Podcast: The Ben & Marc Show
Andreessen Horowitz ("a16z") co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz explore everything from science to business to culture, all through the lens of technology.
24 episodes processed, 16 books extracted
Podcast Playlist: View on YouTube
Books Mentioned Most Often
The Selfish Gene
Buy The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
At its center is this idea of memes: a simple definition is a funny image that spreads virally, and the deeper definition was originally by Richard Dawkins, who introduced the idea of memes as concepts that spread in society in a way akin to genes.
Marc notes that Richard Dawkins introduced the concept of memes as ideas that spread through society, similar to the way genes propagate. This reference provides valuable context for understanding how the AI bot was developed.
Ab urbe condita
Buy Ab urbe condita by Titus Livius on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
Um the problem with that is there's this you know universal phenomenon in our industry that has a you know 50-year history which is you know kind of extremely it's like probably the most clear thing that we know of in terms of how to predict the future in our industry which is called Moore's Law.
The hosts discuss Moore's Law, a significant concept in the tech industry that has been influential for over 50 years in predicting technological advancements. While they emphasize its importance, they do not mention a specific book title or author.
The Once and Future King
Buy The Once and Future King by T. H. White on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
There was a cult science fiction book retailer, a tiny little hole-in-the-wall bookstore on El Camino Real in Mountain View called Future Fantasy Books.
Marc shares a story about a cult science fiction bookstore named Future Fantasy Books, located in Mountain View. He highlights its significance as one of the early e-commerce sites, showcasing the modest beginnings of online retail and how the internet was embraced for business.
Much Ado About Nothing
Buy Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
You remember in those days the books started to show up; before people had the internet, there were books about it.
Marc recalls that, in the early days of the internet, before it was widespread, there were books published discussing the internet and how to use it.
Superforecasting
Buy Superforecasting by Philip E. Tetlock, Dan Gardner, Santiago Foz (argentino) on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
Phil Tetlock, a professor studying this topic, wrote a comprehensive study on political predictions, leading to the conclusion that the average credentialed expert is less than random likely to be correct.
Marc discusses Phil Tetlock and his study on political predictions, highlighting that the average credentialed expert is more likely to be incorrect than random chance. This reference serves to emphasize the unreliability of expert predictions, a recurring theme throughout this episode.
Elon Musk
Buy Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
If you’re unfamiliar with this, you can read the book about Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson, which talks about the crises he encountered with both SpaceX and Tesla.
Ben Horowitz recommends that listeners read the book 'Elon Musk' by Walter Isaacson to gain insights into the crises faced by a hardware CEO. This suggestion arises during a broader discussion about the challenges of operating hardware companies and the leadership traits necessary for success.
Public opinion
Buy Public opinion by Walter Lippmann on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
Um, and in particular there's, there's a book called Public Opinion written by a guy named Walter Lippmann that sort of defined this at the time. What I'm about to describe.
Marc discusses the book 'Public Opinion' by Walter Lippmann, a seminal text that shaped the understanding of the role of experts in policy-making. This reference serves as a foundation for the podcast's exploration of how universities impact public policy.
Their Jihad... Not My Jihad!
Buy Their Jihad... Not My Jihad! by Raheel Raza on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
The young man who wrote about it called his book 'My Jihad,' describing how he realized his true struggle was with himself.
Tony Robbins discusses a book titled 'My Jihad,' in which the author reflects on his personal struggles, especially how he came to understand that his greatest challenge was within himself.
MONEY Master the Game
Buy MONEY Master the Game by Tony Robbins on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
Then I was writing 'Money: Master the Game,' you know, interviewing 50 of the smartest financial people in the world.
In this segment, Tony Robbins discusses his book "Money: Master the Game," which he authored while interviewing 50 of the world's leading financial experts. He introduces this topic as a transition into his thoughts on food insecurity and his philanthropic efforts.
The Holy Grail of Investing
Buy The Holy Grail of Investing by Tony Robbins on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
It's my third in the financial area, one that I think you guys would appreciate; this one is called 'The Holy Grail of Investing.'
In this segment, Tony Robbins discusses his book "The Holy Grail of Investing," expressing his belief that the podcast hosts would find it valuable.
Leviathan
Buy Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
Like nature really has it out for you, um, and if you're unprotected in a state of nature like it, you know, the old, the old thing is you know life and state of nature is, is is is what is it nasty, brutish and short, poor, solitary, nasty, brutish and short, Hobbes, yeah, exactly. And so so look technology, you know, it's of the flip side of the question is technology is now buffering us against, you know, sources of mass death, um, that used to be, you know, far far far more common.
