Mentioned in Podcasts

Episode · Stuff You Should Know · 2023-03-25

Books mentioned on Selects: Is The Uncanny Valley Real?

2 books · Listen · Watch on YouTube

In 1970, roboticist Masahiro Mori wrote an essay that said the closer robots come to lifelike, the more they unsettle humans. His theory became the Uncanny Valley, and science has been evaluating it – and what makes something creepy - in recent years.

Josh Clark discussed Psycho by Robert Bloch. Also mentioned: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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  1. David Copperfield

    Charles Dickens · at 45:18

    David Copperfield by Charles Dickens is a classic 1850 semi-autobiographical novel that follows the emotional and professional maturation of its titular hero from an impoverished childhood to adulthood.

    Discussed
    “and we have Charles Dickens to thank for this evidently because he gets credit for using the creeps and David Copperfield in 1849 people had had this feeling before”
    Speaker Selects: Is The Uncanny Valley Real? 2023-03-25 Listen at 45:18
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  2. Psycho

    Robert Bloch · at 58:47

    Discussed
    “but Norman Bates was into Taxidermy for a reason in Psycho right it was unsettling”
    Josh Clark Selects: Is The Uncanny Valley Real? 2023-03-25 Listen at 58:47
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible
Link to this list from the episode’s show notes

For the whole show, see the Stuff You Should Know page.