#1425

Mentioned in 18 episodes

The captive mind

Book • 1990

Written after his defection from Stalinist Poland in 1951, 'The Captive Mind' is a philosophical and political essay that explores the allure of Stalinism to intellectuals and the mechanisms of totalitarian control.

Miłosz uses metaphorical portraits of four Polish writers (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta) to illustrate the universal human phenomena and attitudes towards totalitarianism.

The book critiques the philosophical systems of Marxism and Hegelian historical determinism, highlighting the internal longing for harmony and happiness that can lead individuals to submit to such regimes.

It also discusses the personal and psychological costs of living under totalitarian rule, including the transformation of 'free minds' into instruments of the state.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 18 episodes

Mentioned by

Rebecca Lemov

as a source of inspiration for her research, highlighting its exploration of the deterioration of social life under totalitarianism.

468 snips

#2322 - Rebecca Lemov

Mentioned by Niall Ferguson when discussing the fragility of civilization.

91 snips

#239 – Niall Ferguson: History of Money, Power, War, and Truth

Mentioned as a path-breaking book about the plight of intellectuals in Eastern European countries after the Stalinist takeover.

79 snips

There’s A Lot of Nonsense These Days | Solo

Mentioned by

Tim Miller

as a Polish book about the arrival of totalitarianism in Poland.

71 snips

S2 Ep1024: Anne Applebaum: Everything Is a Game to Trump

Mentioned by

Tim Miller

as a book exploring the takeover of the authoritarian mindset.

51 snips

S2 Ep1015: Bill Kristol: The High Cost of Stupidity

Mentioned by

Anne Applebaum

when discussing the choices faced by US government officials in the context of Elon Musk's actions.

41 snips

Anne Applebaum: Outside the Rule of Law

Mentioned by Robert Kaplan as a book he is currently rereading, highlighting its relevance to contemporary political discourse.

39 snips

The World in 2025 with Robert Kaplan: Finding A Way Through Permanent Crisis (Part Two)

Mentioned by Ann Applebaum as a Polish book about the mindset of autocracy and fascism.

30 snips

Anne Applebaum: What USAID's Absence Looks Like on the Ground

Mentioned by

Eli Lake

as a guide to understanding the current political climate.

23 snips

Kamala Harris and the Election of Laughter and Forgetting

Mentioned by

Daniel Pick

as a book describing life in Stalinist Poland.

22 snips

Brainwashed: A New History of Thought Control

Mentioned by

Paul Elie

, describing how Merton's book influenced Czesław Miłosz's outlook.

22 snips

Paul Elie On Crypto-Religion In Pop Culture

Mentioned by Cynthia Haven as another subject of her writing, focusing on his time in California.

20 snips

Cynthia L. Haven on René Girard, Czeslaw Milosz, and Joseph Brodsky

Recommended by

Christine Rosen

as a psychology textbook about human nature.

19 snips

Books for First-Years, Games

Mentioned by Jordan Peterson when discussing why people fell for communism.

15 snips

268. Live Not By Lies | Rod Dreher

Mentioned by

Russell Moore

in the context of the Russian regime's actions and the importance of acknowledging the truth.

15 snips

A Little Help From My Friends

Mentioned by Chespao Miłosz in his first chapter, when discussing how the intellectual wants to feel like they are making a difference.

14 snips

Jacob Howland on the Crisis of Higher Education and the University of Austin

Mentioned by

Rebecca Lemov

as a book written by the Polish poet that discusses a kind of inner surrender.

Rebecca Lemov and the Instability of Truth

Mentioned by

Tim Miller

as a book offering a perspective on worst-case scenarios for America, drawing parallels to Cold War Poland.

The Age of America is Over

Recommended by

Andrew Marantz

as a book that helped him structure his own work, drawing parallels to ideological capture.

How social media makes us antisocial

Mentioned by

Eli Lake

to provide another perspective on intellectual conformity under oppressive regimes.

Kamala Harris and the Election of Laughter and Forgetting (From the Honestly Archives)

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