Episode · All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg · 2025-09-05
Books mentioned on Senator Rand Paul: Tariffs, Debt, China, and a Warning for America
(0:00) David Friedberg welcomes Senator Rand Paul: background, family, what led him to medicine first (3:56) Career Change: Medicine to Politics (7:03) Political Philosophy (10:55) Trade Policy & Econ
Rand Paul recommended Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker and A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman, and discussed Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides' Trap? by Graham Allison and others. David Friedberg discussed Deception by Rand Paul.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Enlightenment Now
Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker is a data-driven defense of reason, science, humanism, and progress that argues humanity is living in an era of unprecedented health, prosperity, and safety.
Recommended“Steven Pikner highlights this well. Same thing. Pikner does he's he's Pinker does it as well and he's great. His book Enlightenment Now is an amazing book.”
Where to get it
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Deception
Deception by Rand Paul is a detailed political book that investigates the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and alleges a massive cover-up involving public health officials.
Discussed“I want to talk about your new book, Deception, The Great COVID Coverup. What was at the heart of the coverup from your point of view?”
Where to get it
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A Distant Mirror
A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman is a rich historical narrative that explores the turbulent events, widespread devastation, and profound social upheavals of fourteenth-century Europe during the Black Death and the Hundred Years' War.
Recommended“some of these viruses start with 50% lethality. And if you want to know what that's like, read Barbara Tukman's about the 14th century calamity and the black plague.”
Where to get it
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Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides' Trap?
Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides' Trap? by Graham Allison and Andrew Hastie explores the historical pattern wherein a rising power threatens to displace a ruling hegemon, frequently culminating in war.
Discussed“Graham Allison wrote a book, The Thusidities Trap, and we interviewed him at our show last night.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“You know, this isn't Love of China. I wrote a book called The Case Against Socialism. I hate socialism.”