Episode · The Ezra Klein Show · 2026-02-24
Books mentioned on How Fast Will A.I. Agents Rip Through the Economy? | The Ezra Klein Show
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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A Wizard of Earthsea
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K.
Recommended“Ursula Le Guin "The Wizard of Earthsea" was the first book I read. It’s a book where magic comes from, knowing the true name of things, and it’s also a meditation on hubris, in this case, of a person with thinking they can push magic very far.”
Where to get it
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The True Believer
The True Believer by Eric Hoffer is a classic socio-psychological study examining the underlying causes of mass movements, fanaticism, and the personal motivations that drive individuals to join fanatical causes.
Recommended“Eric Hoffer, "The True Believer," which is a book on the nature of mass movements and the psychology of what causes people to have strong beliefs, which I read because I think that I technologists have strong beliefs and maybe part of a strong culture that includes the word cult. And so you need to understand the science and psychology”
Where to get it
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There Is No Antimemetics Division
There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm is a science fiction work that explores terrifying concepts and information hazards where simply thinking about dangerous ideas can pose a threat.
Recommended“And finally, a book called "There Is No Antimemetics Division" by a writer with the name qntm, which is about concepts that are in themselves information hazards where even thinking about them can be dangerous. And I always recommend it to people working on A.I. risk as a book adjacent to the things they worry about.”
Where to get it
