# Child's Play by Sam Kriss

6 Hacker News commenters recommended Child's Play by Sam Kriss and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 2 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Readers find this long Harper's essay on tech's new generation quickly absorbing, sharply characterized and funny. No criticism was recorded.

## Why people recommend it

- Gripping, engaging story (2 comments): "I was shocked how quickly I became immersed reading this relatively simple story." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47089658)) "excellent article and an absolutely insane story" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47671849))
- Sharp, funny characterizations (2 comments): "This was a great article, and absolutely savage in some of its characterizations." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47670115)) "Long read on the topic (quite funny, covers Cluely)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47122999))
- Good companion read on tech (2 comments): "is also good to read as a follow-up, and compare the personalities" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47668868)) "Long read on the topic (quite funny, covers Cluely)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47122999))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Programming as Theory Building by Peter Naur](https://hackerapproved.com/p/programming-as-theory-building.md): 32 recommend
- [Ur-Fascism by Umberto Eco](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ur-fascism.md): 18 recommend
- [Politics and the English Language by George Orwell](https://hackerapproved.com/p/politics-and-the-english-language.md): 14 recommend
- [Right to Read by Richard Stallman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/right-to-read.md): 12 recommend
- [Meditations on Moloch by Scott Alexander](https://hackerapproved.com/p/meditations-on-moloch.md): 11 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Child's Play by Sam Kriss", https://hackerapproved.com/p/child-s-play/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).