# The Algorithm Design Manual by Steven Skiena

5 Hacker News commenters recommended The Algorithm Design Manual by Steven Skiena and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended for teaching algorithms through proof and stressing that choosing the right data structure does most of the work.

## Why people recommend it

- Teaches algorithms by proving them (1 comments): "The book began with trying to prove various algorithms, and I found that to be a great way to approach the topic." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47125549))
- Data structure choice drives solutions (1 comments): "choosing the right data structure to model your problem can take you 95% of the way toward the best solution" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46239537))
- Used alongside other algorithm references (2 comments): "For software engineering, it nicely compliments Skiena's" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48758845)) "consulting CLRS or Skiena instead" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48821866))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Introduction to Algorithms by Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest and Stein](https://hackerapproved.com/p/introduction-to-algorithms.md): 10 recommend
- [Algorithms by Robert Sedgewick](https://hackerapproved.com/p/algorithms.md): 5 recommend
- [Foundations of Multidimensional and Metric Data Structures by Hanan Samet](https://hackerapproved.com/p/foundations-of-multidimensional-and-metric-data-structures.md): 2 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1849967202?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9781849967204) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Algorithm Design Manual by Steven Skiena", https://hackerapproved.com/p/algorithm-design-manual/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).