# Quantum Computation and Quantum Information by Nielsen and Chuang

12 Hacker News commenters recommended Quantum Computation and Quantum Information by Nielsen and Chuang and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended as the standard, clear introduction to quantum mechanics and quantum computation, used heavily by researchers. Critics note it assumes strong linear algebra background and is hard to self-learn from.

## Why people recommend it

- Clear explanations of quantum mechanics (3 comments): "Nielsen and Chuang has the clearest exposition of quantum mechanics I've seen anywhere." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46611075)) "I don't know of a clearer explanation of the postulates of quantum mechanics." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50226081)) "Nielsen & Chuang explain why quantum differs from classical" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46615490))
- Standard text in the field (3 comments): "The Nielsen/Chuang book is what i see recommended everywhere and so am definitely going to get it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46612235)) "The classic text is Nielsen and Chuang's "Quantum Computation and Quantum Information"" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46610725)) "it's essentially the standard primer on the world of quantum computation" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46610443))
- Useful for research and career (2 comments): "It helped me get to the position I am today as an academic researcher in QC" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46621271)) "Most of what I use day to day in research" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46612718))

## What people warn about

- Assumes strong linear algebra background (1 comments): "the book assumes a fair bit of mathematical background, especially in linear algebra" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46612406))
- Unstructured, hard to self-learn (1 comments): "the unstructured and untested nature of it makes it hard to self learn" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50308628))

## 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
- [Digital Design and Computer Architecture by Harris and Harris](https://hackerapproved.com/p/digital-design-and-computer-architecture.md): 8 recommend
- [Types and Programming Languages by Benjamin C. Pierce](https://hackerapproved.com/p/types-and-programming-languages.md): 7 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521635039?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780521635035) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Quantum Computation and Quantum Information by Nielsen and Chuang", https://hackerapproved.com/p/quantum-computation-and-quantum-information/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).