# The Feynman Lectures on Computation by Richard Feynman

7 Hacker News commenters recommended The Feynman Lectures on Computation by Richard Feynman and 2 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended as engaging, up-to-date lecture notes that complement textbooks, with clear explanations of computability, information theory, entropy and thermodynamics.

## Why people recommend it

- Engaging, entertaining lecture notes (2 comments): "Therefore his lecture notes are engaging and entertaining like no others, and a perfect complementary text to normal text books." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46420568)) "I really really enjoyed it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46970746))
- Clear explanations of difficult concepts (2 comments): "There's some really great explanations in there of computability, information theory, entropy, thermodynamics" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46968486)) "feynman explains it very well to a laymen audience" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46970772))
- Still relevant and up to date (2 comments): "A surprising amount of the book is still relevant" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49701594)) "It's quite stunning how up to date they are." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46970470))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/structure-and-interpretation-of-computer-programs.md): 55 recommend
- [The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E. Knuth](https://hackerapproved.com/p/art-of-computer-programming.md): 28 recommend
- [Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/sicp.md): 12 recommend
- [Quantum Computation and Quantum Information by Nielsen and Chuang](https://hackerapproved.com/p/quantum-computation-and-quantum-information.md): 12 recommend
- [Digital Design and Computer Architecture by Harris and Harris](https://hackerapproved.com/p/digital-design-and-computer-architecture.md): 8 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/042996899X?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780429968990) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Feynman Lectures on Computation by Richard Feynman", https://hackerapproved.com/p/feynman-lectures-on-computation/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).