Well, I remember that the first book that absolutely threw me was The Lord of the Flies by William Golding, which used to be a signed text and everyone’s a bit snotty about because it's so popular.
Douglas Murray · Lex Fridman Podcast · Jun 2022 Listen at 2:21:16 The best things said about it
I went to a Ronald Reagan rally in 1984, and I sensed that same inherent violence. You know the novel 'Lord of the Flies'? It reminded me of that.
You know when yaron and i were on your show i don't think lord of the flies is accurate.
The idea that we could learn that children are born with a a strong moral sense uh I mean you've read Lord of the Flies I think that's far more accurate.
Michael Shermer The Rubin Report · Jul 2017 Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
4 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a classic dystopian novel that explores the inherent darkness of human nature and the breakdown of civilization when a group of stranded boys is left to govern themselves. On Behind the Bastards, Tom Ryman discussed attending a political rally in 1984 where he sensed an underlying, inherent violence that vividly reminded him of the chaotic and destructive themes found in the novel. On the Lex Fridman Podcast, Douglas Murray shared that William Golding's famous book was the first text to completely overwhelm and impact him, acknowledging that while it was a standard assigned school text, people often hold mixed opinions about it simply because of its widespread popularity. During another episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast, Michael Malice briefly brought up the novel during a broader conversation concerning the fundamental accuracy of human nature as depicted in literature. Furthermore, on The Rubin Report, Dennis Prager referenced the story as a counterpoint when debating whether children are born with an innate moral sense, arguing that William Golding's bleak depiction offers a far more accurate reflection of reality. Across these diverse podcasts, the novel serves as a persistent literary touchstone for debates on morality, societal order, and the innate capacities of human behavior.
Every mention
Douglas Murray Well, I remember that the first book that absolutely threw me was The Lord of the Flies by William Golding,… 1
“Well, I remember that the first book that absolutely threw me was The Lord of the Flies by William Golding, which used to be a signed text and everyone’s a bit snotty about because it's so popular.”
Michael Malice you know when yaron and i were on your show i don't think lord of the flies is accurate 1
“you know when yaron and i were on your show i don't think lord of the flies is accurate”
Michael Shermer the idea that we could learn that children are born with a a strong moral sense uh I mean you've read Lord… 1
“the idea that we could learn that children are born with a a strong moral sense uh I mean you've read Lord of the Flies I think that's far more accurate”
Robert Evans I went to a Ronald Reagan rally in 1984, and I sensed that same inherent violence. You know the novel 'Lord… 1
“I went to a Ronald Reagan rally in 1984, and I sensed that same inherent violence. You know the novel 'Lord of the Flies'? It reminded me of that.”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (7: passing, ad reads, own books)
“remember Lord of the Flies was that it's called that movie is Savage as [ __ ] real”
“Is it in society, or does society make him an animal? It's like Lord of the Flies. It would be a really interesting thing.”
“It's like I'm just like, I don't know, probably like some Lord of The Fly or whatever!”
“That almost reminds me of Lord of the Flies, what you're talking about, because it really was— I never thought about it like that, like the whole tribe kind of had to agree that Scott and Jessica were gonna kiss, that's right.”
“And because when an adult walks in the room—like in 'Lord of the Flies!' Do you ever see the movie?”
“but uh very lord of the flies ass kind of [ __ ] but we made the most of it”
“This is my cause but the moment that somebody goes lord of the flies it things just fall apart and it's explain that i don't know that maybe there's a lord of the flies is a book where a bunch of kids end up on a deserted island together okay okay uh i don't want to give away what happened”