Episode · Dwarkesh Podcast · 2026-04-07
Books mentioned on Michael Nielsen – How science actually progresses
Really enjoyed chatting with Michael Nielsen about how we recognize scientific progress. It's especially relevant for closing the RL verification loop for scientific discovery.
Dwarkesh Patel discussed Subtle is the Lord : The Science and the Life of Albert Einstein by Abraham Pais and The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. Michael Nielsen discussed The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes by Imre Lakatos and others, The Principia by Isaac Newton and others, and The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E. Knuth.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
Subtle is the Lord : The Science and the Life of Albert Einstein
Discussed“This is what was a shocking part of reading this story from the biography of Einstein that you recommended by... what was his first name? Abraham Pais. Abraham Pais. Subtle is the Lord.”
Where to get it
-
The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes
Discussed“Also from Imre Lakatos, The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes.”
Where to get it
-
The Principia
The Principia by Isaac Newton, along with I.
Discussed“They are just as sane as the Principia if their whole matter and purpose were not magical. They were nearly all composed during the same 25 years of his mathematical studies.”
Where to get it
-
The Origin of Species
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin is a foundational 1859 scientific text that introduced the theory of evolution by natural selection, forever altering humanity's understanding of biology and the natural world.
Discussed“So Principia Mathematica is released in 1687. The Origin of Species is released in 1859.”
Where to get it
-
The Art of Computer Programming
The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E.
Discussed“I think it was Knuth in the preface to The Art of Computer Programming who says something like it.”
Where to get it
