853 ratings | 120 reviews | avg rating:4.33

Michael’s Year In Books

Michael’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Michael’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Michael’s 2025 Year in Books

Michael Nielsen’s Followers (1,657)

Michael’s Bookshelves

to-read (1084)
currently-reading (9)
read (843)
did-not-finish (0)
favorites (47)
seriously_used (10)
to-reread (1)

Michael’s Friends (135)

Dave Bacon

1,414 books | 69 friends

condor bird

2,334 books | 2 friends

Michaela Smith

180 books | 23 friends

John

4,062 books | 332 friends

Angel Ortiz

738 books | 10 friends

Jason Furman

2,446 books | 818 friends

ernest (Ellen)

567 books | 70 friends

Pietro Monticone

1,975 books | 73 friends

More friends…

2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Michael Nielsen has read 11 of 40 books.

28%

Michael Nielsen

Goodreads Author

Born

Australia

Website

http://michaelnotebook.com/

Twitter

michael_nielsen

Genre

Science, Computers & Internet

Member Since

October 2007

edit data

Many of the books below listed as by me are not, in fact, by me. Goodreads makes it timeconsuming and difficult to change this, so I don't bother. It's a real pain though.

On friend requests: I use the "updates" list a lot to find new books. So I will only accept friend requests if either (a) we're actually friends; or (b) your list of updates is mostly books that look really interesting to me, and like the kind of thing I might otherwise not see. It doesn't mean I don't like you if I don't accept the request!

On technical books: I struggle with how to shelve technical books. Serious reading of such a book may take an hour or more per page; I will rarely seriously read the entire book for that reason. On the other hand, I would like to put th ...more

Combine Editions
Michael Nielsen’s books

Average rating: 4.23 · 1,185 ratings · 143 reviews · 12 distinct works • Similar authors

	Reinventing Discovery: The New Era of Networked Science 3.94 avg rating — 640 ratings — published 2011 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Neural Networks and Deep Learning 4.57 avg rating — 458 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Quantum Computing for The Very Curious 4.68 avg rating — 34 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Quantum Country by Andy Matuschak, Michael Nielsen (Goodreads Author) 4.55 avg rating — 20 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 Application Design: Design and extend complete applications using Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 by Mark Brummel, Michael Nielsen (Goodreads Author) (Foreword) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2010 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Kingdom of the Red and White Banner by Michael Nielsen (Goodreads Author), Natasha La (Illustrator) 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	essay on learning and motivation liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Princeton University Press byNielsen 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	An Introduction to Psychology of Religion 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Path to Fulfillment: Embracing Your True Calling 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Michael Nielsen…

Michael is Currently Reading

Michael Nielsen is currently reading

The Abolition of Man

by C.S. Lewis

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Mar 18, 2026 10:01PM

Michael Nielsen is currently reading

Things in Nature Merely Grow

by Yiyun Li

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Feb 13, 2026 07:15PM

Michael Nielsen is currently reading

Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul

by Stephen Jenkinson

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Feb 10, 2026 11:23PM

rss
Michael’s Recent Updates

Michael Nielsen wants to read The Lady with the Little Dog by Anton Chekhov	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 17, 2026 07:18PM · 1 like · like
Michael Nielsen wants to read Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 17, 2026 06:41PM · 2 likes · like
Michael Nielsen wants to read The Melancholy of Resistance by László Krasznahorkai	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 17, 2026 06:41PM · 2 likes · like
Michael Nielsen wants to read The Forgotten Notebook by Betty Churcher	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 17, 2026 06:41PM · like
Michael Nielsen wants to read On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 16, 2026 09:00PM · 3 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Nielsen rated a book really liked it The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Apr 16, 2026 04:23PM · 3 likes · like · see review
Michael Nielsen rated a book it was ok On Moral Fiction by John Gardner	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I read a little over half of this for a book club - enough that I feel justified in reviewing it. It was terrible - a series of self-righteous, poorly argued essays, which made me less sympathetic to the broad thesis than I was initially inclined to b ...more
Apr 16, 2026 01:14PM · 3 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of On Moral Fiction by John Gardner. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — On Moral Fiction by John Gardner <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Nielsen wants to read Advice on Dying: And Living a Better Life by Dalai Lama XIV	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 15, 2026 03:00PM · like
Michael Nielsen wants to read The Delight of Being Ordinary: A Road Trip with the Pope and the Dalai Lama by Roland Merullo (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 15, 2026 02:58PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Delight of Being Ordinary by Roland Merullo. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Delight of Being Ordinary by Roland Merullo <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Nielsen wants to read An Introduction to Buddhism (Core Teachings of Dalai Lama) by Dalai Lama XIV	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 15, 2026 02:58PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of An Introduction to Buddhism by Dalai Lama XIV. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — An Introduction to Buddhism by Dalai Lama XIV <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Michael's books…

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
WACKY READING CHA...: I ♥ Audiobooks Challenge	446	187	Mar 31, 2022 08:37AM

Michael’s Quotes

“Science is the only news. When you scan a news portal or magazine, all the human interest stuff is the same old he-said-she-said, the politics and economics the same cyclical dramas, the fashions a pathetic illusion of newness; even the technology is predictable if you know the science behind it. Human nature doesn't change much; science does, and the change accrues, altering the world irreversibly”
― Stewart Brand

55 likes

“A library doesn't need windows. A library is a window.”
― Stewart Brand, How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built

tags: library

52 likes

“If you don't like bacteria, you're on the wrong planet.”
― Stewart Brand

tags: bacteria, life, microbes, science, world

19 likes

“Function reforms form, perpetually.”
― Stewart Brand, How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built

13 likes

Michael’s Year In Books

Michael Nielsen’s Followers (1,657)

Michael’s Bookshelves

Michael’s Friends (135)

2026 Reading Challenge

Michael Nielsen

Goodreads Author

Combine Editions
Michael Nielsen’s books

Michael is Currently Reading

rss
Michael’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle

See a Problem?

Preview — On Moral Fiction by John Gardner

See a Problem?

Preview — The Delight of Being Ordinary by Roland Merullo

See a Problem?

Preview — An Introduction to Buddhism by Dalai Lama XIV

Topics Mentioning This Author

Michael’s Quotes

recent posts
Michael’s Groups

Michael’s Friend Comments

Michael Nielsen’s Followers (1,657)

Michael Nielsen

Goodreads Author

rssMichael’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle

See a Problem?

Preview — On Moral Fiction by John Gardner

See a Problem?

Preview — The Delight of Being Ordinary by Roland Merullo

See a Problem?

Preview — An Introduction to Buddhism by Dalai Lama XIV

Topics Mentioning This Author

rss
Michael’s Recent Updates