# QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter by Richard Feynman

5 Hacker News commenters recommended QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter by Richard Feynman and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 5 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** People recommend it as an approachable, descriptive introduction to quantum electrodynamics that needs no heavy mathematics and suits readers with high school understanding.

## Why people recommend it

- Accessible introduction without heavy mathematics (3 comments): "It covers the topic in-depth in a descriptive, rather than mathematical way" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48794433)) "It's approachable for anyone with high school understanding" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48786219)) "Feynman's book QED gives a good intro" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46468985))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter](https://hackerapproved.com/p/g-del-escher-bach.md): 47 recommend
- [Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/thinking-fast-and-slow.md): 17 recommend
- [Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows](https://hackerapproved.com/p/thinking-in-systems.md): 17 recommend
- [The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins](https://hackerapproved.com/p/selfish-gene.md): 14 recommend
- [Cosmos by Carl Sagan](https://hackerapproved.com/p/cosmos.md): 13 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691164096?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780691164090) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter by Richard Feynman", https://hackerapproved.com/p/qed-the-strange-theory-of-light-and-matter/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).