Ask HN: Books about Genetic Algorithms

andyjohnson0 12 points 5 comments June 28, 2026
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I'm a developer. I have a basic working knowledge of classic neural networks. I'd like to learn about genetic algorithms. What books should I be reading? I prefer dead-tree, but pdf suggestions too please.

Discussion Highlights (4 comments)

andyjohnson0

I've seen recommendations for Genetic Algorithms in Search, Optimization, and Machine Learning by David E Goldberg as a classic/foundation text. However its 35+ years old. Is it still worth reading?

rolph

https://faculty.cc.gatech.edu/~turk/bio_sim/articles/genetic... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland%27s_schema_theorem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Holland Adaptation in Natural and Artificial Systems (1975, MIT Press)

cyberclimb

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-662-44874-8 (2015)

hdjhdbdhdh

I'd recommend going back to first principles for both and learning biology.

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