Episode · Lex Fridman Podcast · 2026-08-26

Books mentioned on #501 – DHH: Future of Programming, AI, Agentic Engineering, Vibe Coding & Linux

2 books · With David Heinemeier Hansson · Listen · Watch on YouTube

DHH is the creator of Ruby on Rails, Omarchy Linux, CTO of 37signals, and a racecar driver. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.

David Heinemeier Hansson recommended The fourth turning by William Strauss and others, and discussed Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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  1. Bullshit Jobs

    David Graeber · at 3:03:49

    Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber is an incisive examination of modern employment, exploring how a vast proliferation of high-prestige yet entirely pointless administrative roles came to dominate corporate and bureaucratic culture.

    Discussed
    “Um, David Graeber wrote this wonderful piece Bullshit Jobs, back in, I think it was maybe early 2010s.”
    Where to get it
  2. The fourth turning

    William Strauss; Neil Howe · at 3:14:51

    The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe is a generational theory book that argues history moves in cyclical seasons leading to major societal transformations and crises.

    Recommended
    “- I read this book The Fourth Turning. You check that out. It talks about this notion of”
    Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Passing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
“Can you steel man the case that you are in fact experiencing in a state of delusion, like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and can you argue against it?”
Passing The Hobbit
“and it's very hard to know, it's like with "The Hobbit" or something, what to do with it, and I find myself truly overwhelmed with the multitasking,”