Marc references Hobbes and the quote 'nasty, brutish and short' to illustrate life in a state of nature. This leads to the inference that his mention pertains to Hobbes' book 'Leviathan', which explores these themes.
Ὀδύσσεια
Buy Ὀδύσσεια by Όμηρος on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
There's actually this great book; there's an economist named Alexander Field who's done this; he's done a pair of great books in the 1930s and 1940s, but he talks in great detail about how the American military production machine basically spun up in 18 months.
Marc discusses a notable book by economist Alexander Field that explores the American military production machine during the 1930s and 1940s, highlighting Field's contributions to the subject.
When Reason Goes on Holiday
Buy When Reason Goes on Holiday by Neven Sesardic on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
There’s a new book out that goes through this called 'When Reason Goes on Holiday,' and it goes through in detail Einstein's statements in the 20s and 30s, in particular, that were sort of very kind of staunchly pro-communist.
Marc discusses a new book titled 'When Reason Goes on Holiday,' which explores Einstein's pro-communist statements from the 1920s and 1930s in detail.
When Reason Goes on Holiday
Buy When Reason Goes on Holiday by Neven Sesardic on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
The book 'When Reason Goes on Holiday' goes through this in detail, but the information was available to anybody who wanted to see it.
Marc discusses the book 'When Reason Goes on Holiday' as a detailed source that elaborates on events happening in Russia, suggesting that the information contained within was largely accessible to the public.
The Man in the High Castle
Buy The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick, Michelle Charrier on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
Also, there's this great book that Ben and I have read called The Man from the Future, the Von Neumann book, and it does a very good job of telling Norman's side of the story.
Marc mentions that he and Ben have read 'The Man from the Future', a book that focuses on John von Neumann and does an excellent job of presenting Norman's perspective.
Tempest
Buy Tempest by William Shakespeare on Amazon
Mentioned 1 time
Whitaker Chambers tells this amazing story in his book about how he tried to out himself to the U.S. government as a Soviet military intelligence recruiter and it took him six years to be taken seriously by the FBI and the Justice Department.
In this segment, Marc highlights a book by Whitaker Chambers, where Chambers narrates his struggles to inform the US government about his involvement as a Soviet military recruiter, detailing how it took him six years to finally be acknowledged by the FBI and the Justice Department.
Latest Books Mentioned
The Selfish Gene
Buy The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins on Amazon
Marc notes that Richard Dawkins introduced the concept of memes as ideas that spread through society, similar to the way genes propagate. This reference provides valuable context for understanding how the AI bot was developed.
At its center is this idea of memes: a simple definition is a funny image that spreads virally, and the deeper definition was originally by Richard Dawkins, who introduced the idea of memes as concepts that spread in society in a way akin to genes.
Ab urbe condita
Buy Ab urbe condita by Titus Livius on Amazon
The hosts discuss Moore's Law, a significant concept in the tech industry that has been influential for over 50 years in predicting technological advancements. While they emphasize its importance, they do not mention a specific book title or author.
Um the problem with that is there's this you know universal phenomenon in our industry that has a you know 50-year history which is you know kind of extremely it's like probably the most clear thing that we know of in terms of how to predict the future in our industry which is called Moore's Law.
The Once and Future King
Buy The Once and Future King by T. H. White on Amazon
Marc shares a story about a cult science fiction bookstore named Future Fantasy Books, located in Mountain View. He highlights its significance as one of the early e-commerce sites, showcasing the modest beginnings of online retail and how the internet was embraced for business.
There was a cult science fiction book retailer, a tiny little hole-in-the-wall bookstore on El Camino Real in Mountain View called Future Fantasy Books.
Much Ado About Nothing
Buy Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare on Amazon
Marc recalls that, in the early days of the internet, before it was widespread, there were books published discussing the internet and how to use it.
You remember in those days the books started to show up; before people had the internet, there were books about it.
Superforecasting
Buy Superforecasting by Philip E. Tetlock, Dan Gardner, Santiago Foz (argentino) on Amazon
Marc discusses Phil Tetlock and his study on political predictions, highlighting that the average credentialed expert is more likely to be incorrect than random chance. This reference serves to emphasize the unreliability of expert predictions, a recurring theme throughout this episode.
Phil Tetlock, a professor studying this topic, wrote a comprehensive study on political predictions, leading to the conclusion that the average credentialed expert is less than random likely to be correct.
