# Computational Physics (2nd Edition) by Giordano and Nakanishi 7 Hacker News commenters recommended Computational Physics (2nd Edition) by Giordano and Nakanishi and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 1 of 13 months. **Verdict:** Recommended as a solid introductory computational physics text with well-structured content and gorgeous LaTeX work. Its matplotlib chapter is considered barebones. ## Why people recommend it - Good introductory level coverage (2 comments): "it's a good introduction to implementing functions and equations" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47652395)) "it's rather good at an introductory level to the subject" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47654336)) ## What people warn about - Matplotlib chapter seems barebones (1 comments): "The matplotlib chapter seems fairly barebones but I remain in awe at this gorgeous latex work" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47654147)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [The Feynman Lectures on Physics by Feynman, Leighton and Sands](https://hackerapproved.com/p/feynman-lectures-on-physics.md): 34 recommend - [Course of Theoretical Physics by Landau and Lifshitz](https://hackerapproved.com/p/course-of-theoretical-physics.md): 8 recommend - [General Relativity by Robert Wald](https://hackerapproved.com/p/general-relativity.md): 6 recommend - [Engineering Thermodynamics](https://hackerapproved.com/p/free-textbook-on-engineering-thermodynamics.md): 6 recommend - [Gravitation by Misner, Thorne and Wheeler](https://hackerapproved.com/p/gravitation.md): 5 recommend ## Where to get it - [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0471671908?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link) - [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780471671909) (affiliate link) ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Computational Physics (2nd Edition) by Giordano and Nakanishi", https://hackerapproved.com/p/computational-physics/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).