Person
Every book Russell Brand recommended on podcasts
Russell Brand appears on podcasts like The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast and The Joe Rogan Experience as a commentator, author, and public speaker discussing philosophy, spiritual transformation, hedonism, and independent media. In dialogue with his hosts, Brand discusses several influential texts and philosophical works. He explores the concepts of modern public revolt and independent media through Martin Gurri's The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium. Brand frequently references spiritual and anthropological concepts, noting his reading of Mircea Eliade's The Sacred and the Profane—a book recommended to him by Jordan Peterson—to discuss sacred space. He also touches upon religious and psychological ideas by discussing Jesus Christ's teachings in The Sermon on the Mount, and examines human nature and evolutionary theory by referencing Richard Dawkins's The Selfish Gene in contrast to traditional Darwinian models. Additionally, works like Eugen Herrigel's Zen in the Art of Archery and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings arise in conversation to illustrate mental focus and the unifying nature of power.
Books recommended by Russell Brand
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Infinite jest
Infinite Jest is a massive, sprawling novel by David Foster Wallace that explores themes of addiction, entertainment, and modern American culture, notably featuring a lethal, mesmerizing video cartridge known as the Entertainment.
Discussed“you know in David Foster Wallace your great American author in his book Infinite Jest postulated a world where all stadiums were named after brands where countries and regions were named after brands and it's sort of I mean it's happening”
Where to get it
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Moby Dick
Moby Dick by Herman Melville is a classic American novel that follows Captain Ahab's obsessive, self-destructive quest to hunt down the white sperm whale that maimed him.
Discussed“and at this great quote in Herman Melville's moby-dick that says you know Noah's Flood is still happening we are the majority of the earth is still flooded in water these we are connected to these events”
Where to get it
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Symbolism, the Sacred and the Arts
Discussed“elsewhere in that you talked about something that I picked up while reading that book you gave me told me to read profane in the sa oh you read that oh great”
Where to get it
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The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R.
Discussed“I mean that's why in in The Lord of the Rings it's the ring of power that unites all the Rings”
Where to get it
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The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium
The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium by Martin Gurri is a political non-fiction book that explores how digital media and the rise of the internet have transformed modern politics by empowering the public to challenge established institutions and traditional authority.
Discussed“I said ages ago after reading Martin gur's book The Revolt of the public that there was an inevitability The Independent Media and the way that it you know M gory saw this much earlier than any of us”
Where to get it
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The Sacred and the Profane
The Sacred and the Profane by Mircea Eliade is a classic study of the history of religion that explores humanity's experience of the sacred and its distinction from the everyday secular world.
Discussed“elsewhere in that you talked about something that I picked up while reading that book you gave me told me to read profane in the sa”
Where to get it
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The Selfish Gene
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins is a landmark popular science book that presents a gene-centric view of evolution and introduced the concept of the meme.
Discussed“and that's I think shows you that we're not as in a Darwinistic model or some of the ideas derived from Darwinism rather like The Selfish Gene and the Richard Dawkins idea that people just want to survive and we just want to kill them [ __ ] and you know and this is what propels us forward”
Where to get it
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Tools for the Master's work, comprising over 250 sermon outlines [&c.] collected by J. Ellis
Tools for the Master's work, comprising over 250 sermon outlines collected by J.
Discussed“so this beginners mind so I did a course for Peterson Academy on The Sermon on the Mount and this so I thought I would mention something about that in relationship to this idea of like every moment being born a new let's say so in The Sermon on the Mount Christ says to focus your attention on what's most”
Where to get it
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Tribe
Tribe by Sebastian Junger is a concise and poignant exploration of the human psychological need for community, belonging, and shared purpose, particularly in the aftermath of modern alienation and crisis.
Discussed“are you familiar with uh Sebastian Junger no Sebastian Junger is an amazing war journalist and he wrote a great book called tribe and his how his book is essentially all about how human beings really only feel at their best and they're happiest when they're coming together to only on something”
Where to get it
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Zen in the Art of Archery
Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel is a philosophical book that explores mindfulness, spiritual discipline, and mental focus through the practice of Japanese archery.
Discussed“and archery in particular it's very you know there's that book zen in the art of archery which is uh it's an interesting book”
Where to get it
Books Russell Brand wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| 524. Why Russell Brand Abandoned Hedonism | The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast | 2025-02-24 | 6 |
| #1283 - Russell Brand | The Joe Rogan Experience | 2019-04-20 | 1 |
| #1021 - Russell Brand | The Joe Rogan Experience | 2017-10-05 | 5 |
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“and that's what that this book here mentors which i talk about you in only for a paragraph you know i mean it's not too”
“the book mentors”
“the book here that I'm promoting recovery I written this book it's my version to 12-step some of it last night you're in it”