Principles of neural science
by Eric R. Kandel, James H. Schwartz, Thomas M. Jessell, J.H. Schwartz · first published 2000
52% recommend48% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A standard, very comprehensive neuroscience textbook covering nearly the whole field in technical depth, from molecular biology up. Suits serious, self-motivated readers with basic chemistry and biology.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2008–2025Theoretical neuroscience
Peter Dayan, L. F. Abbott
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 63 recommend · 6 mention3 recommend · 63 recommend
2008–2023In Search of Memory
Eric R. Kandel
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 55 recommend · 5 mention5 recommend · 55 recommend
2018–2023Modern control engineering
Katsuhiko Ogata
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 53 recommend · 5 mention3 recommend · 53 recommend
Fundamental neuroscience
Larry R. Squire
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 64 recommend · 6 mention4 recommend · 64 recommend
2009–2024Vision
David Marr
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 64 recommend · 6 mention4 recommend · 64 recommend
How Brands Grow
Byron Sharp, Jenni Romaniuk
Recommended by 6 · mentioned by 86 recommend · 8 mention6 recommend · 86 recommend
Principles of Neural Science by Kandel et al Molecular Biology of The Cell by Alberts et al Janeway’s Immunobiology Robbin’s Pathologic Basis of Disease All of these books are extraordinary in their sheer ability to organize…
on “Ask HN: Which books do you consider real gems in your field of work/study?” ↗…tried to find the other segments for this series and could only find the first four chapters, so I'm wondering if there are more. But for anyone really interested in neuroscience on a biological level, "Principles of Neural Science" by Kandel and Schwartz (also one of this article's references) is your bible.
on “Know Your Neurons (2012)” ↗Principles of Neural Science 5th ed. By Kandel et al. It was recommended to me here on HN. The thing is a serious tome. When I want to work through a chapter I have to make time every day for a week and keep notes. In any case it…
on “2017 Nobel Prize in Medicine for the molecular mechanisms of circadian rhythm” ↗…irrelevant given that the majority of the world has never studied neuroscience. >science has no idea what consciousness is Not true. Neuroscience has discovered a lot about consciousness. I recommend Principles of Neural Science if you're interested: https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Neural-Science-Fifth-Kande... >Plus, there are all kinds of problems and contradictions if the mind reduces to matter. Such as?
on “A startup is pitching a mind-uploading service that is “100 percent fatal”” ↗That's quite the link. I like to read Kandel 'Principles of Neural Science' because it's amazing. That picture just unfolds from dna in all of us. Fulfills the old adage of "we're just brains riding in skeleton mechs powered by meat"
on “How does my mind talk to my body? [audio]” ↗It's informally called "The Kandel's book": Principles of Neural Science by Eric R. Kandel, J.H. Schwartz, and Thomas M. Jessell
on “Ask HN: Is there a SICP of biology?” ↗Also relevant, though maybe deviating a bit from engineering: Principles of Neural Science by Kandel and Schwartz https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Neural-Science-Fifth-Kande...
on “How to build a brain – An introduction to neurophysiology for engineers” ↗In neuroscience: Principles of Neural Science, Fifth Edition (Principles of Neural Science (Kandel)) 5th Edition https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Neural-Science-Fifth-Kande...
on “Ask HN: What are the best textbooks in your field of expertise?” ↗Two that I can recommend are Eric Kandel's Principles of Neural Science, and Larry Squire's Fundamental Neuroscience. One of the most amazing things in nature are the pentameric ligand-gated ion channels. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4412168/
on “I should have loved biology” ↗Bear's Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain Purves's Neuroscience Kandel's Principles of Neural Science (grad level, but really the bible for neuro) Dayan and Abbot's Theoretical Neuroscience (good for compneuro) The Art of Electronics, 2nd edition (cheating here, but it's good to go back through the…
on “Personality Basins” ↗…get into them, in part because he was--loudly--wrong about the brain stim stuff in that article--but that's more of a personal beef. If you want something more like a textbook, the standard is Kandel's Principles of Neural Science. It touches on almost everything, though often not in a particularly exciting or up-to-date way. It's not the worst book for a class, but it'd be a slog to power through in bed. Instead, I'd recommend…
on “Electrical stimulation can boost brain's willingness to engage in mental effort” ↗Thanks robg & toddml, I was particularly interested in Principles of Neural Science and it's good to see both of you endorsing it. I've already started teaching myself some first year biology (from a borrowed textbook), so I'm going for Principles.
on “Ask HN: What is a good introduction to neuroscience?” ↗I'd second principles of neural science, though that's with the expectation that the reader has the appropriate background in basic chemistry, biology, and maybe anatomy. Out of the dozens of books I have on neurosci, that's probably the single…
on “Ask HN: What is a good introduction to neuroscience?” ↗…in my last comment. Thank you. :) 1) some introductory material on receptor theory: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receptor_theory Yes, I know Wikipedia, a more comprehensive intro to basic neuro is "Principles of Neural Science, 5th Ed" (http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?isbn=0071390111)... It's large book but the de facto standard. 2) a reference to some basic pharmacology with respect to opioid receptors that includes…
on “The Anti-Addiction Pill That's Big Business For Drug Dealers” ↗One place to start is the "Principles of Neural Science", the intro textbook to neuroscience.
on “Neurogenesis Deep Learning” ↗