The Traveling Salesman Problem is central to the area of Combinatorial Optimization, and it is through this problem that many of the most important developments in the area have been made. This book focuses on essential ideas; through them it illustrates all the concepts and techniques of combinatorial optimization concisely but comprehensively. The extensive reference list and numerous exercises direct the reader towards related fields, and give results. Each of the twelve chapters in this volume is concerned with a specific aspect of the Traveling Salesman Problem, and is written by an authority on that aspect. It is hoped, that the book will serve as a state-of-the-art survey of the Traveling Salesman problem which will encourage further investigations, and that it will also be useful for its comprehensive coverage of the techniques of combinatorial optimization.