Why people recommend it
The Giver by Lois Lowry is a dystopian young adult novel set in a seemingly utopian society that has eliminated pain, fear, and strong emotions by enforcing absolute conformity and sameness. The book is widely taught in schools and was recommended by Lewis Sacher on The Book Review as an exceptional read for young people. Similarly, Sara Seager praised the narrative on the Lex Fridman Podcast, noting its profound impact on her life. Lex Fridman also discussed the book multiple times on his podcast, reflecting on how it was the very first philosophical text he encountered and read in English after moving to America as a teenager. He noted that navigating the novel during a brooding phase of feeling like an outsider helped spark his early intellectual curiosity and shaped how he began thinking about the world and society. The book received further attention on No Stupid Questions, where Angela Duckworth and Mike M. discussed reading the text recently. Mike brought up the story to examine how the society depicted within its pages systematically strips away extreme language and harrowing concepts like starvation to maintain total emotional regulation. Both hosts marveled at the lasting resonance of the story, with Mike noting it was a work he had returned to read more frequently than almost any other book in his personal library.
Who recommended it
- Lex Fridman Discussed
- Lewis Sacher Recommended
- Mike M. Discussed
- Sara Seager Recommended
Lex Fridman — 3 mentions
“the first one i remember reading in english was the giver that sort of helped me start thinking about this world”
“i kind of went to this brooding phase of first of all learning the english language but starting to read books more philosophical books the first one i remember reading in english was the giver that sort of helped me start thinking about this world”
“when i was when i first came to this country i read the book the giver i need to read it again”
Lewis Sacher — 1 mention
“And the ones I really liked were um Lois Lowry who did The Giver and Katherine Patterson um Bridge to Terabithia.”
Mike M. — 1 mention
“have you ever read The Giver yes by Lois Lowry I just read it last year it's probably the book I've read more than any other book I Amed with”
Sara Seager — 1 mention
“it's called the giver yes and it is the book that kids in school read now”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 1
“Have you ever read The Giver? I just read it last year. Okay, it's probably the book I've read more than any other book.”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“In the first half of the show, Mike discusses Lois Lowry's Newbery Award-winning novel The Giver. He refers to the protagonist as Jona, but the character's name is Jonas!”
“by the way america is turning into the book slash movie the giver”
“like every book we read in high school or college brave new world Lord of the Flies 1980 or Animal Farm like The Giver which we read in [ __ ] middle school”