Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda cover image

Adam Gopnik: The Joy of Getting Good at Something Hard

Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda

CHAPTER

The Turk and the Mystery of Performance

The Turk was a robotic figure of a Turk dressed in Ottoman clothes, who sat above a chessboard. It seemed to be mechanically playing chess like a chess computer. People were confused, fascinated. Now the answer is it was just a magician's illusion. There was a chess player inside the beneath the chessboard who was cleverly concealed.

00:00
Transcript
Play full episode

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner