# Probability Theory: The Logic of Science by Jaynes

3 Hacker News commenters recommended Probability Theory: The Logic of Science by Jaynes and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** People recommend it for making probability and statistics finally make sense, with deeply significant foundations. The beginning parts are seen as not practically useful.

## Why people recommend it

- Makes statistics and probability make sense (1 comments): "the book that made statistics and probability theory finally make sense to me" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46348010))
- Deeply significant foundational content (1 comments): "the beginning parts of Jaynes Probability Theory were not useful practically but deeply significant" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48942709))

## What people warn about

- Beginning parts not practically useful (1 comments): "the beginning parts of Jaynes Probability Theory were not useful practically but deeply significant" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48942709))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Statistical Rethinking by Richard McElreath](https://hackerapproved.com/p/statistical-rethinking.md): 10 recommend
- [Think Bayes by Allen Downey](https://hackerapproved.com/p/think-bayes.md): 4 recommend
- [The Elements of Statistical Learning by Hastie, Tibshirani and Friedman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/elements-of-statistical-learning.md): 3 recommend
- [Introduction to Probability by Blitzstein and Hwang](https://hackerapproved.com/p/introduction-to-probability.md): 3 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521592712?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780521592710) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Probability Theory: The Logic of Science by Jaynes", https://hackerapproved.com/p/probability-theory-the-logic-of-science/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).