# Incorruptible by Eric Ries Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/incorruptible/ 20 people recommended Incorruptible by Eric Ries in Hacker News comments, 3 had mixed feelings and 11 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 12 months, in 6 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule. 14 of the 20 people who recommend it commented in one thread, “AMA: I'm Eric Ries (The Lean Startup) & Author of New Bestseller Incorruptible”. **Verdict:** Recommended for its account of how companies lose their principles and what to do about it. Critics say it is thin on evidence. Summary written by Claude from 48 comments. ## Why people recommend it - Practical fixes and ideas for change (3 comments in the sample): "you will not only know the answer to this question, you will even know what we can do about it" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48480325)) "ideas in the new book might be useful in helping us reorganize our economy afterwards" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48480255)) "There is a whole chapter on that "hack" and how (and why) to implement it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48493285)) - Argument feels rigorous and convincing (3 comments in the sample): "I think the book gives a pretty clear and convincing answer" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48484615)) "the much more detailed and (I hope) rigorous argument" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48486664)) "I think it is both more effective and more long-term." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48493123)) - Explains how companies drift from principles (2 comments in the sample): "It is a fascinating read as to how most companies start with good intentions but end up so far away from their principles." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49910547)) "At the very end of the book, I call these companies "addicts creating more addicts." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48481965)) - Emotionally resonant beyond founders (2 comments in the sample): "I think this one is more emotionally resonant for folks, and has applicability way beyond founders or even product people." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48484387)) "I applaud writing a book on the challenges of making a business that is net good for society" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48478416)) ## What people warn about - Claims lack scientific basis (2 comments in the sample): "full of platitudes that sound relevant to people's problems and desires, that pretend to be based on science but have no actual basis in facts" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48480268)) "feels like heavy selection bias." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48479400)) - Content and format disappoint readers (2 comments in the sample): "I was disappointed in the content and format of the book." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48487712)) "it actually is hard for me to separate decisions like these from my assessment of whether a book like this is worth my time" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48485378)) - Framing seen as out of touch (2 comments in the sample): "what you're selling is illusions for entrepreneurs that want to delude themselves away from personal responsibility" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48487239)) "It's about how out of touch this kind of book is." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48485207)) ## Other business books people recommend - [The Lean Startup by Eric Ries](https://hackerapproved.com/p/lean-startup/): 28 recommend, 3 mixed, 6 criticize - [The Gervais Principle by Venkatesh Rao](https://hackerapproved.com/p/gervais-principle/): 24 recommend, 5 mixed, 5 criticize - [The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt](https://hackerapproved.com/p/goal/): 13 recommend, 0 mixed, 1 criticize - [The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen](https://hackerapproved.com/p/innovator-s-dilemma/): 10 recommend, 0 mixed, 1 criticize ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Incorruptible by Eric Ries", https://hackerapproved.com/p/incorruptible/ (20 recommend, 3 mixed, 11 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.