Person
Every book Dmitri Dolgov recommended on podcasts
Dmitri Dolgov appears on the Lex Fridman Podcast to discuss autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, and the future of self-driving technology as a leader at Waymo. During his appearance, Dolgov shares several profound literary works that have personally impacted him and shaped his perspective on humanity and complex systems. He highlights Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita as one of his favorite books, praising its accessibility across different life stages and its blend of deep philosophical themes. Dolgov also recommends the science fiction works of Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, specifically mentioning Hard to Be a God, Beetle in an Anthill, and Monday Starts on Saturday, noting that their writing explores intricate interpersonal and societal questions alongside sharp humor. Additionally, he points to George Orwell's 1984 as a dark, essential thought experiment that leaves readers staring into space, while also expressing admiration for Orwell's Animal Farm as a companion piece exploring undesirable societal trajectories. Through these selections, Dolgov reveals a deep appreciation for speculative fiction and classic literature that interrogates ethical responsibility and human nature.
Books recommended by Dmitri Dolgov
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1984
George Orwell's classic dystopian novel 1984 depicts a chilling totalitarian society under the constant surveillance of Big Brother.
Recommended“orwell's 1984. uh and i you know you asked what made an impression on me and books that people should read that one i think falls in the category of both now you know definitely it's one of those books that you read and you just kind of you know put it down and you stare in space for a”
Where to get it
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Brave New World
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a dystopian novel that imagines a futuristic society engineered through biological conditioning, technological control, and the elimination of traditional human emotions.
Recommended“i mean i think 1984 in these books brave new world they they're helpful in thinking like stuff can go wrong in non-obvious ways and it's like it's up to us to preserve it and it's like it's a responsibility”
Where to get it
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Full Collected Works, T. 10. 2
Full Collected Works, T.
Recommended“uh hard to be a god uh uh beetle in an ant hill uh monday starts on saturday like it's it's not just science fiction it's also like has very interesting you know interpersonal and societal questions and some of the language is just completely hilarious that's the one that's right oh interesting monday starts on saturday so i need”
Where to get it
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Hard to Be a God
Dmitri Dolgov was a guest on the Lex Fridman Podcast in episode #147, titled Waymo and the Future of Self-Driving Cars, released on December 20, 2020.
Discussed“hard to be a god”
Where to get it
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The Master & Margarita
The Master & Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov is a celebrated satirical masterpiece that weaves together a Moscow visit by the devil, a novel about Pontius Pilate, and a profound love story.
Recommended“uh three books so i would uh you know that impacted me um i would say uh this one is you probably know it well um but and not generally well known i i think in the u.s or kind of internationally the master and margarita it's uh one of actually my favorite uh books um it is you know”
Where to get it
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Animal Farm
Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegorical novella depicting a farm where animals overthrow their human farmer, eventually descending into totalitarian corruption.
Discussed“i'm a huge fan of animal farm which is a kind of friendly as a friend of 1984 by orwell it's kind of another thought experiment of how our society may go in directions that we wouldn't like it to go”
Where to get it
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Isaac Asimov Presents the Golden Age of Science Fiction
Isaac Asimov Presents the Golden Age of Science Fiction is an anthology edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin Harry Greenberg that captures classic speculative stories from the mid-twentieth century.
Discussed“actually yeah you know they're very tempted to uh quote uh one of the stories stories by uh uh isaac asimov actually um actually titled appropriately titled the last question uh short story where you know the plot is that you know humans build this super computer you know this this this ai intelligence and you know once it's get”
Where to get it
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Monday Starts on Saturday
Discussed“uh hard to be a god uh uh beetle in an ant hill uh monday starts on saturday like it's it's not just science fiction it's also like has very interesting you know interpersonal and societal questions and some of the language is just completely hilarious that's the one that's right oh interesting monday starts on saturday so i need”
Where to get it
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Roadside Picnic
Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky is a classic Soviet science fiction novel that explores a post-visit Earth where mysterious, dangerous alien artifacts have been left behind in restricted zones known as Visitation Zones.
Discussed“roadside picnic”
Where to get it
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The Last Question
Discussed“actually um actually titled appropriately titled the last question short story”
Where to get it
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The Master and Margarita
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov is a classic Russian satirical novel that intertwines a fantastical visit by the devil to atheist Soviet Moscow with the tragic romance of the Master and Margarita and a retelling of the trial of Yeshua Ha-Nozri.
Discussed“the master and margarita it's uh one of actually my favorite uh books um it is you know by a russian it's a novel by russian author mikhail bulgakov”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| #147 – Dmitri Dolgov: Waymo and the Future of Self-Driving Cars | Lex Fridman Podcast | 2020-12-20 | 15 |