Person
Every book Kelsey Piper recommended on podcasts
Kelsey Piper is a journalist and writer focused on artificial intelligence, forecasting, and systemic risk, as demonstrated by her appearance on The Ezra Klein Show. During the episode, Piper shared a selection of literary recommendations and historical works that influenced her worldview and professional interests. Among her final book recommendations, she highlighted J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion, noting that she was obsessed with the prequel to The Lord of the Rings throughout her teenage years. Piper also recommended Richard Rhodes's book The Making of the Atomic Bomb, explaining that she found the personality-driven narrative illuminating when drawing parallels between the historical development of nuclear weapons and modern concerns surrounding the rise of artificial intelligence. Furthermore, she included Asterisk, a new magazine edited by unconventional thinkers, in her reading list to encourage engagement with contemporary ideas and specialized writing. Through these varied recommendations, Piper reflects an intellectual curiosity spanning epic fantasy, historical scientific development, and modern publications.
Books recommended by Kelsey Piper
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Asterisk
Asterisk is a modern magazine that covers various topics at the intersection of technology, science, and culture, produced by unconventional thinkers and writers.
Recommended“the other thing I caught up on was asterisk which is a new magazine from some of the weird people that you like to talk about”
Where to get it
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The making of the atomic bomb
The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes is an exhaustive, Pulitzer Prize-winning historical account detailing the scientific discoveries and geopolitical pressures that led to the creation of nuclear weapons during World War II.
Recommended“and one of the recurring things in it is it's a very personality driven compared to I guess what I was imagining before I picked it up like who were these men and what were they thinking”
Where to get it
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The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion by J.R.R.
Recommended“I was obsessed for my entire teenage Hood with the silmarillion tolkien's prequel to Lord of the Rings”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freaked Out? We Really Can Prepare for A.I. | The Ezra Klein Show | 2023-03-22 | 3 |