Episode · Lex Fridman Podcast · 2023-02-25
Lex Fridman & Aaron Smith-Levin: books mentioned on Lex Fridman Podcast #361
#361 – Aaron Smith-Levin: Scientology
Aaron Smith-Levin is a former Scientologist, Vice President of the Aftermath Foundation, and host of the Growing Up In Scientology YouTube channel. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Green Chef: https://greenchef.
Lex Fridman recommended A new kind of science by Stephen Wolfram, and discussed Animal Farm by George Orwell. Aaron Smith-Levin recommended A Billion Years by Mike Rinder.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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A new kind of science
A New Kind of Science by Stephen Wolfram is a sprawling foundational text that explores cellular automata, complexity theory, and alternative computational models for understanding the universe.
Recommended“There's a lot of scientists, there's a, one of the people I really admire is Stephen Wolfram, who wrote a book called "A New Kind of Science" that explores complex systems and cellular automata and these mathematical systems that have been explored before, but he boldly kind of defined, "I am presenting to you a whole new way to look”
Where to get it
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Animal Farm
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a classic allegorical novella that uses a farmyard setting to satirize the corruption of socialist ideals and the rise of totalitarianism following the Russian Revolution.
Discussed“So like if you look at a book like "Animal Farm" where the pigs start to rule the other animals, and over time, the life of the animals gets worse and worse and worse while the pigs keep saying that it's actually getting better and better and better.”
Where to get it
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A Billion Years
A Billion Years: My Escape from a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology by Mike Rinder is a memoir detailing the author's upbringing in the organization and his decades-long career working closely with its leadership.
Recommended“There you go, "A Billion Years." - Oh, "A Billion Years." - It really is a fantastic book, 'cause Lex, the guy was born and raised in Scientology and worked personally with L. Ron Hubbard and worked personally with David Miscavige for decades, like doesn't get much more insider than that.”
Where to get it
