Episode · Lex Fridman Podcast · 2021-07-01
Books mentioned on #196 – Yeonmi Park: North Korea
Yeonmi Park is a North Korean defector, human rights activist, and author of the book In Order to Live. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Belcampo – Gala Games: https://gala.
Lex Fridman recommended Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, and discussed In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park and others, Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search For Ultimate Meaning by Victor Frankl, and 1984 by George Orwell. Yeonmi Park recommended Dear Reader by Michael Malice, and discussed Animal Farm by George Orwell, Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and others, and Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
In Order to Live
In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park and Maryanne Vollers is a harrowing memoir detailing the author's dramatic escape from North Korea and her subsequent journey toward freedom.
Discussed“can you tell your story from north korea to today as you describe in your 2015 book and with the extra perspective on life love and freedom you've gained since then”
Where to get it
-
Animal Farm
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a classic allegorical novella that uses a farmyard setting to satirize the corruption of socialist ideals and the rise of totalitarianism following the Russian Revolution.
Discussed“so you've uh i have to say i often say that my favorite book is animal farm by george orwell i've read it i don't know how many times”
Where to get it
-
Man's Search for Meaning
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E.
Discussed“well there's also the and uh there's a guy named victor franco who wrote the book masters for meaning”
Where to get it
-
Man's Search For Ultimate Meaning
Man's Search for Ultimate Meaning by Viktor Frankl is a profound psychological and philosophical work by a Holocaust survivor that explores how human beings can confront extreme suffering and find profound purpose in life.
Discussed“Well there's also the and uh there's a guy named victor franco who wrote the book masters for meaning and there's some aspect um where”
Where to get it
-
1984
1984 by George Orwell is a classic dystopian novel exploring totalitarianism, surveillance, political tribalism, and the systematic control of information.
Discussed“so i remember i mean you read 1984 by georgia where it talks about double think and double speak”
Where to get it
-
Dear Reader
Dear Reader by Michael Malice is an insightful, dark exploration of North Korea through the lens of its propaganda and the personality cult surrounding Kim Jong Il.
Recommended“what do you think of michael what do you think of his book on north korea called dear reader that people should definitely check out”
Where to get it
-
Why Nations Fail
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty by Daron Acemoglu and James A.
Discussed“like i don't know if you read that book why nation affairs the system”
Where to get it
-
Siddhartha
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is a philosophical novel that follows a young man's spiritual journey of self-discovery in ancient India.
Recommended“you mentioned uh briefly on the uh with jordan uh siddhartha by herman hesse is uh it's an incredible book”
Where to get it
-
Fooled by Randomness
Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb is a popular exploration of the massive role that chance, luck, and probability play in human success, finance, and everyday life.
Discussed“so that's the thing uh i was reading this book food by randomness right yeah”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (3) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“the following is a conversation with yon mi park a north korean defector human rights activist and author of the book in order to live”
“so the tragic thing about north korea is not only just banning shakespeare like we don't even know what romeo and juliet is right our movies is never about love stories”
“somehow that's the thing like we tell ourselves stories in order to live and that's how i came within my title of the book in order to live i had to tell myself a lot of stories to overcome a lot of things i think i was part of it”