# Michael Brenndoerfer

> Official website of Michael Brenndoerfer, with original writing and free educational books about artificial intelligence, machine learning, data, software engineering, economics, and finance.

Michael Brenndoerfer is an analytics leader and author with experience across data and AI, private equity, management consulting, and software engineering. The site is written in English.

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## Site

- [Home](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/): Overview and recently published work
- [About Michael Brenndoerfer](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/about): Professional experience, education, and background
- [Writing](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing): Articles, tutorials, and educational chapters
- [Books](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/books): Free online books about AI, machine learning, and finance
- [Academy](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/academy): Courses and guided learning paths
- [Tokens](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/tokens): Newsletter covering notable developments in AI
- [Publications](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/publications): Academic and professional publications
- [Contact](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/contact): Ways to contact Michael Brenndoerfer

## Books

- [Machine Learning from Scratch](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/books/machine-learning-from-scratch): Learn the math and intuition behind machine learning algorithms, then implement them in Python. Status: Published.
- [Language AI Handbook](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/books/language-ai-handbook): Start with classical NLP, then work through transformers, LLM training, evaluation, and production. Status: In Progress.
- [Build a GPT from Scratch](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/books/gpt-from-scratch): Build a small GPT in PyTorch, one step at a time, from transformer math to training and text generation. Status: In Progress.
- [World Models Handbook](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/books/world-models-handbook): Learn how AI systems represent state, predict dynamics, imagine futures, and choose actions, from classical control to foundation world models. Status: Published.
- [AI Agent Handbook](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/books/ai-agent-handbook): Learn how to build reliable AI agents with reasoning, memory, tools, evaluation, and production safeguards. Status: Published.
- [History of Language AI](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/books/history-of-language-ai): Follow the history of NLP and language models, from information theory and symbolic AI to transformers and LLMs. Status: Published.
- [Quantitative Finance](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/books/quantitative-finance): Learn quantitative finance from pricing and portfolio construction through backtesting, execution, and production systems. Status: Published.

## Writing Topics

- [Data, Analytics & AI](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/data-analytics-ai): Articles about data, analytics, and AI, including machine learning, data visualization, and AI applications.
- [LLM and GenAI](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/llm-genai): Articles about Large Language Models and Generative AI, exploring their architectures, training methods, and real-world applications.
- [Machine Learning](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/machine-learning): Articles about traditional machine learning, optimization, bayesian methods, and other machine learning topics.
- [Chinese](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/chinese): Notes and insights from studying Chinese language and culture.
- [Software Engineering](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/software-engineering): Insights on software development, engineering practices, architecture patterns, and the craft of building robust, scalable systems.
- [Economics & Finance](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/economics-finance): Thoughts on economic principles, financial markets, and the intersection of economics with business and technology.
- [Entrepreneurship](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/entrepreneurship): Thoughts on building companies, innovation, and other entrepreneurial topics.
- [Philosophy](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/philosophy): Reflections on life, ethics, meaning, and the big questions that shape how we think about it.
- [Language AI Handbook](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/language-ai-handbook): Content from the Language AI Handbook, covering natural language processing, language models, and AI-powered language applications.
- [History of Language AI](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/history-of-language-ai): Historical perspective on language AI development, from early symbolic systems and parsing algorithms to modern neural approaches.
- [Machine Learning from Scratch](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/machine-learning-from-scratch): Machine Learning from Scratch covers statistical methods, machine learning algorithms, mathematical foundations, and practical implementations.
- [Build a GPT from Scratch](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/gpt-from-scratch): Build a GPT from Scratch covers the math and code behind small GPT-style models, including tensors, attention, optimization, and sampling.
- [AI Agent Handbook](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/ai-agent-handbook): Content from the AI Agent Handbook, covering autonomous AI agents, models, memory systems, tools, reasoning, evaluation, and operations.
- [Quantitative Finance](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/categories/quantitative-finance): Explore the Quantitative Finance book, from pricing and portfolio construction to calibration, backtesting, execution, and production systems.

