Book · 2024 · Science
Determined
A Science of Life without Free Will
Determined by Robert M. Sapolsky has been mentioned in 14 episodes across 8 podcasts (4 episodes recommend it and 10 episodes discuss it), through . Most frequently brought up by Steven Soderbergh (2 episodes), Chris Williamson (5 episodes) and Julie Beloo (1 episode) on Modern Wisdom (5 episodes), EconTalk (2 episodes) and The Book Review (2 episodes).
- episodes
- 14
- podcasts
- 8
- people
- 9
- episodes recommend it
- 4
It's got to be the Robert Sapolsky book, Determined. This is seismic.
Steven Soderbergh · The Book Review · Mar 2025 Listen at 36:43 Questions about Determined by Robert M. Sapolsky
Who recommends Determined by Robert M. Sapolsky on podcasts?
Steven Soderbergh (2 episodes), Chris Williamson (1 episode) and Julie Beloo (1 episode) have recommended Determined by Robert M. Sapolsky on podcasts. In all, 9 people brought it up across 8 podcasts (3 people recommended it).
Which podcasts mention Determined the most?
Modern Wisdom (5 episodes), EconTalk (2 episodes), The Book Review (2 episodes), Huberman Lab (1 episode) and No Stupid Questions (1 episode), among 8 podcasts in all.
Is Determined recommended, or only discussed?
Determined by Robert M. Sapolsky was recommended in 4 episodes and discussed without a recommendation in 10 episodes, as of 2026-05-08.
What do people say about Determined?
Steven Soderbergh on The Book Review (2025-03-21): "It's got to be the Robert Sapolsky book, Determined. This is seismic."
When was Determined last mentioned on a podcast?
Determined by Robert M. Sapolsky was last recommended on The Ezra Klein Show by Julie Beloo on 2026-05-08.
What they say about it
- Science of life without free will“a science of life without free will”6
- Argues against free will“an argument against free will”2
- Calls it seismic“This is seismic”2
The best things said about it
It's an argument against free will.
So his new book determined signs life without Free Will um every time that I talk about free will people get upset why is that.
Chris Williamson Modern Wisdom · Jan 2024 He writes about in his book he rejects it for those reasons.
Robert Sapolsky wrote the book Determined, he doesn't believe in free will.
Andrew Huberman Huberman Lab · Nov 2024 Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will.
Neil deGrasse Tyson StarTalk Radio · Mar 2024 Where and when it comes up
How it comes up
Most episodes, by podcast
9 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
Determined by Robert M. Sapolsky is a comprehensive neurobiological examination of human behavior that presents a rigorous argument against the existence of free will, attributing human actions entirely to prior biological and environmental factors. Julie Beloo mentioned the book on The Ezra Klein Show as a foundational text informing her own writing on human biology. Steven Soderbergh strongly endorsed the volume on The Book Review, describing its seismic thesis as the kind of revolutionary idea that historically would have been nailed to institutional doors. Chris Williamson also brought up the book on Modern Wisdom while exploring philosophical debates surrounding free will and human agency. In parallel, Russ Roberts on EconTalk discussed Sapolsky's rejection of quantum indeterminacy in relation to determinism debates, while Andrew Huberman mentioned the work on Huberman Lab when mapping out differing neuroscientific perspectives on volition. Furthermore, Gabor Maté cited Sapolsky's arguments on This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von to explore human conditioning and behavior, demonstrating how the book has sparked widespread discussion across diverse intellectual platforms.
Every mention
Steven Soderbergh if you had to recommend one book that you really just want to stump for which one would it be well it's got… 2
“Well, it's got to be the Robert Seapolski book, Determined. This is seismic. This is something that way back when would have been nailed to the door of some institution.”
“if you had to recommend one book that you really just want to stump for which one would it be well it's got to be the Robert spolski book determined this is seismic”
Chris Williamson so his new book determined signs life without Free Will um every time that I talk about free will people ge… 5
“so his new book determined signs life without Free Will um every time that I talk about free will people get upset why is that”
“I mean, I know that he's a brilliant guy and this new book of his is about Free Will and determinism, which has got an upper bound on how interesting that is for me.”
“Robert seol's got a new book coming out called determined you know Robert spolski Harvard's evolutionary biologist”
“sapolski's coming on to talk about his new book determined in the middle of October”
“I got sent through uh literally today out front Robert sapolski's new book have you seen what that is I don't know if I've seen the new one determined the science of life without free will”
Julie Beloo Um he wrote another book determined about um basically it's an argument against free will. 1
“Um he wrote another book determined about um basically it's an argument against free will.”
Russ Roberts Uh, related episodes on the other side of the free will determinism debate include uh, my discussion with u… 2
“Uh, related episodes on the other side of the free will determinism debate include uh, my discussion with uh, Robert Sapolski on his book determined and the recent episode with Gerv Sururi on his book with Jay Mlen, the emergent mind.”
“I challenged Roberts at least mention this role of quantum indeterminacy and he and he writes about in his book he rejects it for those reasons.”
“my guest today has been Robert spolski is B his book is determined Robert thanks for being part of econ talk”
Andrew Huberman um you've got people like Robert spolski wrote the book determined he doesn't believe in Free Will 1
“um you've got people like Robert spolski wrote the book determined he doesn't believe in Free Will”
Angela Duckworth and he most recently wrote a book he's quite prolific called determined a science of life without Free Will 1
“and he most recently wrote a book he's quite prolific called determined a science of life without Free Will”
“He most recently wrote a book, quite prolific, called 'Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will.'”
Erik Hoel I got sent through uh literally today out front Robert sapolski's new book... I don't know if I've seen the… 1
“I got sent through uh literally today out front Robert sapolski's new book... I don't know if I've seen the new one determined the science of life without free will”
Gabor Mate Robert sski who wrote a book recently called determined by which he means predetermined 1
“Robert sski who wrote a book recently called determined by which he means predetermined”
Neil deGrasse Tyson best-selling author of eight books right I have one in my hand right now came out just months ago wow deter… 1
“best-selling author of eight books right I have one in my hand right now came out just months ago wow determined a science of life without Free Will”
“I have one in my hand right now, it came out just months ago, wow, titled 'Determinism: A Science of Life Without Free Will.' Wow, and that's going to be a major subject of our conversation today.”
“so what's if people read your book determined okay just came out a few months ago do you really think it would take 600 years to reach that”
Other mentions (7: passing, ad reads, own books)
“his latest book is determined a science of life without Free Will”
“Today, I'm speaking with primatologist, neuroendocrinology researcher, and author of multiple books including the upcoming Determined, a science of life without free will, Dr. Robert Sapolsky.”
“it's coming out October it's called determined a science of life without Free Will and I take what is far in way a lunatic fringe stance”
“oh well this book coming out next month October okay once again call determine the science of life with oh [ __ ] what's it called determined the science of life without Free Will you'd think I'd have that one sorted out by now”
“During the course of our discussion today, Robert also revealed to me that he is close to completing a new book entitled, "Determined: The Science of Life Without Freewill."”
“Title is, "Determined: A Science of Life Without Freewill."”
“"Determined: The Science of Life Without Freewill".”