# How To Ask Questions The Smart Way by Eric S. Raymond

7 Hacker News commenters recommended How To Ask Questions The Smart Way by Eric S. Raymond and 4 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended as a guide to asking good questions, framing them as collaborative investigation. Critics say its harsh tone discourages newcomers and that it needs updating for the AI era.

## Why people recommend it

- Frames questions as investigation, not tasking (1 comments): "questions are about investigations and collaboration, not tasking" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49375291))
- Still relevant though written pre-AI (1 comments): "is from before AI but still seems relevant" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48876890))
- Recommended reference for asking good questions (1 comments): "We need to ask good questions and read ESR's guide on that." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48062952))
- Harsh tone, but well warranted (1 comments): "It reads a bit harsh in some places but well warranted IMHO." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48775346))

## What people warn about

- Harsh tone discourages newcomers (2 comments): "which does more to stifle conversation and education than anything else" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49410875)) "INSUFFERABLE FAQ on "How To Ask Questions The Smart Way"" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48768258))
- Needs updating for the AI age (1 comments): "Needs to be updated in the age of AI" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48675266))
- Linked to unhelpful questioning habits (1 comments): "It can be traced to How To Ask Questions The Smart Way" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47011195))

## 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, "How To Ask Questions The Smart Way by Eric S. Raymond", https://hackerapproved.com/p/how-to-ask-questions-the-smart-way/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).