based on Raman's Ph.D. thesis (which received an award during the 1994 ACM Doctoral Dissertation Competition as one of the two best works), this book presents a computing system which can render (La)TeX documents in audio form.
    The book was out of print for some time, but has been reissued. However, Auditory User Interfaces: Toward the Speaking Computer (Springer, 1997) addresses the same issues, including work on both ASTER and Emacspeak, to provide an alternate interface to visually disabled computer users.
  • TeX Unbound: LaTeX and TeX Strategies for Fonts, Graphics, and More, by Alan Hoenig (Oxford University Press, 1998; ISBN 978-0-19-509686-6)
    (This book is now out of print, but copies may be available through the secondary market.)
    A review by Bill Casselman of TeX Unbound and The LaTeX Graphics Companion (first edition) appeared in the December 1999 issue of the AMS Notices.
  • The Advanced TeXbook, by David Salomon (Springer Verlag, 1995; ISBN 978-1-4612-4256-7)
  • Making TeX Work, by Norman Walsh (O'Reilly & Associates, 1994; ISBN 1-56592-051-1)
    The book itself is out of print, but an HTML version is available for reference on Sourceforge, or as a tarred, gzip'ped file from CTAN.