Episode · Lex Fridman Podcast · 2023-02-20
Lex Fridman & Tim Urban: books mentioned on Lex Fridman Podcast #360
#360 – Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics
Tim Urban is the author of the blog Wait But Why and a new book What’s Our Problem?: A Self-Help Book for Societies.
Lex Fridman recommended What's Our Problem? by Tim Urban, and discussed Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks, The Idiot by Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский, and The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Tim Urban recommended The Culture by Iain M. Banks and others and Why We're Polarized by Ezra Klein.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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What's Our Problem?
What's Our Problem? by Tim Urban is a heavily illustrated self-help guide for societies that explores the mechanics of political tribalism, ideological polarization, and the deterioration of modern public discourse.
Recommended“He's the author and illustrator of the amazing blog called Wait But Why, and is the author of a new book coming out tomorrow called What's Our Problem, A Self-Help Book For Societies. We talk a lot about this book in this podcast, but you really do need to get it and experience it for yourself.”
Where to get it
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Consider Phlebas
Consider Phlebas by Iain M.
Discussed“The dream is to have the good overpower the bad — have you ever read the Culture Series by Iain Banks? Not yet, but I get criticized daily by mutual friends for not having done so, and I feel like a lesser man as a result.”
Where to get it
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The Culture
The Culture is a renowned science fiction series created by Iain M.
Recommended“Have you ever read the Culture Series, the Iain Banks books? - Not yet, but I get criticized on a daily basis by some of the mutual folks we know for not having done so.”
Where to get it
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The Idiot
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a profound 19th-century Russian novel that follows the compassionate, innocent, and deeply misunderstood Prince Myshkin as he navigates the cynical and corrupt high society of St.
Discussed“The idiot by Dostoyevsky being naive and trusting everybody, maybe that's what- - Well, then you get lucky.”
Where to get it
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The Brothers Karamazov
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a profound philosophical novel that explores deep spiritual questions surrounding faith, free will, morality, and the human condition.
Discussed“Well, there is, I mean, with Dostoyevsky's "The Idiot," Prince Michigan, and Brothers Karmasov, there's Alyosha Karmasov, you err on the side of love and almost like a naive trust in other human beings.”
Where to get it
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Why We're Polarized
Why We're Polarized by Ezra Klein is a deep dive into the structural forces driving American political division.
Recommended“So Ezra Klein has a great book, "Why We're Polarized," where he talks about a lot of this.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“He's the author and illustrator of the amazing blog called "Wait But Why," and is the author of a new book coming out tomorrow called "What's Our Problem, A Self-Help Book For Societies." We talk a lot about this book in this podcast, but you really do need to get it and experience it for yourself.”
“I remember reading a book that talked about hiking the Appalachian Trail. You might miss those hot showers for a bit, but after a few months or years, you'd get used to it.”