Lex Fridman is a research scientist, technology enthusiast, and popular podcast host known for his work in artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and human-robot interaction. Originally from Russia, Fridman currently works as a research scientist at MIT and focuses on the applications of AI in various domains, including deep learning and autonomous driving technologies. His podcast, which features wide-ranging conversations with experts in science, technology, philosophy, history, and a variety of other fields, has garnered a large following due to its in-depth and thoughtful discourse on complex topics.
❝The greatest education is the one that gets us to ask the biggest questions and seek the deepest truths.❞ — Lex Fridman
Fridman is known for his intellectual curiosity and multidisciplinary approach, traits likely nurtured by a deep commitment to reading and learning. While specific details about his reading habits are less publicized, his discussions often reveal a broad knowledge base that suggests extensive reading across a spectrum of subjects from technical research to philosophical inquiries. Fridman emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning and the role of education in understanding and shaping the world, reflecting a belief in the transformative power of acquiring knowledge.
Lex Fridman's Favorite Books
Last Updated: June 2024
The Metamorphosis
Author: Franz Kafka
Publisher: Classix Press
Date: Sep 12th, 2009
Kafka's surreal novella tells the story of Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect, exploring themes of alienation, identity, and the human condition.
Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History
Author: S. C. Gwynne
Publisher: Scribner
Date: May 25th, 2010
Gwynne chronicles the history of the Comanche tribe and their last chief, Quanah Parker, detailing their resistance against European settlers and the eventual decline of their empire.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Author: Yuval Noah Harari
Publisher: Harper
Date: Feb 10th, 2015
Yuval Noah Harari provides a compelling overview of the history of our species from the emergence of ancient human tribes to the present day, exploring how biology and history have defined us.
The Art Of War: Complete Text of Sun Tzu
Author: Sun Tzu
Publisher: Booklover’s Library Classics
Date: Jun 23rd, 2022
This ancient Chinese military treatise offers strategic insights and tactics for warfare, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, planning, and psychological warfare.
Think and Grow Rich: The Original, an Official Publication of The Napoleon Hill Foundation
Author: Napoleon Hill
Publisher: Sound Wisdom
Date: Dec 13th, 2016
Hill's classic self-help book outlines principles for personal and financial success, based on his study of successful individuals and the power of positive thinking.
Doctor Zhivago
Author: Boris Pasternak
Publisher: Pantheon
Date: Oct 19th, 2010
Pasternak's novel tells the story of Yuri Zhivago, a physician and poet, whose life is disrupted by the Russian Revolution and the ensuing civil war, capturing the turmoil and human cost of historical upheaval.
On the Road
Author: Jack Kerouac
Publisher: Library of America
Date: Sep 1st, 2007
Jack Kerouac's seminal Beat novel, based on his own travels across America, captures the spirit of freedom and longing for meaning through the adventures of Sal Paradise and his charismatic friend Dean Moriarty.
Beyond Good and Evil: The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche
Author: Friedrich Nietzsche
Publisher: Booklover’s Library Classics
Date: Jul 3rd, 2022
Nietzsche critiques traditional morality and explores the concepts of power, individualism, and the nature of truth in this seminal work of philosophy.
Principles: Life and Work
Author: Ray Dalio
Publisher: Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
Date: Sep 19th, 2017
Dalio shares the principles that have guided his successful career as a hedge fund manager and entrepreneur, offering practical advice on decision-making, management, and achieving personal and professional goals.
Prelude to Foundation
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Spectra
Date: Mar 1st, 1989
In this prequel to his seminal Foundation series, Isaac Asimov recounts the early life of Hari Seldon, the brilliant mathematician who develops psychohistory, a method of predicting the future.
Forward the Foundation
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Doubleday
Date: Mar 1st, 1993
The final novel in Asimov's Foundation series, this prequel delves into the life of Hari Seldon, chronicling his efforts to develop psychohistory and secure the future of humanity in a galaxy on the brink of chaos.
Black Elk: The Life of an American Visionary
Author: Joe Jackson
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date: Oct 25th, 2016
Jackson provides a comprehensive biography of Black Elk, the Oglala Lakota holy man, chronicling his spiritual journey, his role in the Native American resistance, and his enduring legacy.
