# The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E. Knuth

28 Hacker News commenters recommended The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E. Knuth and 6 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 10 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Donald Knuth's multi-volume classic on algorithms, praised for rigor, depth and lasting relevance; critics say its MIX pseudo-assembly language feels dated.

## Why people recommend it

- Timeless fundamentals that stay relevant (6 comments): "It's the only thing he could've done if he wanted the books to stand the test of time" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48817676)) "it is about the fundamentals of computation which don't really change" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47406537)) "I read the timeless books of our craft (e.g., TAOCP)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46198744))
- Beautiful, clear algorithms and data structures (4 comments): "Don is trying to make the algorithms understandable and correct, and by hiding some details that are handled efficiently by compilers, it benefits the human reader." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48821452)) "there are many beautiful algorithms (such as the ones in Knuths books) that are more beautiful than any music for me personally" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48813643)) "The combinatorial algorithms and data structures are just fascinating." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49225272))
- Influential series, widely respected (2 comments): "One of the most important series ever written in the history of computer science" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49599415)) "one of the most influential and comprehensive series of books on the subject" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47982755))
- Enjoyable to read and dip into (2 comments): "when I open it from time to time and read through some sections, it can be a lot of fun" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48819620)) "a wonderful read that breaks up tough sections with humor" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48817409))

## What people warn about

- MIX pseudo-assembly language feels dated (3 comments): "MIX assumes a single accumulator register for arithmetic, which hasn't been a common processor architecture since around the 1980s." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48818926)) "I never liked that code examples were in a pseudo assembly language." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48817383)) "his pseudo-assembler is arcane" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48819944))
- Often bought but rarely read (2 comments): "Yet nobody reads it. But it looks nice on the shelf!" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49599628)) "Gave up reading TAOCP because of it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47417492))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/structure-and-interpretation-of-computer-programs.md): 55 recommend
- [Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/sicp.md): 12 recommend
- [Quantum Computation and Quantum Information by Nielsen and Chuang](https://hackerapproved.com/p/quantum-computation-and-quantum-information.md): 12 recommend
- [Digital Design and Computer Architecture by Harris and Harris](https://hackerapproved.com/p/digital-design-and-computer-architecture.md): 8 recommend
- [Types and Programming Languages by Benjamin C. Pierce](https://hackerapproved.com/p/types-and-programming-languages.md): 7 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0134397606?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780134397603) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E. Knuth", https://hackerapproved.com/p/art-of-computer-programming/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).