# Microelectronic Circuits by Sedra and Smith

3 Hacker News commenters recommended Microelectronic Circuits by Sedra and Smith and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 2 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended as an in-depth reference and, by some, an introduction. Caveat: it can be a hard start, opening with Laplace and network abstractions.

## Why people recommend it

- Good reference for electronics (1 comments): "I find Sedra/Smith a terrible introduction, but a good reference." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48894372))
- Excellent introduction for some readers (1 comments): "I found Sedra/Smith to be an excellent introduction." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48901556))
- Strong in-depth coverage of topics (1 comments): "S&S being great for going in-depth on some topics" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46544965))

## What people warn about

- Hard as a first introduction (2 comments): "hate it, anything which kicks you in the nuts right up front with Laplace and networks abstractions" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48894107)) "I find Sedra/Smith a terrible introduction, but a good reference." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48894372))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/structure-and-interpretation-of-computer-programs.md): 55 recommend
- [The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E. Knuth](https://hackerapproved.com/p/art-of-computer-programming.md): 28 recommend
- [Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/sicp.md): 12 recommend
- [Quantum Computation and Quantum Information by Nielsen and Chuang](https://hackerapproved.com/p/quantum-computation-and-quantum-information.md): 12 recommend
- [Digital Design and Computer Architecture by Harris and Harris](https://hackerapproved.com/p/digital-design-and-computer-architecture.md): 8 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0195142527?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780195142525) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Microelectronic Circuits by Sedra and Smith", https://hackerapproved.com/p/microelectronic-circuits/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).