# Linear Algebra by Friedberg, Insel and Spence

Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/linear-algebra/

7 people recommended Linear Algebra by Friedberg, Insel and Spence in Hacker News comments, 1 had mixed feelings and none criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 2 of 12 months, in 2 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule.

6 of the 7 people who recommend it commented in one thread, “Linear Algebra Done Right – Sheldon Axler”.

**Verdict:** Recommended as a clear, well-exercised undergraduate linear algebra text that can be read online for free.

Summary written by Claude from 10 comments.

## Why people recommend it

- Free or very cheap (3 comments in the sample): "It's a great introduction, and better yet, it's completely free!" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49346099)) "because it‘s good and very, very cheap (a Dover" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49330207)) "can be read online for free" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49346010))
- Used as a course text (3 comments in the sample): "FIS was the text for my first “real” mathematics class and it is near and dear to me." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49332480)) "I recommend and teach my YouTube Live series out of Fraleigh" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49329363)) "I loved FIS for my Advanced Linear Algebra class" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49330068))

## Other linear algebra textbooks people recommend

- [Linear Algebra Done Right by Sheldon Axler](https://hackerapproved.com/p/linear-algebra-done-right/): 34 recommend, 6 mixed, 11 criticize
- [Introduction to Linear Algebra by Gilbert Strang](https://hackerapproved.com/p/introduction-to-linear-algebra/): 8 recommend, 2 mixed, 5 criticize
- [Linear Algebra and Its Applications by David Lay](https://hackerapproved.com/p/linear-algebra-and-its-applications/): 5 recommend, 1 mixed, 0 criticize
- [No Bullshit Guide to Linear Algebra by Ivan Savov](https://hackerapproved.com/p/no-bullshit-guide-to-linear-algebra/): 5 recommend, 0 mixed, 0 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, "Linear Algebra by Friedberg, Insel and Spence", https://hackerapproved.com/p/linear-algebra/ (7 recommend, 1 mixed, 0 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026).

Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.