# Calculus by James Stewart

Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/calculus/

9 people recommended Calculus by James Stewart in Hacker News comments, 1 had mixed feelings and 3 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 12 months, in 6 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Widely called the standard calculus textbook, and readable and affordable because it is so widespread. One critic objects to its high price.

Summary written by Claude from 10 comments.

## Why people recommend it

- Standard, widely used textbook (2 comments in the sample): "I think Stewart's Calculus is excellent and it is rightfully the standard textbook." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49307578)) "It is readable and quite affordable because it is so widespread." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48942092))

## Other calculus textbooks people recommend

- [Calculus Made Easy by Silvanus P. Thompson](https://hackerapproved.com/p/calculus-made-easy/): 5 recommend, 0 mixed, 1 criticize
- [Calculus for Mathematicians, Computer Scientists, and Physicists by Daniel Flegg](https://hackerapproved.com/p/calculus-for-mathematicians-computer-scientists-and-physicists/): 4 recommend, 0 mixed, 4 criticize
- [Elementary Calculus: An Infinitesimal Approach by Keisler](https://hackerapproved.com/p/elementary-calculus-an-infinitesimal-approach/): 3 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, "Calculus by James Stewart", https://hackerapproved.com/p/calculus/ (9 recommend, 1 mixed, 3 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026).

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