Essential Bukowski: Poetry
Author: Charles Bukowski
Publisher: Ecco
Date: Oct 25th, 2016
This collection brings together some of Bukowski's most powerful and raw poems, showcasing his gritty, unflinching perspective on life, love, and the human condition.
Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Author: Max Tegmark
Publisher: Knopf
Date: Aug 29th, 2017
Tegmark explores the future of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on humanity, examining both the opportunities and challenges posed by advanced AI technologies.
Walden
Author: Henry David Thoreau
Publisher: Macmillan Collector's Library
Date: Nov 1st, 2016
Thoreau's reflective account of his two years of simple living in a cabin near Walden Pond focuses on the themes of self-sufficiency, the beauty of nature, and his philosophical musings on life and society.
The Road
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Date: Sep 26th, 2006
Cormac McCarthy's stark and haunting novel follows a father and his young son as they journey through a post-apocalyptic landscape, struggling for survival in a world devoid of civilization.
Foundation's Edge
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Spectra
Date: Nov 1st, 1991
Asimov continues his Foundation saga with the quest to find Earth, the mythical planet where humans originally came from, which leads to revelations that could alter the future of the galaxy.
Foundation and Empire
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Spectra
Date: Jun 1st, 2004
The second book in Asimov's Foundation series, exploring the inevitable decay of a sprawling empire and the efforts by the Foundation to manage and mitigate the catastrophic loss of knowledge.
How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain
Author: Lisa Feldman Barrett
Publisher: Mariner Books
Date: Mar 7th, 2017
Barrett presents a revolutionary theory of emotions, arguing that they are not hardwired responses but rather constructed experiences shaped by our brains and cultural contexts.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Author: Douglas Adams
Publisher: Del Rey
Date: May 4th, 2021
Douglas Adams' iconic sci-fi comedy follows the intergalactic adventures of Arthur Dent, an ordinary human who hitchhikes through space after Earth is demolished to make way for a cosmic freeway.
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Author: Steven Pressfield
Publisher: Efinito
Date: Jan 1st, 2022
Pressfield's motivational guide addresses the challenges of creative work, offering strategies to overcome resistance and unlock one's creative potential.
Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail
Author: Ray Dalio
Publisher: Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
Date: Nov 30th, 2021
Dalio analyzes historical patterns and economic cycles to provide insights into the rise and fall of nations, offering principles for navigating the complexities of the modern world order.
Meditations
Author: Marcus Aurelius
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: Oct 31st, 2006
Written by a Roman Emperor and philosopher, these personal writings and aphorisms reflect his Stoic philosophy, providing guidance on how to handle adversity and exercise self-control, and offering insights into ethical living.
Second Foundation
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Spectra
Date: Jun 1st, 2004
This installment of Asimov's Foundation series focuses on the mysterious Second Foundation, tasked with preserving the edges of science and ensuring the original Foundation's prophecies come to fruition.
A Hunger Artist
Author: Franz Kafka
Publisher: A Franz Kafka Book
Date: Jun 22nd, 2016
Kafka's short story delves into the life of a professional starvation artist, examining themes of alienation, performance, and the search for meaning through the protagonist's extreme form of art.
The Stand: The Complete and Uncut Edition
Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Doubleday
Date: May 1st, 1990
In this epic post-apocalyptic novel, a deadly plague wipes out most of humanity, leading to a struggle between good and evil as the survivors form new societies.
: Undefined offset: 937 in
/var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line
103
Foundation and Earth
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Spectra
Date: Aug 31st, 2004
The continuation of the Foundation series where Golan Trevize continues his quest to understand the choice he made regarding the galaxy's future, leading to a search for Earth with profound implications.
Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell
Publisher: Zinc Read
Date: Jul 7th, 2023
Orwell's allegorical novella critiques totalitarianism through the story of a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner, only to see their new government become equally oppressive.
The Stranger
Author: Albert Camus
Publisher: Vintage
Date: Mar 13th, 1989
Camus's existential novel follows Meursault, an indifferent French-Algerian man, whose random act of violence leads to a confrontation with society's expectations and the absurdity of life.
Machines Who Think: A personal inquiry into the history and prospects of artificial intelligence
Author: Pamela McCorduck
Publisher: W. H. Freeman
Date: Sep 16th, 1979
McCorduck offers a historical and personal exploration of the development of artificial intelligence, tracing its origins, key figures, and the evolving challenges and potential of the field.
