# The Art of Doing Science and Engineering by Richard Hamming

6 Hacker News commenters recommended The Art of Doing Science and Engineering by Richard Hamming and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 6 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended as an insider's view of how computing and engineering developed, with advice that holds in good and bad times. Some readers say it needs context.

## Why people recommend it

- Praised as a must-read (2 comments): ""The Art of Doing Science and Engineering" is especially good" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47521231)) "Absolute must read cover-to-cover." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49135543))
- Advice stays relevant over time (2 comments): "good advice is applicable in good and bad times" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46354862)) "Surprisingly fresh and piercing, even today." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49904370))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [The Cuckoo's Egg by Cliff Stoll](https://hackerapproved.com/p/cuckoo-s-egg.md): 40 recommend
- [Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/amusing-ourselves-to-death.md): 36 recommend
- [The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt](https://hackerapproved.com/p/anxious-generation.md): 24 recommend
- [Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber](https://hackerapproved.com/p/bullshit-jobs.md): 20 recommend
- [Enshittification by Cory Doctorow](https://hackerapproved.com/p/enshittification.md): 19 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1732265178?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9781732265172) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Art of Doing Science and Engineering by Richard Hamming", https://hackerapproved.com/p/art-of-doing-science-and-engineering/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).