

#819
Mentioned in 25 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.
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 25 episodes
Mentioned by 

as an example of Joseph K.'s experiences with a disorienting court system.


Stephen West

214 snips
Episode #229 - Kafka and Totalitarianism (Arendt, Adorno)
Mentioned by 

as an author who depicts the experience of being a modern person.


Stephen West

181 snips
Episode #228 ... Albert Camus - Kafka and The Fall
Mentioned by 

in the context of spiritual nakedness and the need to confront our inner struggles.


Timothy Keller

89 snips
The Rest-Giver
Mentioned by 

in relation to his novel "The Trial" and the themes of arbitrary authority.


Andrew Doyle

41 snips
488. The Real Reason The Guardian Left X - Andrew Doyle
Mentioned by 

as a favorite book.


Judith Butler

40 snips
Judith Butler on Why Gender Is in Trump’s Crosshairs
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

in the context of a discussion about bureaucracy and its impact on society.

Alexander Beiner

34 snips
What Truly Matters? Iain McGilchrist, Un-Social Experiments and The Leviathan
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 in the context of discussing rumor and authority, referencing the protagonist's experience with the police.

22 snips
Rumors on the Couch
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 by Judge Boasberg as an example of a person waking up to find themself under arrest.

20 snips
Sending in the Military
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

when discussing the concept of irony without humor being violence, referencing Kafka's work.

Noah Hawley

12 snips
The creator of Fargo is done with good guys vs. bad guys
Recommended for dealing with the finance department.

11 snips
Veep show: America meets J.D. Vance
Mentioned by 

when discussing the banalization and desacralization of everything.


Russell Brand

Russell Brand & John Rich: The Mass Christian Awakening, Discernment Through God, & Lies About Iran
Mentioned by 

in the context of discussing writers who expressed a sense of being lost and a crisis of meaning around 1900.


Agnes Callard

Agnes Callard: what is the value of fiction?
Mentioned by 

when discussing how one might feel stuck if they are looking for sense in senseless places.


Victoria Hutchins

How to Get Unstuck Post-Crash Out
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

when describing the bizarre situation Kilmar Abrego Garcia was in.

Matt Bevan

Have ICE protests cracked Trump?
Mentioned as being described as Anna Kavan's Bible by certain people who knew her.

The Experimental Fiction of Anna Kavan with Victoria Walker
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

, framing it with references to the confusing and frustrating nature of the legal process.

Roger Parloff

Lawfare Daily: The Trials of the Trump Administration, June 6
Mentioned by 

when discussing a hypothetical scenario of rewriting Franz Kafka’s book.


Brian McCullough

Mon. 08/22 – Elon Musk Raising Prices Just For Fun
The first sentence is presented as a great example of how to start a novel.

Episode 168 - Making our first sentence sparkle.