

#1701
Mentioned in 15 episodes
Lincoln in the Bardo
Book • 2017
The novel is set in 1862 during the American Civil War and revolves around the death of Willie Lincoln, the 11-year-old son of President Abraham Lincoln.
After Willie's death from typhoid fever, his spirit finds itself in a limbo known as the bardo, a concept borrowed from Tibetan Buddhism.
Here, he encounters a diverse group of ghosts who are also trapped between the world of the living and the afterlife.
The story delves into themes of grief, both personal and national, as Lincoln grapples with the loss of his son amidst the broader context of the Civil War. The novel is characterized by its unique narrative style, which includes a multitude of voices and historical quotes, and its exploration of the human experience of suffering and love.
After Willie's death from typhoid fever, his spirit finds itself in a limbo known as the bardo, a concept borrowed from Tibetan Buddhism.
Here, he encounters a diverse group of ghosts who are also trapped between the world of the living and the afterlife.
The story delves into themes of grief, both personal and national, as Lincoln grapples with the loss of his son amidst the broader context of the Civil War. The novel is characterized by its unique narrative style, which includes a multitude of voices and historical quotes, and its exploration of the human experience of suffering and love.
Mentioned by






























Mentioned in 15 episodes


Gilbert Cruz

192 snips
The Year in Books
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as a journaling prompt contributor to 

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Dan Harris


Suleika Jaouad

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Alchemize Your Anger and Anxiety | Suleika Jaouad
Mentioned by 

as a best-selling novel.


Adam Grant

123 snips
The art of rough drafts with George Saunders
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a book she is a huge fan of and that has stayed with her.

Meg LeFauve

55 snips
240 | George Saunders' Storytelling Masterclass
Mentioned by 

as the book that won 

the Man Booker Prize.


Dan Harris


George Saunders

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George Saunders on: “Holy Befuddlement” and How to Be Less of a “Turd”
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as one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against OpenAI.


Keith Romer

46 snips
The alleged theft at the heart of ChatGPT
Mentioned by 

as an author who won the 2017 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.


Sam Harris

34 snips
#372 — Life & Work
Mentioned in relation to the concept of 'bardo'

26 snips
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Cast Revealed, ‘The White Lotus’ E7, and ‘MobLand’
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as an author and teacher of Russian literature who was a guest on the podcast.

Monica Padman

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as an example of an artist who took a long time to complete a book and went through many iterations.

Adam Moss

19 snips
THE WORK OF ART: How Something Comes From Nothing
Mentioned by 

as the author of 'Lincoln in the Bardo' and other works.


Michael Lewis

13 snips
Other People’s Money: George Saunders on the Value of Failure
Recommended by ![undefined]()

after recently finishing it, highlighting its exploration of life's meaning and the importance of beauty.

Maria Baer

11 snips
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Mentioned by 

as the author of "Lincoln in the Bardo".


Deborah Treisman

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Mentioned by 

in the context of a previous discussion about the author's book on Russian literature.


Eric Zimmer

How to Find Real Life in Stories with George Saunders
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a book about Lincoln mourning his son and entering a Bardo-like state.

Joanna Robinson

‘Severance’ Season 2, Episode 7 With ‘Lost’ Cocreator Damon Lindelof
Mentioned by 

as a book he is almost finished with.


Dan Harris

The Profound Upside of Self-Diminishment | George Saunders
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as an example of a writer who uses monologues to create tangible parts of the world for the reader.

Ethan Rutherford

First Draft - Ethan Rutherford (Returns Again)
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as an example of a Buddhist writer.

Ethan Nichtern

Ep. 142 - The White Lotus, The God Realm and Pop-Culture Dharma
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a book he reread immediately after finishing.

Robert Dreesen

S4E33 The World of Academic Publishing: A Conversation with Robert Dreesen
Mentioned by 

as a Booker Prize-winning novel exploring Abraham Lincoln's grief.


John Self

The Many Voices of Booker Prize Winner George Saunders