Episode · Lex Fridman Podcast · 2022-08-16
Books mentioned on #312 – Duncan Trussell: Comedy, Sentient Robots, Suffering, Love & Burning Man
Duncan Trussell is a comedian, host of The Duncan Trussell Family Hour podcast, and co-creator of The Midnight Gospel. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Skiff – Calm: https://calm.
Duncan Trussell recommended Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom and Wilson's Tales of the Borders, Etc by John Mackay Wilson, and discussed The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Isaevich Solzhenit︠s︡yn. Lex Fridman discussed On the Road by Jack Kerouac, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
Superintelligence
Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom is a foundational science fiction and philosophical exploration of the potential existential risks and pathways associated with the creation of artificial superintelligence.
Recommended“if you read boston i'm sure you have you know bostrom nick bostrom you know super intelligence that incredible book on like the ways this thing is going to happen”
Where to get it
-
The Gulag Archipelago
The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn is a monumental historical exposé detailing the brutal Soviet forced labor camp system through survivor testimonies, archival research, and the author's own imprisonment.
Discussed“because i'm reading about torture in the gulag archipelago currently there's a bit of a camaraderie you're in it together”
Where to get it
-
On the Road
On the Road by Jack Kerouac is a seminal autobiographical novel that chronicles the cross-country road trips of its protagonist and captures the restless energy of the Beat Generation.
Discussed“and he actually realizes in uh spoiler alert for on the road that they're actually heading the same way”
Where to get it
-
The Brothers Karamazov
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a complex philosophical novel that delves deeply into faith, doubt, free will, and morality through the turbulent relationships of the Karamazov family.
Discussed“Yes, I’ve read 'The Brothers Karamazov' in Russian.”
Where to get it
-
Man's Search for Meaning
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E.
Discussed“you getting a victor franco much yeah of course man search for meaning”
Where to get it
-
Wilson's Tales of the Borders, Etc
Wilson's Tales of the Borders, Etc by John Mackay Wilson is a nineteenth-century collection of dramatic and historical stories drawn from the Scottish border traditions.
Recommended“there's a great book called tales of the cacophony society for people listening um you know one of the uh”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“I was listening to 'Gulag Archipelago', which was a very welcome break because I was looking for any excuse to stop.”
“members of the cacophony society was the author of fight club and so if you've seen fight club”