

#585
Mentioned in 37 episodes
The Idiot
Book •
Written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky between 1867 and 1869, 'The Idiot' follows the story of Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin, a young man with a pure and innocent heart, often mistaken for an 'idiot' due to his simplicity and goodness.
The novel examines how this 'positively beautiful man' navigates a world filled with corruption, moral decay, and complex human relationships.
Myshkin's interactions with characters like Nastasya Filippovna and Aglaia Epanchina highlight themes of love, suffering, sacrifice, and the clash between idealistic values and the harsh realities of society.
The novel ultimately leads to Myshkin's mental breakdown and his inability to cope with the world around him.
The novel examines how this 'positively beautiful man' navigates a world filled with corruption, moral decay, and complex human relationships.
Myshkin's interactions with characters like Nastasya Filippovna and Aglaia Epanchina highlight themes of love, suffering, sacrifice, and the clash between idealistic values and the harsh realities of society.
The novel ultimately leads to Myshkin's mental breakdown and his inability to cope with the world around him.
Mentioned by














Mentioned in 37 episodes
Mentioned by 

when discussing the character of the idiot in Dostoevsky's novel.


Steven Bartlett

2,453 snips
Jordan B Peterson: You Need To Listen To Your Wife! We've Built A Lonely & Sexless Society! If You & Your Partner Do This, You'll Divorce!
Mentioned by 

while discussing a quote from Dostoevsky's book.


Lex Fridman

1,541 snips
#313 – Jordan Peterson: Life, Death, Power, Fame, and Meaning
Mentioned by 

when discussing the character Prince Mishkin, highlighting his naivete.


Lex Fridman

1,191 snips
#368 – Eliezer Yudkowsky: Dangers of AI and the End of Human Civilization
Mentioned by 

when refering to works by Dostoevsky.


Lex Fridman

1,072 snips
#481 – Norman Ohler: Hitler, Nazis, Drugs, WW2, Blitzkrieg, LSD, MKUltra & CIA
Mentioned by 

as one of his favorite books.


Lex Fridman

797 snips
#394 – Neri Oxman: Biology, Art, and Science of Design & Engineering with Nature
Mentioned by 

as characters from his novels that embody optimism.


Lex Fridman

492 snips
#274 – Karl Deisseroth: Depression, Schizophrenia, and Psychiatry
Mentioned by 

as examples of books that confront nihilism.


Stephen West

326 snips
Episode #218 ... Dostoevsky - Notes From Underground
Mentioned by 

while discussing the author's life experiences and their influence on his work.


Stephen West

302 snips
Episode #221 ... Dostoevsky - The Idiot
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as one of his role models.

Henrik Karlsson

276 snips
19: Henrik Karlsson - Cultivating a Life that Fits
Mentioned by Jordan Peterson in a comparison with "The Brothers Karamazov", highlighting the character Prince Mishkin as a Christ analog.

271 snips
321. A Conversation So Intense It Might Transcend Time and Space | John Vervaeke
Mentioned by 

and 

as a key figure in existentialism, particularly his novel "The Idiot".


Lex Fridman


Sean Kelly

163 snips
#227 – Sean Kelly: Existentialism, Nihilism, and the Search for Meaning
Mentioned by Jordan Peterson when comparing Dostoevsky and Nietzsche's works.

161 snips
509. Retelling the Greatest Story Ever Told | Dallas Jenkins
Mentioned by 

in the context of dystopian novels.


Lex Fridman

76 snips
#253 – Michael Malice: New Year’s Special
Mentioned by 

when comparing himself to the main character of the book.


Lex Fridman

61 snips
#82 – Simon Sinek: Leadership, Hard Work, Optimism and the Infinite Game
Mentioned by 

as books he is currently reading.


Lex Fridman

49 snips
Lex Fridman & Jonathan Haidt: The Techno Monk & The Social Scientist
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a book his family read together.

Dana Gioia

31 snips
Dana Gioia on Becoming an Information Billionaire
Mentioned as the book being discussed in the program, a funny account of a young woman’s first year at Harvard.

27 snips
Elif Batuman
Mentioned by 

as one of the books by Dostoevsky he would take with him to a desert island.


Philip Yancey

24 snips
Philip Yancey on the Problem of Pain and Suffering
Mentioned by Asya as another Dostoevsky novel, with Conan confirming he has read it.

17 snips
Don’t Look A Gift Horse Meat In The Mouth Yet Again
Mentioned as another noted work by the author, alongside Crime and Punishment.

16 snips
Crime and Punishment - Book Summary