# IBM and the Holocaust by Edwin Black

7 Hacker News commenters recommended IBM and the Holocaust by Edwin Black and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 6 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended as a well-researched, instructive history of IBM's dealings during WWII, and as a starting point for readers new to the topic.

## Why people recommend it

- Thorough historical documentation (2 comments): "The book is good because of the extensive historical documentation of IBM practices" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46148887)) "Well-researched, well-regarded & a bestseller." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45782570))
- Explains IBM's wartime history clearly (2 comments): "it explains what went down for those who don't know" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46775646)) "Good read about the history of IBM during WWII" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48226867))
- Instructive on IBM's wartime role (2 comments): "Read books by Edwin Black to learn why this is a bad idea." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48731460)) "The book “IBM and the Holocaust” is instructive here." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48748917))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow](https://hackerapproved.com/p/dawn-of-everything.md): 23 recommend
- [Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner](https://hackerapproved.com/p/cadillac-desert.md): 18 recommend
- [The Box by Marc Levinson](https://hackerapproved.com/p/box.md): 16 recommend
- [Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari](https://hackerapproved.com/p/sapiens.md): 13 recommend
- [Chip War by Chris Miller](https://hackerapproved.com/p/chip-war.md): 13 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316857718?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780316857710) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "IBM and the Holocaust by Edwin Black", https://hackerapproved.com/p/ibm-and-the-holocaust/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).