#610
Mentioned in 42 episodes

The Trial

Book • 1925
The Trial, written by Franz Kafka, follows the story of Joseph K., a bank official who is unexpectedly arrested on his 30th birthday for a crime that is never revealed to him or the reader.

The novel delves into the absurd and labyrinthine legal system, where K. is drawn into a world devoid of logic and transparency.

As K. navigates this enigmatic system, he encounters various characters, including lawyers, court officials, and other defendants, which further complicate his situation.

The novel explores themes of guilt, bureaucracy, and the individual's struggle against an incomprehensible and oppressive society, ultimately leading to K.'s psychological and emotional transformation.

The book is a profound reflection on the human condition, illustrating how societal structures can alienate and render individuals powerless.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 42 episodes

Mentioned by
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Lex Fridman
as work of fiction with eerie parallels to
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Pavel Durov
's situation in France.
4,249 snips
#482 – Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature
Mentioned by
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Jack Rhysider
as a fictional story that mirrors
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Ola Bini
's real-life experience of being arrested without explanation.
382 snips
163: Ola
Mentioned by
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Stephen West
as an example of Joseph K.'s experiences with a disorienting court system.
238 snips
Episode #229 - Kafka and Totalitarianism (Arendt, Adorno)
Mentioned by
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Stephen West
as an author who depicts the experience of being a modern person.
191 snips
Episode #228 ... Albert Camus - Kafka and The Fall
Mentioned as being described as Anna Kavan's Bible by certain people who knew her.
76 snips
The Experimental Fiction of Anna Kavan with Victoria Walker
Mentioned as the topic of discussion, celebrating the 100th anniversary of its publication.
46 snips
Politics on Trial 100th Anniversary Special: Franz Kafka’s The Trial
Mentioned by
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Andrew Doyle
in relation to his novel "The Trial" and the themes of arbitrary authority.
41 snips
488. The Real Reason The Guardian Left X - Andrew Doyle
Mentioned by
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Judith Butler
as a favorite book.
40 snips
Judith Butler on Why Gender Is in Trump’s Crosshairs
Mentioned by
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Stephen Greenblatt
when describing Marlow's situation as being similar to that in Franz Kafka's novel.
35 snips
Christopher Marlowe: life of the week
Mentioned by
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Alexander Beiner
in the context of a discussion about bureaucracy and its impact on society.
34 snips
What Truly Matters? Iain McGilchrist, Un-Social Experiments and The Leviathan
Mentioned by
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David Runciman
as the best-known novel with the word trial in its title.
34 snips
Politics on Trial: Dreyfus vs the Conspiracy Theory
Mentioned as a very underratedly funny book.
32 snips
981 - Down in the Mall (10/27/25)
Mentioned as a source of inspiration for the dystopian novel 'The Dream Hotel', referencing his work's themes of absurdity and irrationality.
29 snips
Canuck of the draw: Canada’s election campaigns
Mentioned as a novel that is normally considered a total nightmare but is relatable and over the top.
27 snips
Elif Batuman
Mentioned by
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Martin Edwards
as being on the perimeter of the crime fiction genre.
26 snips
Crime fiction history: everything you wanted to know
Mentioned by Professor Yang when comparing the bureaucracy in Canada to the novel by Kafka.
23 snips
Professor Jiang says WW3 is IMMINENT
Mentioned by
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Tamler Sommers
as another Kafka work, noting they dedicated a two-part episode to it.
22 snips
Episode 320: Forgive Me (Kafka's "A Hunger Artist")
Appreciated by Judge Boesberg, who described the removal process as being akin to a scene from it.
22 snips
Andrew Weissmann: Outlandish and Outrageous
Mentioned in the context of discussing rumor and authority, referencing the protagonist's experience with the police.
22 snips
Rumors on the Couch
Mentioned by Judge Boasberg as an example of a person waking up to find themself under arrest.
20 snips
Sending in the Military

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