The best computer science textbooks, according to hackers
28 computer science textbooks were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 3 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended computer science textbooks with the badge. Each figure is 5 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman
55 recommend, 5 criticize, 92% approval
Ranked 1 of 28 by recommenders
Deepens understanding of computer science fundamentals
Classic computer science text that teaches how programs are built, using Scheme to explore abstraction and interpretation; critics say some of its examples are non-idiomatic and dated.
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The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E. Knuth
28 recommend, 6 criticize, 82% approval
Ranked 2 of 28 by recommenders
Timeless fundamentals that stay relevant
Donald Knuth's multi-volume classic on algorithms, praised for rigor, depth and lasting relevance; critics say its MIX pseudo-assembly language feels dated.
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Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman
12 recommend, 0 criticize, 100% approval
Shares rank 3 of 28 by recommenders
Taught through Scheme
Recommended as a classic programming text that teaches computer science concepts through Scheme, with free online and PDF versions. Caveat: problems are mostly toy examples.
We may earn a commission. It never changes the order.
We may earn a commission. It never changes the order.
All 28 computer science textbooks, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programsby Abelson and Sussman | 55 | 5 | 92% | 12 | — | Approved |
| 2 | The Art of Computer Programmingby Donald E. Knuth | 28 | 6 | 82% | 10 | — | Approved |
| Tied 3 | Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programsby Abelson and Sussman | 12 | 0 | 100% | 9 | — | Approved |
| Tied 3 | Quantum Computation and Quantum Informationby Nielsen and Chuang | 12 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| 5 | Digital Design and Computer Architectureby Harris and Harris | 8 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 6 | Types and Programming Languagesby Benjamin C. Pierce | 7 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 6 | Speech and Language Processingby Jurafsky and Martin | 7 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 6 | The Feynman Lectures on Computationby Richard Feynman | 7 | 2 | 78% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 9 | The Art of Computer Programming Volume 2by Donald Knuth | 6 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 9 | Reinforcement Learning: An Introductionby Sutton and Barto | 6 | 2 | 75% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 11 | The Elements of Computing Systemsby Nisan and Schocken | 5 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 11 | Software Foundationsby Benjamin Pierce et al. | 5 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 11 | Introduction to the Theory of Computationby Michael Sipser | 5 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 11 | Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approachby Russell and Norvig | 5 | 1 | 83% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 15 | Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspectiveby Bryant and O'Hallaron | 4 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 15 | The Art of Prologby Sterling and Shapiro | 4 | 1 | 80% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 15 | Elements of Information Theoryby Cover and Thomas | 4 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 15 | Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithmsby David MacKay | 4 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | The Art of Insight in Science and Engineeringby Sanjoy Mahajan | 3 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | Concrete Semanticsby Nipkow and Klein | 3 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | Microelectronic Circuitsby Sedra and Smith | 3 | 1 | 75% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | Concepts, Techniques, and Models of Computer Programmingby Van Roy and Haridi | 3 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | The Craft of Prologby Richard O'Keefe | 3 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 19 | The Art of Multiprocessor Programmingby Herlihy and Shavit | 3 | 1 | 75% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 25 | Concrete Abstractionsby Hailperin, Kaiser and Knight | 2 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 25 | Simply Logicalby Peter Flach | 2 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 25 | Functional Data Structures and Algorithmsby Tobias Nipkow | 2 | 2 | 50% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 25 | Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++by Bjarne Stroustrup | 2 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same computer science textbook in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to computer science textbooks that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.