#891
Mentioned in 25 episodes

The Plague

Book • 1947
The Plague, written by Albert Camus, is a philosophical novel that chronicles an outbreak of the bubonic plague in the coastal city of Oran, Algeria.

The story is often interpreted as an allegory for the occupation of France during World War II and the rise of fascism.

The novel follows Dr. Bernard Rieux and his colleagues as they battle the plague, highlighting themes of everyday heroism, the absurdity of human suffering, and the collective response to disaster.

As the city is placed under quarantine, the citizens face isolation, despair, and eventually, a sense of social responsibility and solidarity.

The novel explores existential and theological questions, particularly through the characters of Dr. Rieux and Father Paneloux, and concludes with a reflection on the enduring nature of human suffering and the importance of human solidarity in the face of adversity.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 25 episodes

Mentioned by
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Stephen West
as a philosophical companion for this episode.
369 snips
Episode #225 ... Albert Camus - The Plague
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Stephen West
while discussing Camus's concept of solidarity and its connection to justice.
318 snips
Episode #226 - Albert Camus - The Rebel
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Stephen West
in relation to solidarity and the human condition.
191 snips
Episode #228 ... Albert Camus - Kafka and The Fall
Mentioned by Gad Saad in the context of discussing the impact of plagues on history.
181 snips
#2148 - Gad Saad
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Michael Malice
as his hero and someone whose work he admires.
166 snips
#402 – Michael Malice: Thanksgiving Pirate Special
Given to Robert Kennedy Jr. by his father, Robert F. Kennedy, shortly before his death; the book's themes of duty and service resonated with Kennedy Jr. during a time of personal reflection.
92 snips
#1999 - Robert Kennedy, Jr.
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Mara van der Lugt
as a novel that is very much about knowing and deciding what to do regardless of the consequences.
82 snips
Hopeful pessimism
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Lex Fridman
and
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Michael Malice
in the context of absurdism and philosophy.
76 snips
#253 – Michael Malice: New Year’s Special
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Lex Fridman
in relation to a discussion about pandemics and human nature.
62 snips
#216 – Vincent Racaniello: Viruses and Vaccines
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
as a book about a doctor in a quarantined city dealing with a plague.
48 snips
431: You'll Get The Political Leadership You Deserve. With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
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Barry Barish
while discussing existential literature and his reading during isolation.
33 snips
#213 – Barry Barish: Gravitational Waves and the Most Precise Device Ever Built
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Sheldon Solomon
as a book that explores themes of mortality and human resilience.
29 snips
#117 – Sheldon Solomon: Death and Meaning
Scheduled to be discussed in the next episode as a possible example of a modern existential tragedy.
19 snips
Ep. 243: Aristotle's "Poetics" on Art and Tragedy (Part Two)
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Gary Stevenson
as a beautiful book about what it means to live in a collapsing society and its impact on mental health.
14 snips
Is the economy destroying our mental health?
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Massimo Pigliucci
as a book experiencing a surge in popularity during the pandemic.
#170 - Massimo Piggliuci - 5 Exercises From Stoicism To Improve Your Life
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Ryan Holiday
as a fictional work offering insights comparable to contemporary news reports.
Pain Is A Part Of Life | Become An Expert In What Matters
Mentioned by Jay Winters as an example of affirming life rather than death, with the doctor representing a post-heroic narrative.
Heroism: 3. The Death of the Hero
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Gerry McGovern
as one of the books that impacted him.
SUX EP 18 - "World Wide Waste" with Gerry McGovern
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Mignon Fogarty
when discussing examples of compelling first sentences in novels.
Good first sentences. The language of 'Gladiator II.' Bear barber.
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Jean Boulton
in the context of Clive Hamilton's interpretation of it as 'active fatalism'.
#60: The Dao of Complexity with theoretical physicist Jean Boulton

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