Mentioned in Podcasts

Person

Every book Sam Altman recommended on podcasts

Key facts

  • Sam Altman has recommended or discussed 3 books on podcasts, as of August 23, 2026.
  • Sam Altman has talked about books on 4 podcasts, as of August 23, 2026.
  • Those books came up in 4 episodes, as of August 23, 2026.
  • The 3 books Sam Altman has mentioned in the most episodes, as of August 23, 2026: Blitzed, Dune and The beginning of infinity.
  • The latest episode with a book mention from Sam Altman aired on August 23, 2026.

Updated

Guest on David Senra, MD MEETS, Lex Fridman Podcast · 3 books · 4 episodes across 4 podcasts

Across 3 podcasts. Every show Sam Altman appears on, in one place — not just one.

Sam Altman is a prominent technology executive, entrepreneur, and investor best known as the chief executive officer of OpenAI. During multiple podcast appearances, Altman discussed various books that intersect with technology, science fiction, history, and philosophy. Speaking on the David Senra podcast, he reflected on rereading David Deutsch's The Beginning of Infinity, noting how artificial intelligence relates to humanity's ongoing quest to understand the universe. On the MD MEETS podcast, Altman brought up Frank Herbert's science fiction classic Dune as an example of a societal approach where humanity destroys advanced technology to prevent rogue artificial intelligence. While appearing on the Lex Fridman Podcast, he discussed Norman Ohler's Blitzed, sharing his perspective on how widespread drug use influenced Nazi Germany and its leadership. Finally, during a conversation on The Tucker Carlson Show, Altman briefly mentioned the Bible when addressing questions related to his personal religious beliefs and literal interpretation.

Books Sam Altman recommended or discussed

Who said what is determined automatically. 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. Blitzed

    Norman Ohler · Discussed · 1 episode

    Blitzed by Norman Ohler is a historical investigation into the widespread, systematic use of narcotics like methamphetamine within Nazi Germany and its direct impact on military campaigns.

    Discussed
    “I just read "Blitzed", which is this... - Oh, I wanna read that. - Yeah. - How is it. - It was really good. It gives a theory of Nazi Germany and Hitler that so much can be described about Hitler and a lot of the upper echelon of Nazi Germany through the excessive use of drugs.”
    Lex Fridman Podcast #367 – Sam Altman: OpenAI CEO on GPT-4, ChatGPT, and the Future of AI 2023-03-25 Listen at 1:50:17
    Where to get it
    Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon

  2. Dune

    Frank Herbert · Discussed · 1 episode

    Frank Herbert's Dune is an epic science fiction masterpiece set on the desert planet Arrakis, exploring complex themes of politics, religion, ecology, and heroic leadership.

    Discussed
    “There are things like this in sci-fi. Dune is an example where people say this is the only way to prevent the rogue AI.”
    MD MEETS OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: AI Warfare, Freedom & Immortality 2025-10-01 Listen at 33:05
    Where to get it
    Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon

  3. The beginning of infinity

    David Deutsch · Discussed · 1 episode

    David Deutsch's The Beginning of Infinity is a philosophy book that champions cosmic optimism and argues that human problems are infinite but always solvable through creativity and science.

    Discussed
    “We were talking earlier about this this book The Beginning of Infinity and rereading that book from today's vantage point I'm like man, AI's really going to help us do this do this important thing of understanding everything or as much as we can.”
    David Senra Sam Altman on Building OpenAI & Betting on the Impossible 2026-08-23
    Where to get it
    Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
Sam Altman on Building OpenAI & Betting on the ImpossibleDavid Senra2026-08-231
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: AI Warfare, Freedom & ImmortalityMD MEETS2025-10-011
#367 – Sam Altman: OpenAI CEO on GPT-4, ChatGPT, and the Future of AILex Fridman Podcast2023-03-251
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
Discussed Bible
“I don't believe the I'm not like a literalist on the Bible”
The Tucker Carlson Show Sam Altman on God, Elon Musk and the Mysterious Death of His Former Em… 2025-09-10 Listen at 3:51