#627
Mentioned in 30 episodes

Invisible Man

Book • 1952
In 'Invisible Man,' Ralph Ellison tells the story of a nameless black protagonist who navigates the surreal and often hostile world of 20th-century America.

The novel begins with the narrator living in an underground room, reflecting on his life and the various ways he has experienced social invisibility.

He recounts his journey from a small Southern town to Harlem, involving experiences with racism, a brutal 'battle royal,' and his involvement with the Brotherhood, a civil rights group.

The narrative delves into themes of identity, power, and the struggle for self-definition in a society that refuses to see him.

Through his experiences, the narrator grapples with the complexities of being a black man in America, ultimately leading to a profound exploration of invisibility and the search for one's true self.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 30 episodes

Mentioned by
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David Brooks
as an inspiration for his book, highlighting the theme of invisibility and the need for recognition.
417 snips
Why Everyone's Social Skills Are Getting Worse (ft. David Brooks)
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
when discussing the experience of the main character in 'The Truce'.
212 snips
What Is Capitalism? (with Mike Munger)
Mentioned by
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Jacqueline Novogratz
as a book that taught her to see the world from others' perspectives.
160 snips
#758: Jamie Foxx and Jacqueline Novogratz
Mentioned by
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Philip Ball
in the context of invisibility and its corrupting influence.
118 snips
Philip Ball on the Interplay of Science, Society, and the Quest for Understanding
Mentioned by
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Noah Smith
when discussing the controversy surrounding David Austin Walsh and the challenges faced by white male academics.
39 snips
Elite Overproduction and the Future of the Right
Mentioned by
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Corey Robin
as the epigraph of his book on Clarence Thomas.
35 snips
What Clarence Thomas really thinks
Referenced by
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Tavares Strachan
, quoting that sometimes invisibility is a refusal to see.
33 snips
How taking a second look can change your everything
Mentioned by
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Guy Raz
as
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Don Katz
's professor at NYU.
30 snips
Audible: Don Katz
Mentioned by
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David Brooks
while discussing the feeling of invisibility and its impact on society.
27 snips
How to know a person | David Brooks in conversation with Ray Suarez
Mentioned by
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Ryan Holiday
as a beautiful book about a Black man coming of age in 1950s America.
21 snips
Adam Kinzinger on Standing Up For The Truth
Mentioned by
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Matthew Sitman
and
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Vinson Cunningham
in relation to Obama's memoir and the influence of Ellison's work on the themes of identity and self-creation.
16 snips
Political Fictions (w/ Vinson Cunningham)
Mentioned by
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Ryan Holiday
when discussing the feeling of being free of illusions.
15 snips
Winning Isn’t As Fun As It Seems | Find Yourself a Cato
Mentioned by
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Christienna Fryar
in relation to James Baldwin's first novel.
11 snips
James Baldwin: A Man For Our Times with Eddie Glaude
Mentioned by Amy Scott when discussing an article about an award-winning journalist experiencing homelessness.
How small acts can create global change
Mentioned to illustrate the pain of being overlooked or misunderstood in the context of disruption.
Disruptive Thinking - Book Summary
Mentioned by
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Ryan Holiday
as an example of a book that provides actionable insights.
We Can Get This Expensive Thing Cheap | The Long Way Around
Mentioned by
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Ryan Holiday
in a story about the writer encountering a Civil War monument at Harvard.
General Ty Seidule On Our Responsibility To Study, Understand And Grapple With History
Mentioned by
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Corey Robin
as the author of 'Invisible Man', whose opening passage serves as an epigraph for his book.
What Clarence Thomas really thinks

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