Episode · Lex Fridman Podcast · 2023-12-29
Books mentioned on #407 – Guillaume Verdon: Beff Jezos, E/acc Movement, Physics, Computation & AGI
Guillaume Verdon (aka Beff Jezos on Twitter) is a physicist, quantum computing researcher, and founder of e/acc (effective accelerationism) movement. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
Animal Farm
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a satirical allegorical novella that depicts a group of farm animals overthrowing their human farmer, only to see their revolution descend into totalitarian tyranny under the rule of pigs.
Discussed“So to that degree, to which degree is everybody kinda chanting e/acc, e/acc, like the sheep in "Animal Farm"? - Well, first of all, it's fun, it's rebellious, right?”
Where to get it
-
A Modest Proposal
Jonathan Swift's satirical essay A Modest Proposal uses savage irony to critique the callous treatment of the impoverished in Ireland by suggesting that the children of the poor be used as food for the rich.
Discussed“Do the Jonathan Swift "Modest Proposal" from a few centuries ago, I think the 1700s, when he satirically suggested that, I think it's in Ireland, that the children of poor people are fed as food to the rich people.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Passing Steppenwolf
“what is it, the magic theater, what book is that from? Hermann Hesse, "Steppenwolf," I think.”