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A mind-bending, reality-warping conversation with John Higgs

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Aug 29, 2019

Guest

John Higgs

Join John Higgs, a British journalist and author known for his thought-provoking explorations of history and culture, as he bends reality in fascinating ways. He dives into the perplexing legacy of the KLF, questioning the nature of value and authenticity in art. The discussion also touches on Timothy Leary's groundbreaking experiences with psychedelics, reshaping perceptions of consciousness. Expect wild turns through the intersections of tech, creativity, and human connection, all while challenging your understanding of the world.

01:29:18

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ANECDOTE

KLF's Burning Act

The KLF, a popular 1990s band, deleted their music and burned a million pounds.
They never explained this act, baffling the public and challenging conventional understanding.

insights

INSIGHT

Idea Space

Alan Moore suggests that ideas exist in a "Idea Space", influencing us beyond our control.
Artists explore this space, bringing back novel ideas, suggesting ideas possess agency.

insights

INSIGHT

Cultural Influence on KLF

The KLF's burning of money wasn't a publicity stunt but a response to cultural forces.
John Higgs argues their act reflects an unconscious influence of ideas surrounding money.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Culture, Perception, and the KLF Phenomenon

02:43 • 15min

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Exploring Alan Moore's Idea Space

17:40 • 8min

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The Living Legacy of Doctor Who and the Noosphere

25:56 • 4min

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Navigating Creative Chaos: KLF and the Quest for Authenticity

30:05 • 25min

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Exploring Timothy Leary's Extraordinary Life

55:21 • 3min

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Tim Leary: Psychedelics and Perception

58:48 • 13min

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Tech, Psychedelics, and the Search for Connection

01:12:00 • 16min

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Influential Book Recommendations for Thought Provocation

01:27:59 • 4min

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#46402

Stranger Than We Can Imagine

John Higgs

In 'Stranger Than We Can Imagine', John Higgs offers a unique perspective on the 20th century, highlighting its chaotic shift from linear narratives to a complex, interconnected world. He explores themes such as relativity, cubism, quantum mechanics, and existentialism, showing how these concepts disrupted traditional frameworks of understanding. The book provides an engaging tour through the century's most influential ideas and events.

#1876

• Mentioned in 17 episodes

Trick Mirror

Reflection on Self-delusion

Juan Trejo

Jia Tolentino

Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion is a New York Times-bestselling book of essays by Jia Tolentino. The book delves into various aspects of modern life, including identity, culture, and the human condition. Tolentino examines topics such as the sexual revolution, social media, and the complexities of personal identity, offering insightful and thought-provoking reflections on the world we live in today.

#4810

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

From Hell

Alan Moore

#3187

• Mentioned in 11 episodes

Cosmic Trigger

Final Secret of the Illuminati

Robert Anton Wilson

#66406

KLF, Chaos Magic Music Money

John Higgs

#8188

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

The Patterning Instinct

Jeremy Lent

In 'The Patterning Instinct', Jeremy Lent delves into the human capacity for symbolic meaning and its impact on history. He synthesizes insights from anthropology, neuroscience, and philosophy to illustrate how different cultures have shaped their understanding of the world. The book contrasts Western dualism with Eastern systemic thinking, highlighting the influence of metaphors on societal values and historical outcomes.

#31286

The Future Starts Here

An Optimistic Guide to What Comes Next

John Higgs

In 'The Future Starts Here', John Higgs challenges the common dystopian visions of the future by exploring how technology, nature, and human purpose can lead to a better world. He argues that our perceptions of the future are often skewed by science fiction and media, and that with careful choices, we can build a more positive future. The book delves into topics like AI, environmental degradation, and generational differences to provide a comprehensive and optimistic guide to the future.

#37387

I Have America Surrounded

A Biography of Timothy Leary

John Higgs

This book provides a comprehensive look at Timothy Leary's life, particularly his influence on the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s. It explores his advocacy for LSD, his relationships with prominent figures like Allen Ginsberg and Richard Nixon, and his role in shaping public perceptions of psychedelics.

#47117

Chaos and Cyber Culture

Timothy Leary

Chaos and Cyber Culture is a comprehensive work by Timothy Leary, featuring over 100,000 words across 40 chapters. It includes conversations with notable figures like William Gibson and David Byrne. The book explores themes of questioning authority, individual creativity, and the empowerment of technology, envisioning a new humanism for the 21st century.

#75476

The Dark Forest Theory of the Internet

Anthology of the Internet

Arthur Röing Baer and GVN908

Yancey Strickler

Caroline Busta and Lil Internet

Maggie Appleton

Josh Citarella

Peter Limberg and Rebecca Fox

Leith Benkhedda

Venkatesh Rao

The Dark Forest Theory of the Internet, originally proposed by Yancey Strickler, explores the risks and challenges of online communication. This anthology brings together diverse perspectives on how the internet has evolved into a complex, often adversarial space. It delves into themes such as the need for private spaces, the impact of technology on society, and the future of online interactions.

I don’t usually begin interviews with the question “who the hell are you?” But, then again, not every guest is John Higgs.

I fell into Higgs’s work by accident. An offhand recommendation of his book on the KLF, a British band that burnt a million pounds but couldn’t explain why they did it. What’s unusual is that I’ve not quite been able to climb back out of it. Higgs’s work is reality-warping. Once you put on his lenses, it’s hard to take them back off.

At the center of Higgs’s strange, brilliant books — his heterodox history of the 20th century, his biography of Timothy Leary, his tour of “metamodernism” — is a single, urgent question: How do we understand the world around us even as advances in physics, psychology, art, pharmacology, and philosophy shatter our frames of reference?

This conversation takes some wild turns, but trying to describe it would do it a disservice. Just trust me on this one. It’s good to mess with your reality every once in awhile.

References:

John Higgs’s conversation with Alan Moore

What the Dormouse Said: How the Sixties Counterculture Shaped the Personal Computer Industry by John Markoff

Book Recommendations:

The Patterning Instinct by Jeremy Lent

Cosmic Trigger I by Robert Anton Wilson

From Hell by Alan Moore

Want to contact the show? Reach out at ezrakleinshow@vox.com

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