Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!encore!maxzilla!kaufman
From: kaufman@maxzilla.Encore.COM (Lar Kaufman)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.fortran
Subject: Re: An exercise in futility
Keywords: Fortran_standards resemble_a Demolition_derby
Message-ID: <4742@xenna.Encore.COM>
Date: 23 Jan 89 16:01:09 GMT
References: <587@mbph.UUCP> <3728@s.cc.purdue.edu>
Sender: news@Encore.COM
Reply-To: kaufman@maxzilla.UUCP (Lar Kaufman)
Organization: Encore Computer Corp, Marlboro, MA
Lines: 33

In article <3728@s.cc.purdue.edu> ags@s.cc.purdue.edu (Dave Seaman) writes:
>In article <587@mbph.UUCP> hybl@mbph.UUCP (Albert Hybl  Dept of Biophysics  SM) writes:
>>Rush to you vendor's FORTRAN Language Reference Coloring Book,
>>what does it say and in what color does it say it?  
>
>Old-timers may recall that around 30 years ago, a satirical work known as "The
>Computer Programmer's Coloring Book" was popular.
 
The first Fortran manual I found that didn't put me to sleep by
chapter 3 is "A FORTRAN Coloring Book" by Roger Emanuel Kaufman, 
MIT press, 1978. I still use it for a reference - it is remarkably
useful and lucid. I am a professional technical writer, and I wish I
had the opportunity to do my books as engagingly as Dr. Kaufman did
this one. It is also the only textbook I have ever seen that was done
entirely by hand - text, illustrations, and index. There are numerous
(corny) jokes and vivid imagery which help you retain what is (let's
face it) a rather dry and boring subject. 
 
This rates a special disclaimer. I am not, to my knowledge and
complete confidence, related to Dr. Kaufman. The only linkage between
his name and mine is that I probably wouldn't have picked up his book
initially had he not had that most admirable of last names. 
  
The only drawback to this book is that it is probably out of print.
However, the book also came with a money-back guarantee on the back
cover: "If you do all the programming problems at the end of this book
and don't learn FORTRAN in the process, you deserve your money back. 
*Offer VOID within or without U.S.A."
 
 -lar

 Lar Kaufman   <= my opinions          Fidonet: 1:322/470@508-534-1842 
 kaufman@multimax.arpa    {bu-cs,decvax,necntc,talcott}!encore!kaufman