Mentioned in Podcasts

Episode · Dwarkesh Podcast · 2025-07-10

Books mentioned on Stephen Kotkin — How Stalin became the most powerful dictator in history

2 books · With Stephen Kotkin · Listen · Watch on YouTube

The Stephen Kotkin episode. Kotkin is arguably the world’s foremost expert on Joseph Stalin and has written a massive 2-volume biography on him (with a 3rd volume in the works).

Stephen Kotkin discussed The Education of a True Believer by Lev Kopelev. Dwarkesh Patel discussed Uncivil Society by Stephen Kotkin.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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  1. The Education of a True Believer

    Lev Kopelev · at 39:24

    Discussed
    “We get this from Lev Kopelev, The Education of a True Believer. He was one of these people. He later then becomes a dissident. He gets forced into exile in Germany.”
    Stephen Kotkin Stephen Kotkin — How Stalin became the most powerful dictator in histo… 2025-07-10 Listen at 39:24
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  2. Uncivil Society

    Stephen Kotkin · at 1:22:11

    Discussed
    “This is your thesis in Uncivil Society, right?”
    Dwarkesh Patel Stephen Kotkin — How Stalin became the most powerful dictator in histo… 2025-07-10 Listen at 1:22:11
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Plugged Stalin
“The first one, Stalin: Paradoxes of Power.”
Dwarkesh Patel Stephen Kotkin — How Stalin became the most powerful dictator in histo… 2025-07-10 Listen at 1:02
Plugged Stalin
“The second one, Stalin: Waiting for Hitler.”
Dwarkesh Patel Stephen Kotkin — How Stalin became the most powerful dictator in histo… 2025-07-10 Listen at 1:04
Link to this list from the episode’s show notes

For the whole show, see the Dwarkesh Podcast page.