# Introduction to Algorithms by Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest and Stein

10 Hacker News commenters recommended Introduction to Algorithms by Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest and Stein and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 7 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Recommended as a thorough, long-lasting algorithms textbook covering nearly everything needed; a few readers find some parts less valuable.

## Why people recommend it

- Covers nearly everything you need (2 comments): "that has pretty much everything you may need in that regards" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48542126)) "my copies of Introduction to Algorithms by Cormen et al. and my Knuth volumes remain relevant" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47403289))
- Content stays relevant over time (2 comments): "my copies of Introduction to Algorithms by Cormen et al. and my Knuth volumes remain relevant" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47403289)) "Most underlying technology is timeless" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46733856))
- Enjoyable writing with history lessons (2 comments): "It's a nice space to be in, a blissful stroll through pedagogy, little history lessons, easy stuff." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45899611)) "CLRS is a wonderful book and I learned a ton from it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49645791))

## What people warn about

- Some readers find it low value (1 comments): "I considered it leg work and not of very high value" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46452340))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [The Algorithm Design Manual by Steven Skiena](https://hackerapproved.com/p/algorithm-design-manual.md): 5 recommend
- [Algorithms by Robert Sedgewick](https://hackerapproved.com/p/algorithms.md): 5 recommend
- [Foundations of Multidimensional and Metric Data Structures by Hanan Samet](https://hackerapproved.com/p/foundations-of-multidimensional-and-metric-data-structures.md): 2 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0262533057?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780262533058) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Introduction to Algorithms by Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest and Stein", https://hackerapproved.com/p/introduction-to-algorithms/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).