# The Infinity Machine by Sebastian Mallaby

6 Hacker News commenters recommended The Infinity Machine by Sebastian Mallaby and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Engaging behind-the-scenes account of DeepMind's Demis Hassabis, including his life before DeepMind. Main caveat: it is largely uncritical of its subject.

## Why people recommend it

- Insider look at AI companies (2 comments): "Excellent! Fascinating seeing a glimpse inside of the companies currently eating the world." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49908765)) "is quite interesting and enjoyable. behind the scenes documentary view into his life" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49903334))
- Covers Hassabis's background before DeepMind (1 comments): "It's pretty good, and goes a lot into his background before Deepmind" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47952715))
- Enjoyable, engaging read (2 comments): "is quite interesting and enjoyable. behind the scenes documentary view into his life" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49903334)) "best book I read so far on my current vacation." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49115858))

## What people warn about

- Uncritical, portrays subject favorably (1 comments): "The book is totally uncritical of the subject and paints him like the second coming of christ." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47953757))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [The Man from the Future by Ananyo Bhattacharya](https://hackerapproved.com/p/man-from-the-future.md): 9 recommend
- [Steve Jobs in Exile by Geoffrey Cain](https://hackerapproved.com/p/steve-jobs-in-exile.md): 7 recommend
- [Steve Jobs and the NeXT Big Thing by Randall Stross](https://hackerapproved.com/p/steve-jobs-and-the-next-big-thing.md): 7 recommend
- [The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro](https://hackerapproved.com/p/years-of-lyndon-johnson.md): 6 recommend
- [Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder](https://hackerapproved.com/p/mountains-beyond-mountains.md): 6 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593831845?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780593831847) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Infinity Machine by Sebastian Mallaby", https://hackerapproved.com/p/infinity-machine-demis-hassabis-deepmind-and-the-quest-for-superintelligence/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).