Elon Musk
Buy Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson on Amazon
Ben Horowitz recommends that listeners read the book 'Elon Musk' by Walter Isaacson to gain insights into the crises faced by a hardware CEO. This suggestion arises during a broader discussion about the challenges of operating hardware companies and the leadership traits necessary for success.
If you’re unfamiliar with this, you can read the book about Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson, which talks about the crises he encountered with both SpaceX and Tesla.
Public opinion
Buy Public opinion by Walter Lippmann on Amazon
Marc discusses the book 'Public Opinion' by Walter Lippmann, a seminal text that shaped the understanding of the role of experts in policy-making. This reference serves as a foundation for the podcast's exploration of how universities impact public policy.
Um, and in particular there's, there's a book called Public Opinion written by a guy named Walter Lippmann that sort of defined this at the time. What I'm about to describe.
Their Jihad... Not My Jihad!
Buy Their Jihad... Not My Jihad! by Raheel Raza on Amazon
Tony Robbins discusses a book titled 'My Jihad,' in which the author reflects on his personal struggles, especially how he came to understand that his greatest challenge was within himself.
The young man who wrote about it called his book 'My Jihad,' describing how he realized his true struggle was with himself.
MONEY Master the Game
Buy MONEY Master the Game by Tony Robbins on Amazon
In this segment, Tony Robbins discusses his book "Money: Master the Game," which he authored while interviewing 50 of the world's leading financial experts. He introduces this topic as a transition into his thoughts on food insecurity and his philanthropic efforts.
Then I was writing 'Money: Master the Game,' you know, interviewing 50 of the smartest financial people in the world.
The Holy Grail of Investing
Buy The Holy Grail of Investing by Tony Robbins on Amazon
In this segment, Tony Robbins discusses his book "The Holy Grail of Investing," expressing his belief that the podcast hosts would find it valuable.
It's my third in the financial area, one that I think you guys would appreciate; this one is called 'The Holy Grail of Investing.'
Leviathan
Buy Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes on Amazon
Marc references Hobbes and the quote 'nasty, brutish and short' to illustrate life in a state of nature. This leads to the inference that his mention pertains to Hobbes' book 'Leviathan', which explores these themes.
Like nature really has it out for you, um, and if you're unprotected in a state of nature like it, you know, the old, the old thing is you know life and state of nature is, is is is what is it nasty, brutish and short, poor, solitary, nasty, brutish and short, Hobbes, yeah, exactly. And so so look technology, you know, it's of the flip side of the question is technology is now buffering us against, you know, sources of mass death, um, that used to be, you know, far far far more common.
Ὀδύσσεια
Buy Ὀδύσσεια by Όμηρος on Amazon
Marc discusses a notable book by economist Alexander Field that explores the American military production machine during the 1930s and 1940s, highlighting Field's contributions to the subject.
There's actually this great book; there's an economist named Alexander Field who's done this; he's done a pair of great books in the 1930s and 1940s, but he talks in great detail about how the American military production machine basically spun up in 18 months.
When Reason Goes on Holiday
Buy When Reason Goes on Holiday by Neven Sesardic on Amazon
Marc discusses a new book titled 'When Reason Goes on Holiday,' which explores Einstein's pro-communist statements from the 1920s and 1930s in detail.
There’s a new book out that goes through this called 'When Reason Goes on Holiday,' and it goes through in detail Einstein's statements in the 20s and 30s, in particular, that were sort of very kind of staunchly pro-communist.
When Reason Goes on Holiday
Buy When Reason Goes on Holiday by Neven Sesardic on Amazon
Marc discusses the book 'When Reason Goes on Holiday' as a detailed source that elaborates on events happening in Russia, suggesting that the information contained within was largely accessible to the public.
The book 'When Reason Goes on Holiday' goes through this in detail, but the information was available to anybody who wanted to see it.
The Man in the High Castle
Buy The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick, Michelle Charrier on Amazon
Marc mentions that he and Ben have read 'The Man from the Future', a book that focuses on John von Neumann and does an excellent job of presenting Norman's perspective.
Also, there's this great book that Ben and I have read called The Man from the Future, the Von Neumann book, and it does a very good job of telling Norman's side of the story.
Tempest
Buy Tempest by William Shakespeare on Amazon
In this segment, Marc highlights a book by Whitaker Chambers, where Chambers narrates his struggles to inform the US government about his involvement as a Soviet military recruiter, detailing how it took him six years to finally be acknowledged by the FBI and the Justice Department.
Whitaker Chambers tells this amazing story in his book about how he tried to out himself to the U.S. government as a Soviet military intelligence recruiter and it took him six years to be taken seriously by the FBI and the Justice Department.