Mentioned in Podcasts

Person

Every book Michael Nielsen recommended on podcasts

Key facts

  • Michael Nielsen has recommended or discussed 5 books on podcasts, as of April 7, 2026.
  • Michael Nielsen has talked about books on 2 podcasts, as of April 7, 2026.
  • Those books came up in 2 episodes, as of April 7, 2026.
  • The 3 books Michael Nielsen has mentioned in the most episodes, as of April 7, 2026: The Origin of Species, Deschooling Society and The Art of Computer Programming.
  • The latest episode with a book mention from Michael Nielsen aired on April 7, 2026.

Updated

Guest on Dwarkesh Podcast, Conversations with Tyler · 5 books · 2 episodes across 2 podcasts

Across 2 podcasts. Every show Michael Nielsen appears on, in one place — not just one.

Michael Nielsen is a researcher, writer, and physicist known for his work on quantum computing and the study of how science progresses. During appearances on the Dwarkesh Podcast and Conversations with Tyler, he discussed several foundational scientific, historical, and educational texts. Nielsen referenced Imre Lakatos's The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes while evaluating how scientific progress and historical ether theories are judged. He discussed Isaac Newton's major work, The Principia: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, noting how Newton's mathematical and alchemical studies intertwined, and praised Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species for its extensive evidence connecting natural selection to biology and geology. Furthermore, Nielsen mentioned Donald E. Knuth's preface to The Art of Computer Programming to illustrate the growth of deep computer science theorems, and discussed Ivan Illich's Deschooling Society to examine institutional approaches to human development. Through these selections, Nielsen explored the mechanics of scientific advancement and the structure of human institutions.

Books Michael Nielsen recommended or discussed

Who said what is determined automatically. In hand-checked samples, at least 6% of mentions were credited to the wrong speaker — sometimes an interviewer’s line recorded as the guest’s, sometimes the reverse. Every entry below quotes the words and links to the episode, so you can check it.

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  1. The Origin of Species

    Charles Darwin · Recommended · 1 episode

    Charles Darwin’s foundational work on evolutionary biology, The Origin of Species, outlines the theory of evolution by natural selection and presents extensive evidence connecting biological and geological phenomena.

    Recommended
    “He writes this wonderful book, The Origin of Species.”
    Dwarkesh Podcast Michael Nielsen – How science actually progresses 2026-04-07
    Where to get it
    Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon

  2. Deschooling Society

    Ivan Illich; Ivan Illich · Discussed · 1 episode

    Deschooling Society by Ivan Illich is a radical critique of modern institutional education that argues compulsory schooling stunts human potential and social learning.

    Discussed
    “So, in Deschooling Society, he really makes the point that in fact schools do not treat children as as human to some extent at all.”
    Conversations with Tyler Michael Nielsen on Collaboration, Quantum Computing, and Civilization'… 2024-05-29 Listen at 1:04:08
    Where to get it
    Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon

  3. The Art of Computer Programming

    Donald E. Knuth · Discussed · 1 episode

    The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E. Knuth is a comprehensive multi-volume monograph chronicling the synthesis and analysis of foundational computer algorithms and programming techniques.

    Discussed
    “I think it was Knuth in the preface to The Art of Computer Programming who says something like it.”
    Dwarkesh Podcast Michael Nielsen – How science actually progresses 2026-04-07
    Where to get it
    Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon

  4. The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes

    Imre Lakatos; Lakatos Imre · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “Also from Imre Lakatos, The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes.”
    Dwarkesh Podcast Michael Nielsen – How science actually progresses 2026-04-07
    Where to get it
    Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon

  5. The Principia

    Isaac Newton, I. Bernard Cohen · Discussed · 1 episode

    The Principia by Isaac Newton, along with I. Bernard Cohen's contributions, is a monumental scientific masterpiece published in 1687 that laid the groundwork for classical mechanics and the universal theory of gravitation.

    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.”
    Dwarkesh Podcast Michael Nielsen – How science actually progresses 2026-04-07 Listen at 20:06
    Where to get it
    Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
Michael Nielsen – How science actually progressesDwarkesh Podcast2026-04-074
Michael Nielsen on Collaboration, Quantum Computing, and Civilization's FragilityConversations with Tyler2024-05-291