Episode · Lex Fridman Podcast · 2024-10-11
Lex Fridman & Jordan Peterson: books mentioned on Lex Fridman Podcast #448
#448 – Jordan Peterson: Nietzsche, Hitler, God, Psychopathy, Suffering & Meaning
Jordan Peterson is a psychologist, author, lecturer, and podcast host. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.
Jordan Peterson recommended The user illusion by Tor Nørretranders, A Billion Wicked Thoughts by Ogi Ogas and others, and Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, and discussed Nietzsche: Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche, The Sacred and the Profane by Mircea Eliade, Symbolism, the Sacred and the Arts by Mircea Eliade, and Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Lex Fridman discussed Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche and Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Nietzsche: Beyond Good and Evil
Nietzsche: Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche is a monumental work of philosophy that challenges traditional morality, religion, and Western metaphysics through a scathing critique of established cultural traditions.
Discussed“I did that lecture that you described, that lecture series is on the first half of "Beyond Good and Evil," which is a stunning book.”
Where to get it
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The Sacred and the Profane
The Sacred and the Profane by Mircea Eliade is a classic study of the history of religions that explores the dual ways human beings experience the cosmos and the sacred versus the mundane.
Discussed“I used this book called "The Sacred and the Profane" quite extensively in a book that I'm releasing in mid-November.”
Where to get it
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Symbolism, the Sacred and the Arts
Symbolism, the Sacred and the Arts by Mircea Eliade explores religious motifs, myths, and the fundamental differences between sacred and profane experiences across various cultures throughout history.
Discussed“I used this book called "The Sacred and the Profane" quite extensively in a book that I'm releasing in mid-November.”
Where to get it
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The user illusion
The User Illusion by Tor Nørretranders is a profound exploration of consciousness, information theory, and human psychology that investigates the vast gap between what our brains process and what we consciously experience.
Recommended“You know, it's kind of interesting from the perspective of technical analysis of intelligence, and there's a good book called "The User Illusion," which is the best book on consciousness that I ever read.”
Where to get it
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Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Thus Spoke Zarathustra is a foundational philosophical masterpiece by Friedrich Nietzsche that introduces iconic concepts such as the Ubermensch, the eternal recurrence, and the death of God.
Discussed“the idea he first introduced in "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" of the Ubermensch.”
Where to get it
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Demons
Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a profound novel exploring the societal and psychological chaos that erupts when ideological dogmas displace spiritual frameworks.
Discussed“And Dostoevsky did the same thing in his book, "Demons."”
Where to get it
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Notes from Underground
Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a profound psychological novella that explores the tormented inner life, resentment, and irrational impulses of an isolated protagonist living in nineteenth-century Russia.
Discussed“- If there's a young man in their twenties listening to this, how do they escape the pull of Dostoevsky's "Notes From Underground"?”
Where to get it
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A Billion Wicked Thoughts
A Billion Wicked Thoughts by Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam is a popular science book exploring human sexuality, desire, and psychology by analyzing massive datasets of online behavior and search patterns.
Recommended“They wrote a great book called "A Billion Wicked Thoughts," which I really like, it's a very good book.”
Where to get it
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Angela's Ashes
Angela's Ashes is a memoir by Frank McCourt that recounts the author's impoverished and challenging upbringing in Ireland before moving to New York City.
Recommended“And I read a book called "Angela's Ashes" that was written by an Irish author, Frank McCourt, fantastic book, beautiful book.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (3) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“"We Who Wrestle With God" and it's of the same sort.”
“So in one of the stories that I cover in "We Who Wrestle With God," which I only recently begun to take apart say in the last two years, is the story of Abraham.”
“That's why I called the book "We Who Wrestle With God," you welcome the struggle.”