Episode · Lex Fridman Podcast · 2020-04-13
Books mentioned on #88 – Eric Weinstein: Geometric Unity and the Call for New Ideas, Leaders & Institutions
Eric Weinstein is a mathematician with a bold and piercing intelligence, unafraid to explore the biggest questions in the universe and shine a light on the darkest corners of our society.
Lex Fridman discussed The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus and THE PLAGUE by Albert Camus. Eric Weinstein recommended The Emperor's New Mind by Roger Penrose and The Road to Reality by Roger Penrose, and discussed Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut and Fermat's last theorem by Simon Singh and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Myth of Sisyphus
The Myth of Sisyphus is a 1942 philosophical essay by Albert Camus exploring the concept of the absurd and the meaning of human existence through the mythological tale of a man condemned to roll a boulder up a hill for eternity.
Discussed“or reading the plague by Camus like almost kind of telling narratives and stories”
Where to get it
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THE PLAGUE
The Plague by Albert Camus is a classic existentialist novel that uses the allegorical setting of a city struck by a deadly epidemic to explore profound themes of human suffering, absurdism, collective responsibility, and resilience.
Discussed“or reading the plague by Camus like almost kind of telling narratives and stories”
Where to get it
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Harrison Bergeron
Kurt Vonnegut wrote the dystopian short story Harrison Bergeron, which depicts a future where the government uses handicaps to enforce absolute equality among citizens.
Discussed“just imagine like you're in the story of Harrison Bergeron by Vonnegut”
Where to get it
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Fermat's last theorem
Discussed“So if you look at the story of Andrew Wiles for example with from last Last Theorem he as far as I understand he pretty much isolated himself from the world of academics in terms of the big with the bulk of the work he did and it from my perspective is dramatic and fun to read about”
Where to get it
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The Emperor's New Mind
Roger Penrose's influential work explores the intersections of physics, consciousness, and the philosophy of mind, famously challenging the notion that human brains operate merely like computers.
Recommended“Now that wall needs an owner's manual which Roger Penrose has written called the road to reality”
Where to get it
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The Road to Reality
The Road to Reality by Roger Penrose is a comprehensive and deeply ambitious guide that attempts to explain the entire physical universe, starting from basic mathematics and moving outward to the most complex boundaries of modern physics.
Recommended“now that wall needs an owner's manual which Roger Penrose has written called the road to reality let's call that the tome”
Where to get it
