Person

Every book Michael Stevens recommended on podcasts

Key facts

  • Michael Stevens has recommended or discussed 3 books on podcasts, as of December 17, 2019.
  • Michael Stevens has talked about books on 2 podcasts, as of December 17, 2019.
  • Those books came up in 2 episodes, as of December 17, 2019.
  • The 3 books Michael Stevens has mentioned in the most episodes, as of December 17, 2019: Death By Black Hole, Chariots of the Gods? and Tess of the D'Urbervilles.
  • The latest episode with a book mention from Michael Stevens aired on December 17, 2019.

Updated

Guest on Lex Fridman Podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience · 3 books · 2 episodes across 2 podcasts

Across 2 podcasts. Every show Michael Stevens appears on, in one place, not just one.

Michael Stevens is an educator, filmmaker, and creator of the popular educational YouTube channel Vsauce. As a guest on platforms like The Joe Rogan Experience and the Lex Fridman Podcast, Stevens frequently explores scientific curiosities, psychology, philosophy, and historical oddities. During these discussions, he has referenced several books that intersect with his passion for science and human experience. On the Joe Rogan Experience, Stevens mentioned Neil deGrasse Tyson's book Death By Black Hole while discussing the physics and subtle mathematical calculations surrounding satellite launches and the Earth's rotation. In the same conversation, he brought up Erich von Däniken's Chariots of the Gods? while exploring cargo cults and ancient astronaut theories. On the Lex Fridman Podcast, Stevens shared a personal reflection by quoting Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles, using the passage to illustrate his philosophical view that the true measure of a human life depends on internal subjective experience rather than external physical displacement. These literary references highlight his broad intellectual curiosity spanning hard sciences, anthropology, and classic fiction.

Books Michael Stevens recommended or discussed

Who said what is our best reading of each episode. In hand-checked samples, at least 6% of mentions were credited to the wrong speaker, sometimes an interviewer’s line recorded as the guest’s, sometimes the reverse. Every entry below quotes the words and links to the episode, so you can check it.

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  1. Death By Black Hole

    Neil deGrasse Tyson · Recommended · 1 episode

    Death By Black Hole by Neil deGrasse Tyson is a collection of essays exploring astrophysics, cosmic phenomena, and the wonders of the universe through an accessible lens.

    Recommended
    “Neil degross Tyson did a great calculation in his book um death by black hole I think”
    Where to get it
  2. Chariots of the Gods?

    Erich von Däniken · Discussed · 1 episode

    Chariots of the Gods? by Erich von Daniken is a well-known alternative history book that posits ancient civilizations were influenced by extraterrestrial visitors.

    Discussed
    “Von danin used that as an argument in Chariots of the Gods to explain that”
    Where to get it
  3. Tess of the D'Urbervilles

    Thomas Hardy · Discussed · 1 episode

    Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy is a tragic Victorian masterpiece that follows the heartbreaking struggles of Tess Durbeyfield as she navigates harsh social moralities, poverty, and the devastating consequences of men in rural England.

    Discussed
    “one of my favorite quotes is from Tess of the d'Urbervilles and it's along the lines of the the measure of your life depends on not your external displacement but your subjective experience if I am happy and those that I love are happy can that be enough”
    Where to get it

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
Michael Stevens: VsauceLex Fridman Podcast2019-12-171
#528 - Michael Stevens, from VSauceThe Joe Rogan Experience2014-07-302
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
Passing Tess of the D'Urbervilles
“one of my favorite quotes is from Tess of the d'Urbervilles and it's along the lines of the the measure of your life depends on not your external displacement but your subjective experience If I am happy and those that I love are happy can that be enough”