Person
Every book Donald Hoffman recommended on podcasts
Across 3 podcasts. Every show Donald Hoffman appears on, in one place — not just one.
Donald David Hoffman is an American cognitive psychologist and popular science author. He is a professor emeritus in the Department of Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. During his appearances on podcasts, Donald Hoffman has discussed several influential books that connect to his work on perception, reality, and consciousness. While speaking on The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, he referenced Lao Tzu's classic text, Tao Te Ching, utilizing it to illustrate how profound spiritual traditions recognize the intrinsic limitations of human language and theoretical frameworks. On the Lex Fridman Podcast, Hoffman mentioned Vision by David Marr, his former advisor at MIT, discussing Marr's insights into how sensory systems operate, contrasting more primitive systems with the complex human mechanisms that estimate shapes and distances. Furthermore, during his appearance on The Tim Ferriss Show, Hoffman reflected on spiritual teachings by discussing Eckhart Tolle's books A New Earth and The Power of Now. He noted how clearly these texts explain concepts related to intelligence, thought, and spiritual understanding. Through these literary references, Hoffman bridges cognitive science, philosophy, and spiritual traditions to explore how evolution and perception shape human reality.
Books recommended by Donald Hoffman
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A New Earth
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle is a spiritual guide designed to help readers transcend ego-based consciousness and awaken to a new sense of life purpose.
Discussed“he gets this in many of the spiritual traditions but but i see it really clearly like when eckhart tolle is explaining these things in his books like a new earth and the power of now”
Where to get it
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Bible
Bible by Bible is the foundational canonical text of Judaism and Christianity, comprising ancient narratives, laws, poetry, and prophetic writings that have shaped Western civilization.
Discussed“Well, David Marr, again my advisor at MIT, in his book 'Vision' suggested that the more primitive sensory systems were less realistic, less veridical.”
Where to get it
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Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu is a foundational text of Eastern philosophy and Taoism that explores the nature of reality, effortless action, and spiritual enlightenment.
Discussed“Like the Tao Te Ching starts off that says the Tao that can be spoken of is not the true Tao.”
Where to get it
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The Power of Now
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is a spiritual guide designed to help readers transcend their analytical minds and find inner peace by fully embracing the present moment.
Discussed“he gets this in many of the spiritual traditions but but i see it really clearly like when eckhart tolle is explaining these things in his books like a new earth and the power of now”
Where to get it
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Vision
Discussed“In his book "Vision" suggested that the more primitive sensory systems were less realistic, less vertical. But that by the time you got to something as complicated as the humans, we were actually estimating the true shapes and distances to objects and so forth.”
Where to get it
Books Donald Hoffman wrote
Appearances
Other mentions (4: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Before you get there, that's an important question, okay, that I address in my recently published book. Oh, take me to your leader. Uh there's a whole chapter on alien powers that they could have.”
“I wrote a book in 1998, just the year before the matrix came out, called visual intelligence, how we create what we see, exactly this stuff.”
“I've used a lot of my book Case Against Reality talks about it in great detail. It's a wonderful theory.”
“I've used it a lot; my book, Case Against Reality, talks about it in great detail.”