I have read sections, more in the super-reference mode. For example, there was a period i was interested in random number generation, so that section was one. Another time, we had to implement floating point (in the pre-80x87 days), and that section was absolutely essential.

Incidentally, I have two copies, one set is the original edition. That set has something that has been deleted from later references--the fold-out page for Tape Merging. It is illustrating such tings as Read-backward polyphase merge, Read-backward oscillating sort, and Read-forward polyphase merge. I guess we don't sort on tape much anymore.