## Articles

- [The February 2026 Selloff](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/february-2026-selloff-anatomy-multi-trillion-dollar-wipeout): How $1 trillion vanished from software stocks in days. The mechanics of leverage, algorithms, and margin calls behind the Feb 2026 crash.
- [Understanding Market Crashes: Where Does the Money Go](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/understanding-market-crashes-where-does-the-money-go-and-how-do-markets-recover): Market crashes erase quoted value rather than moving a fixed pool of cash. Covers forced selling, liquidity, wealth effects, price discovery, and recovery.
- [The Mathematics Behind LLM Fine-Tuning](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/mathematics-llm-fine-tuning-how-and-why-it-works-explained): Covers the mathematical foundations of LLM fine-tuning with clear explanations and minimal prerequisites.
- [Adapting LLMs: Context Injection vs. Fine-Tuning](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/adapting-llms-off-the-shelf-vs-context-injection-vs-fine-tuning-when-and-why): Covers choosing the right approach for your LLM project: using pre-trained models as-is, enhancing them with context injection and RAG.
- [What are AI Agents, Really?](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/what-are-ai-agents): AI agents combine a language model with tools, memory, and control logic. This article separates agents from workflows and multi-agent systems.
- [Model Context Protocol (MCP) for LLM Tool Integration](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/introduction-tools-mcp-model-context-protocol): Model Context Protocol (MCP) gives LLM applications a standard way to list tools, call them, and exchange structured results across services.
- [Why Temperature=0 Doesn't Guarantee Determinism in LLMs](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/why-llms-are-not-deterministic): Temperature zero does not make an LLM deterministic. GPU kernels, batching, floating-point arithmetic, and serving choices can still change its output.
- [Plato's Theaetetus: What Is Knowledge?](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/plato-theaetetus-knowledge-epistemology-perception-true-belief): Plato's Theaetetus tests three definitions of knowledge: perception, true belief, and justified belief. Examines why each account ultimately falls short.
- [Plato's Phaedo: Philosophy as Preparation for Death](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/plato-phaedo-soul-immortality-death-forms): Examines Plato's profound dialogue on the immortality of the soul, the nature of death, and why philosophers should welcome rather than fear their mortality.
- [Locke's Two Treatises of Government](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/locke-two-treatises-government-natural-rights-liberty-consent): Locke's Two Treatises argues for natural rights and government by consent. Covers property, limited authority, revolution, and its influence on liberal thought.
- [Hume's Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/hume-enquiry-principles-morals-ethics-sentiment-reason): Hume's Enquiry argues that moral judgment rests on sentiment rather than reason alone. Covers virtue, utility, sympathy, and his account of human goodness.
- [Hobbes' Leviathan: The Monster That Keeps Us Safe](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/hobbes-leviathan-social-contract-political-philosophy-sovereignty): Examines Hobbes' major theory of political authority, exploring why we need an absolute sovereign to escape the war of all against all.
- [Heidegger's Being and Time: Waking Up to Your Own Existence](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/heidegger-being-and-time-dasein-authenticity-existence): Examines Heidegger's major analysis of human existence, exploring how concepts like Dasein, authenticity, and being-toward-death can transform how we live.
- [Aristotle's Politics: The Art of Living Together](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/aristotle-politics-political-philosophy-citizenship-flourishing): Aristotle's Politics asks what makes a community flourish. Covers citizenship, constitutions, virtue, political animals, and the purpose of the polis.
- [Sartre's Existentialism Is a Humanism](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/sartre-existentialism-humanism-freedom-responsibility-guide): Sartre's Existentialism Is a Humanism defends freedom and responsibility. Covers existence before essence, choice, anguish, and common objections.
- [Rousseau's Social Contract: How We Became Slaves](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/rousseau-social-contract-political-philosophy-freedom-legitimacy): Rousseau's Social Contract asks when political authority is legitimate. Covers freedom, the general will, sovereignty, law, and civic participation.
- [Mill's Utilitarianism](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/mill-utilitarianism-ethics-happiness-consequentialism-guide): Covers John Stuart Mill's major ethical system that measures right action by its consequences.
- [Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/kant-groundwork-metaphysics-morals-categorical-imperative-guide): Covers Kant's major ethical framework, explaining how the categorical imperative works and why treating humanity as an end remains essential for moral life.
- [Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/writing/nicomachean-ethics-aristotle-guide-virtue-flourishing): Covers Aristotle's masterwork on virtue, character, and human flourishing, and why it remains among the most practical philosophies ever written.

## Optional

- [RSS feed](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/feed): Machine-readable feed of recently published content
- [XML sitemap](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/sitemap.xml): Exhaustive inventory of indexable site URLs
- [Crawling policy](https://mbrenndoerfer.com/robots.txt): Authoritative crawler access rules for this site
- [GitHub](https://github.com/brenndoerfer): Open-source projects and code
- [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/michaelbrenndoerfer): Professional profile
- [Google Scholar](https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=nZ1kJBYAAAAJ&hl=en): Academic publications and citations