Episode · Lex Fridman Podcast · 2020-12-06
Books mentioned on #143 – John Clarke: The Art of Fighting and the Pursuit of Excellence
John Clarke is a BJJ black belt and MMA coach. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Theragun: https://www.
John Clarke recommended Self-reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, Lunar Park by Brett Easton Ellis, and The Communist Manifesto by Friedrich Engels and others, and discussed Encountering the Holy Spirit in Every Book of the Bible by David Diga Hernandez and Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Self-reliance
Self-reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson is a foundational 1841 transcendentalist essay that urges individuals to trust their own inner voice, reject societal conformity, and embrace authentic personal conviction.
Recommended“i read self-reliance and you know he's got a ton of good essays but i thought self-reliance was probably the most impactful to me”
Where to get it
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Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach is an allegorical novella about a seagull learning about flight, self-perfection, and breaking free from the rigid conformity of his flock.
Recommended“there's also a book called uh jonathan livingston seagull by richard uh richard bach i think and um it's kind of along the same lines”
Where to get it
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American Psycho
Bret Easton Ellis's controversial 1991 satirical novel about a wealthy Manhattan investment banker leading a double life as a serial killer remains a potent cultural touchstone.
Recommended“the book which i was lucky enough to read before the movie ever even came out which is just a a pleasure of mine was a american psycho just from a writing standpoint”
Where to get it
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Lunar Park
Lunar Park by Brett Easton Ellis is a postmodern metafictional novel that blends elements of horror, memoir, and psychological drama to examine celebrity culture, fatherhood, and addiction.
Recommended“uh the book which i was lucky enough to read before the movie ever even came out which is just a a pleasure of mine was a american psycho just from a writing standpoint”
Where to get it
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Encountering the Holy Spirit in Every Book of the Bible
David Diga Hernandez's religious text offers readers a systematic, book-by-book exploration of the Holy Spirit's presence throughout scripture, serving as a devotional guide for deepening one's faith.
Discussed“but i'm embarrassed to say that first of all i've never read the bible which is embarrassing to say it's like i read a bunch of stuff about the bible not the bible itself and the same not equating them”
Where to get it
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The Communist Manifesto
The Communist Manifesto is a political pamphlet by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels that outlines class struggle and the core tenets of communism.
Recommended“i haven't read marx directly ... the communist manifesto is truly frightening if you read it in in like modern context it's worth reading”
Where to get it
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Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler is a notorious autobiographical manifesto outlining the author's political ideology and anti-Semitic worldview.
Discussed“i haven't read mineconf by hitler directly ... well uh it's not obvious but it is not very well written uh but all the ideas that led to the evil that is hitler are all in there”
Where to get it
