# The Art of Computer Programming Volume 2 by Donald Knuth

Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/art-of-computer-programming-volume-2/

5 people recommended The Art of Computer Programming Volume 2 by Donald Knuth in Hacker News comments, 1 had mixed feelings and none criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 12 months, in 4 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Praised for classical theorems, polynomial evaluation tricks and fascinating number topics; critics say it is too long, so start with the division chapter.

Summary written by Claude from 7 comments.

## Why people recommend it

- Covers long division and multiplication (3 comments in the sample): "it has a section called 'How fast can we multiply?' it should provide more insight" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48965192)) "I recall fondly algorithm D… one of my first programming experiences in the 90s" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49363381)) "I found a bug in Algorithm D, the long division algorithm in Knuth's" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49286259))
- Classical theorems and useful tricks (2 comments in the sample): "it is a really interesting gathering of classical theorems and useful tricks to evaluate quickly polynomials" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49645301)) "A nice course for this is of course TAOCP volume 2 old testament" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46388514))

## What people warn about

- Too many pages overall (1 comment in the sample): "TAOCP from the beginning is too many pages.
It would help to read the division algorithm chapter." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49366703))

## Other computer science textbooks people recommend

- [Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/structure-and-interpretation-of-computer-programs/): 51 recommend, 8 mixed, 4 criticize
- [The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E. Knuth](https://hackerapproved.com/p/art-of-computer-programming/): 25 recommend, 3 mixed, 6 criticize
- [Quantum Computation and Quantum Information by Nielsen and Chuang](https://hackerapproved.com/p/quantum-computation-and-quantum-information/): 9 recommend, 3 mixed, 0 criticize
- [Digital Design and Computer Architecture by Harris and Harris](https://hackerapproved.com/p/digital-design-and-computer-architecture/): 8 recommend, 0 mixed, 0 criticize

## The badge

A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged.

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Art of Computer Programming Volume 2 by Donald Knuth", https://hackerapproved.com/p/art-of-computer-programming-volume-2/ (5 recommend, 1 mixed, 0 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026).

Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.