Book · 2006 · Fiction
Blindsight
- mentions
- 6
- people
- 4
- podcasts
- 3
- episodes
- 4
- recommendations
- 3
I want to recommend a much more depressing book that's available for free which is Peter Watts's Blindsight and it is not a fun book but it is a fascinating thriller.
The best things said about it
One volume of Blindsight by Peter Watts is worth all hundred Xanth novels, or all 500 Expanded Universe novels of Star Wars.
So in his book in blindside he he uh they it's it's a first alien encounter book about um about aliens on the far.
Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
4 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
Blindsight by Peter Watts is a grim, thought-provoking hard science fiction novel that explores themes of first contact, consciousness, and artificial intelligence. On Dwarkesh Podcast, Gwern Branwen highly praised the novel, asserting that this single volume of science fiction was more insightful and valuable than hundreds of typical genre novels combined. On The Joe Rogan Experience, Sam Tallent discussed the novel after it was recommended by Neil Blomkamp, while Ethan Mollick recommended the book on The Ezra Klein Show as a fascinating yet deeply depressing thriller available freely to readers. On a different episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Neill Blomkamp spoke at length about the plot of Watts's novel, detailing its premise as a first-encounter story involving aliens at the edge of the solar system and expressing a desire to adapt one of its unique characters into a film. Together with host Joe Rogan, Blomkamp navigated the title and thematic depth of the work, emphasizing its unconventional approach to alien life and cosmic horror. Across these podcast appearances, the book was consistently spotlighted for its uncompromising intellectual rigor, bleak atmosphere, and daring speculative concepts that challenge traditional tropes of extraterrestrial contact in modern science fiction.
Every mention
Ethan Mollick I want to recommend a much more depressing book that's available for free uh which is Peter Watts's blindsi… 1
“I want to recommend a much more depressing book that's available for free uh which is Peter Watts's blindsight and it is not a fun book but it is a fascinating Thriller”
Gwern Branwen I could have easily cut it down to 20 novels or short stories which actually were good enough and insightfu… 1
“I could have easily cut it down to 20 novels or short stories which actually were good enough and insightful enough to actually change my view. One volume of Blindsight by Peter Watts is worth all hundred Xanth novels, or all 500 Expanded Universe novels of Star Wars.”
Sam Tallent it's like blindsight or something like that remember now you're saying I remember him telling that story 1
“it's like blindsight or something like that remember now you're saying I remember him telling that story”
Neill Blomkamp what is this book called that called it's called blindside that book but but the book isn't about that 3
“what is this book called that called it's called blindside that book but but the book isn't about that”
“so in his book in blindside he he uh they it's it's a first alien encounter book about um about aliens on the far”
“what is the name of the book again blind side blind side uh another story by peter chang it's called understand understand”
