Hacker ApprovedDepartments

Skunk Works

Skunk Works by Ben Rich

by Ben Rich

Shares rank 9 of 25 memoirs by recommenders

Well-written memoir of Lockheed's Skunk Works stealth aircraft development, praised as an engaging account of how a high-tech startup operates.

Well-written memoir of Lockheed's Skunk Works stealth aircraft development, praised as an engaging account of how a high-tech startup operates.

5 people gave an opinion

recommend it
5
criticize it
0
approval share
100%
Each figure is one person. RecommendsCriticizes

Recommended in 4 of 13 months

  1. November 2025: not recommended
  2. December 2025: recommended
  3. January 2026: not recommended
  4. February 2026: not recommended
  5. March 2026: recommended
  6. April 2026: not recommended
  7. May 2026: not recommended
  8. June 2026: not recommended
  9. July 2026: not recommended
  10. August 2026: not recommended
  11. September 2026: recommended
  12. October 2026: recommended
  13. November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)

Why it doesn’t carry the badge

  • 5 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
  • Nobody criticizes itNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
  • Recommended in 4 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.

The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works

What people say about it

The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.

Why people recommend it

Each mark is one comment

  • Well-written and enjoyable read

    “it's genuinely well-written and enjoyable book”

    Comment from 25 Mar 2026 in “China is mass-producing hypersonic missiles for $99,000”

    “truly excellent read. Highly recommended.”

    Comment from 30 Sep 2026 in “NASA asked several former SR-71A staffers to help secret restart”
  • Insight into Lockheed stealth plane development

    “I can only recommend the book by Ben Rich, Skunk Works, if you want learn more about how this plane came to be.”

    Comment from 4 Oct 2026 in “Former SR-71 engineer talks NASA's Blackbird revival program”

    “Really good book on the development of Lockheed's stealth planes.”

    Comment from 26 Dec 2025 in “Ask HN: What did you read in 2025?”

Other memoirs people recommend

The four most recommended other memoirs, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.

Skunk Works by Ben Rich compared with 4 alternatives
ProductRecommendCriticizeApprovalMonthsOwnedBadge
Careless Peopleby Sarah Wynn-Williams1062482%12—Approved
Man's Search for Meaningby Viktor Frankl13287%9—Approved
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!by Richard Feynman11761%6——
Down and Out in Paris and Londonby George Orwell9190%8——
Skunk Worksby Ben RichThis page50100%4——
See all 25 memoirs, ranked

What people said

All 5 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.

“I can only recommend the book by Ben Rich, Skunk Works, if you want learn more about how this plane came to be.”

RecommendsComment from 4 Oct 2026 in “Former SR-71 engineer talks NASA's Blackbird revival program”

“Best book ever on how a high technology startup operates.”

RecommendsComment from 30 Sep 2026 in “NASA asked several former SR-71A staffers to help secret restart”

“truly excellent read. Highly recommended.”

RecommendsComment from 30 Sep 2026 in “NASA asked several former SR-71A staffers to help secret restart”

“it's genuinely well-written and enjoyable book”

RecommendsComment from 25 Mar 2026 in “China is mass-producing hypersonic missiles for $99,000”

“Really good book on the development of Lockheed's stealth planes.”

MixedComment from 26 Dec 2025 in “Ask HN: What did you read in 2025?”

Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.