Book · 1957
The Castle
- mentions
- 7
- people
- 5
- podcasts
- 5
- episodes
- 6
- recommendations
- 3
A similar description as The Trial does of the absurd inaccessibility of those in authority of the nightmarish bureaucracy.
Lex Fridman · Lex Fridman Podcast · Oct 2025 Listen at 4:32:09 What they say about it
- Live in Kafka's world“we live in kafka's world”2
The best things said about it
We live in Kafka's world, you know, so I would probably say The Trial or The Castle or both of them.
Of course, "The Trial" is a work of fiction, but I think it is often useful to go to the surreal world of literature, even of the over-the-top dystopian variety like "1984," "Animal Farm," "Brave New World," "The Trial," "The Castle," "Metamorphosis," even "The Plague" by Albert Camus...
Lex Fridman Lex Fridman Podcast · Oct 2025 His favorite book was Kafka's The Castle.
We live in kafka's world you know um so would probably say the trial or the castle or both of them.
Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
5 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
The Castle by Franz Kafka is a surreal, unfinished novel that delves into the nightmarish nature of bureaucratic systems and the absurd inaccessibility of authority figures. Salman Rushdie recommended the book on The Ezra Klein Show, asserting that humanity currently lives in Kafka's world and advising readers to explore both The Trial and The Castle as masterworks of twentieth-century literature. Erik Hoel also recommended a similarly titled book by David Macaulay on EconTalk to explain background mechanisms, though Kafka's literary influence dominated other conversations. Lex Fridman discussed Kafka's novel extensively on the Lex Fridman Podcast, highlighting how its surreal narrative brilliantly mirrors the labyrinthine obstacles of modern institutional bureaucracy. Hannah Claire Brimlow mentioned reading the Kafka classic during her school years on Timcast IRL while debating educational environments, and Zena Hitz referenced the novel on EconTalk, noting that it had been her father's favorite book during his childhood, illustrating the enduring generational reach of Kafka's haunting exploration of alienation and systemic power.
Every mention
Salman Rushdie I mean I think you know of the three great masters of the 20th century Joyce Bru and kfka we live in kafka'… 2
“I mean I think you know of the three great masters of the 20th century Joyce Bru and kfka we live in kafka's world you know so I would probably say the trial or the castle or both of them”
“we live in kafka's world you know um so would probably say the trial or the castle or both of them”
Erik Hoel but yeah I I recommend David mccaulay uh his books castle and others which show how things work in the back… 1
“but yeah I I recommend David mccaulay uh his books castle and others which show how things work in the background”
Lex Fridman Also, now that we're talking about it, let me mention some other of Kafka's work that was moving to me, "Th… 2
“Of course, "The Trial" is a work of fiction, but I think it is often useful to go to the surreal world of literature, even of the over-the-top dystopian variety like "1984," "Animal Farm," "Brave New World," "The Trial," "The Castle," "Metamorphosis," even "The Plague" by Albert Camus...”
“Also, now that we're talking about it, let me mention some other of Kafka's work that was moving to me, "The Castle." A similar description as "The Trial" does of the absurd inaccessibility of those in authority of the nightmarish bureaucracy.”
Hannah Claire Brimlow and i said i'd like to read this book the castle by kafka 1
“and i said i'd like to read this book the castle by kafka”
Zena Hitz I remember him telling me when when I was a child that his favorite book was Kafka's The Castle. 1
“I remember him telling me when when I was a child that his favorite book was Kafka's The Castle.”
