Why people recommend it
The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells is a classic science fiction masterpiece that depicts a terrifying Martian invasion of Earth and serves as an early cautionary tale about imperialism and human vulnerability. On Freakonomics Radio, guest Alex McDonald discussed how pioneering rocket scientist Robert Goddard was deeply inspired as a teenager by reading Wells's novel alongside its unauthorized sequel. On The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan frequently brought up the famous book to discuss the cultural phenomenon of Orson Welles's notorious 1938 radio adaptation and to debate historical anecdotes. David Grinspoon and Neil deGrasse Tyson on StarTalk Radio referenced the novel while exploring themes of alien infections, immunity, and astrobiology, with Tyson even reciting dramatic concluding passages from the original text during multiple episodes. Additionally, Michio Kaku appeared on the Lex Fridman Podcast to note that Wells depicted aliens not necessarily with malicious hatred for humanity, but rather with an indifferent detachment. Furthermore, Tyson highlighted on StarTalk Radio that Wells was originally inspired to write his famous narrative after reading Percival Lowell's astronomical observations of Mars. Across science podcasts and cultural discussions, speakers continue to return to Wells's seminal text to reflect on humanity's place in the universe and the timeless allure of extraterrestrial encounters.
Who recommended it
- Neil deGrasse Tyson Discussed
- Joe Rogan Discussed
- David Grinspoon Discussed
- Michio Kaku Discussed
Neil deGrasse Tyson — 3 mentions
“what i'd like to do to end is give a recitation of uh one of the concluding passages of h.g wells war of the worlds”
“well it so funny you mentioned War of the Worlds I keep with me a quote from the original book that summarizes the entire story and if you with your permission I will read it”
“Within a few years of this, H.G. Wells wrote "War of the Worlds." (audience cheers) Inspired by those observations.”
Joe Rogan — 2 mentions
“do you remember the story of uh Orson Welles the War of the Worlds yeah Orson Welles played he read from H.G Wells War of the world it's H2 Wells right the book”
“like when was the War of the Worlds written I believe it was written in the 1800s right I don't know [...] HG Wells 1898”
David Grinspoon — 1 mention
“but like the idea of martians you know that it's that's the plot of the war of the worlds right”
Michio Kaku — 1 mention
“I mean in war the world's by hto wells the aliens did not hate us”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 2
“Goddard, he didn't just believe in the story randomly. He received it as a teenager. He read about it. He read The War of the Worlds and he read the unauthorized sequel to The War of the Worlds called Edison's Conquest of Mars.”
“You do not want your name in an Epstein book! You do not want your name in an Epstein book; that is a recipe for disaster for your PR!”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (6: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I have the, because, um, um, um, um, um, war of the world's time machine. H. G. Wells, one of my favorite writers, right? Although it loves sci-fi. Always love H. G. Wells.”
“made ET, you know, War of the Worlds, um, TV shows”
“I was joking about was that kovid what and and this is a joke that the vaccine is because you ever see war of the worlds the aliens come but then they all die from like normal illnesses that are like we're immune to or like don't bother us”
“you ever see war of the worlds the aliens come but then they all die from like normal illnesses that are like we're immune to or like don't bother us”
“what if they do that with an alien ship like war of the worlds orson welles as an entertainment thing but people really believe it's a real alien craft”
“Well, even just the radio before that was magic where they could all sit around a broadcast of like HG Wells War of the Worlds.”