Book · 1974 · Political Science
Anarchy, State, and Utopia
- episodes
- 7
- podcasts
- 3
- people
- 2
- episode recommends it
- 1
Humans have the choice to experience reality as it exists, or to live forever in a pleasant simulation.
Questions about Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick
Who recommends Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick on podcasts?
Matt Yglesias (1 episode) has recommended Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick on podcasts. In all, 2 people brought it up across 3 podcasts (1 person recommended it).
Which podcasts mention Anarchy, State, and Utopia the most?
EconTalk (3 episodes), No Stupid Questions (3 episodes) and Conversations with Tyler (1 episode).
Is Anarchy, State, and Utopia recommended, or only discussed?
Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick was recommended in 1 episode and discussed without a recommendation in 6 episodes, as of 2026-09-06.
What do people say about Anarchy, State, and Utopia?
Mentioned on No Stupid Questions (2026-09-06): "Humans have the choice to experience reality as it exists, or to live forever in a pleasant simulation."
When was Anarchy, State, and Utopia last mentioned on a podcast?
Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick was last discussed on No Stupid Questions on 2026-09-06.
What they say about it
- Discusses thought experiment“thought experiment described by American philosopher”3
- Impact on reader“had a huge impact on me”2
The best things said about it
It had a huge impact on me.
Yeah I read anarchy state utopia by Nozick when I was I think I was 22 21 22 I just graduated from college and it just it electrified Bank you know that's the that I'm here.
Uh I think most people do not pay attention to what um The End of Anarchy, State, and Utopia actually says or to some of his other books.
Matt Yglesias Conversations with Tyler · Sep 2020 Where and when it comes up
Most episodes, by podcast
Why people recommend it
Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick is a foundational 1974 political philosophy book that defends libertarianism and introduces famous thought experiments like the pleasure machine. Matt Yglesias discussed the work on Conversations with Tyler, arguing that the book and its arguments remain widely unread or misunderstood by the general public. On EconTalk, Russ Roberts frequently recalled how reading Nozick's book shortly after graduating from college electrified him and profoundly shaped his intellectual development, later citing its economic principles and philosophical insights on talent and entertainment value during discussions with guests like Daniel Klein and Tyler Cowen. Additionally, on No Stupid Questions, the show's fact-checker referenced the 1974 text in multiple episodes to attribute the philosophical origin of the pleasure machine thought experiment—where humans choose between reality and a pleasant simulation—after Angela Duckworth brought up the concept during discussions about human behavior, saving, and decision-making. Across these podcasts, intellectuals and podcasters repeatedly turned to Nozick's classic text to ground debates on individual liberty, taxation, moral philosophy, and the nature of human subjective experience.
Every mention
Matt Yglesias Uh I think most people do not pay attention to what um The End of Anarchy, State, and Utopia actually says… 1
“Uh I think most people do not pay attention to what um The End of Anarchy, State, and Utopia actually says or to some of his other books.”
Russ Roberts thought anarchy state utopia by robert nozick which i have not gone i have not gone back to but it had a hu… 3
“thought anarchy state utopia by robert nozick which i have not gone i have not gone back to but it had a huge impact on me”
“part of it is because I think it might be true that that the Nosek talks about this in Anarchy state and utopia where you know great basketball player is entertaining more people”
“yeah I read anarchy state utopia by Nozick when I was I think I was 22 21 22 I just graduated from college and it just it electrified Bank you know that's the that I'm here”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker3
“But Angela was likely thinking of the thought experiment described by American philosopher Robert Nozick in his 1974 book, Anarchy, State, and Utopia. In the book, humans have the choice to experience reality as it exists, or to live forever in a pleasant simulation.”
“Angela was likely thinking of the thought experiment described by American philosopher Robert nozick in his 1974 book Anarchy State and Utopia”
“Angela was likely thinking of the thought experiment described by American philosopher Robert nozick in his 1974 book Anarchy State and Utopia. In the book humans have the choice to experience reality as it exists or to live forever in a pleasant simulation”
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“although I am more of a nosic guy than a Rolls guy I have to confess and I wor I suspect nok's not in the library but that's a separate question that's a separate question Anarchy state in Utopia”
“Finally, Angela describes the 'philosophical problem' of being plugged into a pleasure machine; there are several canonical references that fit this description, but Angela was likely thinking of the thought experiment described by American philosopher Robert Nozick in his 1974 book Anarchy, State, and Utopia.”