Quantum Computing since Democritus
Scott Aaronson
20 people recommended it in 11 threads, 2014–2021.
3 commenters pushed back on it — worth reading the threads.
What people on Hacker News said
He is connecting quantum computing, computability, computational complexity, foundations of mathematics, probability, crypto, philosophy, and a bunch of other things I haven't gotten to yet. All the deep stuff -- but it's not pretentious or tedious at all.
Scott Aaronson is a great writer and lucid thinker. I got hooked from the preface alone.
It is closer to a textbook, than say a popular science book, but is still a very fun, engaging, and at times pretty funny read.
Similarly to books like GEB, it really exposed me to a whole range of fascinating ideas and topics that I am now interested in.
QC since Democritus is a weird mix of textbook and popularization; I think you could absolutely read it without understanding the details and still enjoy it. You won't get as much, but you'll still get something.
Scott Aaronson has an interesting take on the Chinese room theorem that tackles it from a computational complexity point of view:
A brilliant MIT professor's reflections on the intersection between computer science, physics and philosophy.
Where it comes up
- Prof. Sussman's Reading List 2015 · 6 recommendations
- Ask HN: What's the best computer science book you've read recently? 2017 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: Recommend a maths book for a teenager? 2020 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Which book are you reading these days? 2015 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Technical Summer Reading List 2021 · 1 recommendation
- The Best Books on the Philosophy of Mind 2018 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books are you currently reading? 2018 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books have you read in the first half of 2016? 2016 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2015? 2015 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What is the most mind blowing book you've ever read? 2015 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What are your favorite books? I'm bored 2014 · 1 recommendation