Brave New World
Author: Aldous Huxley
Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
Date: Jul 5th, 2005
Set in a dystopian future where individuals are systematically controlled and conditioned for roles in a totalitarian society, Huxley’s novel critiques the dangers of sacrificing individuality for technological and governmental control.
I, Robot
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: HarperVoyager
Date: May 17th, 2018
Asimov's collection of interconnected stories introduces his famous Three Laws of Robotics, exploring the ethical and moral implications of artificial intelligence through the experiences of robots and their interactions with humans.
: Undefined offset: 389 in
/var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line
103
Siddhartha
Author: Hermann Hesse
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Apr 27th, 2022
Hesse's philosophical novel follows Siddhartha, a young man in ancient India, on his spiritual journey to enlightenment, exploring themes of self-discovery, inner peace, and the search for meaning.
: Undefined offset: 565 in
/var/www/ryan/data/www/vipreads.com/vip.php on line
103
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Scribner
Date: Jul 6th, 2010
Part memoir, part master class, King shares his experiences and insights into the craft of writing, offering practical advice and inspiration for aspiring writers.
The Rise and Fall of American Growth: The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War
Author: Robert J. Gordon
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Date: Jan 12th, 2016
This comprehensive analysis examines the unparalleled economic growth in America from 1870 to 1970 and explores why this rapid growth was a unique episode unlikely to be repeated, assessing the challenges facing the U.S. economy today.
The Old Man And The Sea
Author: Ernest Hemingway
Publisher: Scribner
Date: Jun 10th, 1996
This novella tells the story of Santiago, an aging fisherman who engages in an epic struggle to catch a giant marlin, symbolizing themes of perseverance, pride, and the human condition.
Super Sad True Love Story: A Novel
Author: Gary Shteyngart
Publisher: Random House
Date: Jul 27th, 2010
This dystopian satire follows the unlikely romance between middle-aged Lenny Abramov and much younger Eunice Park, set against a backdrop of a crumbling America dominated by technology and consumerism.
A New Kind of Science
Author: Stephen Wolfram
Publisher: Wolfram Media, Inc.
Date: May 14th, 2002
Wolfram proposes a computational approach to understanding the natural world, arguing that simple computational rules can generate complex behaviors observed in nature, challenging traditional scientific paradigms.
The Book of Life: Daily Meditations with Krishnamurti
Author: Jiddu Krishnamurti
Publisher: HarperOne
Date: May 12th, 1995
A collection of thoughtful meditations for each day of the year, drawn from the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti, focusing on themes of self-awareness, truth, and understanding.
Love and Math: The Heart of Hidden Reality
Author: Edward Frenkel
Publisher: Basic Books
Date: Oct 1st, 2013
Frenkel's memoir interweaves his personal journey with the beauty and elegance of mathematics, revealing its profound connections to the mysteries of the universe and human experience.
Man's Search for Meaning
Author: Viktor E. Frankl
Publisher: Beacon Press
Date: Jun 1st, 2006
Frankl's memoir and psychological exploration discusses his experiences in Nazi concentration camps and introduces logotherapy, a therapeutic approach centered on finding purpose in life.
The Plague
Author: Albert Camus
Publisher: Knopf
Date: Nov 16th, 2021
Camus' novel tells the story of a plague sweeping through the Algerian city of Oran, exploring themes of human suffering, resilience, and the absurdity of existence.
Harry Potter Boxed Set: Books 1-7
Author: J. K. Rowling
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Date: Feb 7th, 2023
This bestselling series chronicles the adventures of Harry Potter, a young wizard, as he navigates the challenges of growing up, battling dark forces, and fulfilling his destiny in the magical world.
Foundation
Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher: Spectra
Date: Jun 1st, 2004
Isaac Asimov's groundbreaking novel introduces his grand narrative of the decline and fall of a Galactic Empire and the scientific effort to shorten the ensuing dark age.
2001: A Space Odyssey
Author: Arthur C. Clarke
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: Oct 25th, 2016
This classic science fiction novel explores human evolution, artificial intelligence, and the mysteries of the cosmos as astronauts discover a mysterious monolith on the moon and embark on a perilous journey to Jupiter.
