Calculus
Calculus by James Stewartby James Stewart
The most recommended of 4 calculus textbooks
Widely called the standard calculus textbook, and readable and affordable because it is so widespread. One critic objects to its high price.
9 people recommended Calculus by James Stewart in Hacker News comments, 1 had mixed feelings and 3 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026.
Summary written by Claude from 10 comments.
13 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 9
- mixed feelings
- 1
- warn against or regret it
- 3
The record
Recommended in 4 of 12 months
In 6 different threads.
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 9 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
- 3 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 4 of 12 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
- Recommended in 6 threadsNeeds 5 or more, met.
- The biggest thread supplies 33% of its recommendersNeeds half or less, met.
The same rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. Mixed feelings count toward neither side. How the badge works
What people say about it
Reasons grouped from a sample of 10 of the 14 opinions about it, picked in proportion to how many people recommend it, have mixed feelings and criticize it. Each mark is one comment in the sample. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Standard, widely used textbook
“I think Stewart's Calculus is excellent and it is rightfully the standard textbook.”
Comment from 15 Aug 2026 in “Simplifying and Refactoring Introductory Calculus” “It is readable and quite affordable because it is so widespread.”
Comment from 17 Jul 2026 in “Immersive Linear Algebra Book with Interactive Figures”
Other calculus textbooks people recommend
The three most recommended other calculus textbooks, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Mixed | Criticize | Approval | Months | Had for | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calculusby James StewartThis page | 9 | 1 | 3 | 75% | 4 | — | — |
| Calculus Made Easyby Silvanus P. Thompson | 5 | 0 | 1 | 83% | 3 | — | — |
| Calculus for Mathematicians, Computer Scientists, and Physicistsby Daniel Flegg | 4 | 0 | 4 | 50% | 1 | — | — |
| Elementary Calculus: An Infinitesimal Approachby Keisler | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
What people said
10 of the 14 opinions about it, picked in proportion to the three counts, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“It is priced so high and made him so much money that he built a $24 million "Integral House”
“Here are axioms collecting these requirements. They're uniquely satisfied by the determinant.”
“I think Stewart's Calculus is excellent and it is rightfully the standard textbook.”
“All of these things are covered in some great books”
“far better modern presentation”
“It is readable and quite affordable because it is so widespread.”
“Calculus by Spivak is the book I learnt from but it is probably not the easiest, it is very thorough though”
“The intro books for J are great for working through math and learning J”
“It was "new" but unusable and I was able to find a used copy in fine shape.”
“if it's just calculus as such get an older edition”
Counts come from 1,791,911 Hacker News comments labeled by Claude, November 2025 to October 2026, with data through October 31, 2026. Counts updated 2 Nov 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.