When I'm bored I pick a random section and read it. I was really fascinated by the section on sorting networks for example. The real gems are the exercises and

When I'm bored I pick a random section and read it. I was really fascinated by the section on sorting networks for example. The real gems are the exercises and answers to them; there's at least as much useful/applicable stuff as in the main text. I tried to solve them, but found myself unable to proceed with them if difficulty was > 20, even if I understood the concepts. I have no idea on how to attack them. (Even non-mathematical ones.) IMHO, TAOCP needs "Volume 0" which would teach you problem solving in this particular domain. (No, "Concrete mathematics" is not it. That book is, IMHO, awful: many problems depend on having tricks up your sleeve.) Any tips on how to approach exercises which seemingly don't have a lot to do with the preceding text?