LaTeX Explained

A useful guide. The examples assume a particular environment, but that is fixable.

There is a particular kind of technical book that is dense without being difficult, and this is one of them. The writing is direct and does not waste space on filler, which I value in a technical book. The progression from chapter to chapter is well thought out; nothing feels out of order. I particularly liked the way the author builds up from simple cases before introducing the harder material. Recommended, with the caveat that it is not a gentle introduction.

Genuinely excellent — I finished it in a week and immediately started again.

This is the third book I have read on latex this year, and it is comfortably the best of them. The book rewards careful reading. Skimming it would be a mistake. The explanations are careful without being condescending, which is a difficult balance to strike. The progression from chapter to chapter is well thought out; nothing feels out of order. If you have the prerequisites, this is an easy recommendation. I will be keeping it on my desk rather than the shelf.

The clearest explanation of latex I have come across.

I have been working with latex for a few years now and I still found plenty here that was new to me. The author is unusually honest about where the simplifications break down, which I appreciated. I particularly liked the way the author builds up from simple cases before introducing the harder material. A couple of chapters felt like they could have been merged, but that is a minor complaint. I have already recommended it to two colleagues and will recommend it to more.