In a captivating discussion, Timothy Snyder, a Yale historian and expert on Ukraine, shares his insights on the ongoing war in Ukraine. He reveals the complexities of Russian propaganda and examines Putin's motives, questioning the role of the US and NATO in the conflict. The conversation delves into nuclear risk and the moral dilemmas of global politics, alongside the historical context that shapes current events. Through his expertise, Snyder uncovers the intricate layers of this geopolitical crisis and its implications.
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Meg Smaker's Documentary
Sam Harris recounts the story of Meg Smaker's documentary, "Jihad Rehab," initially rejected by film festivals after online backlash.
After Harris highlighted this on his podcast, a GoFundMe campaign for the film raised over $600,000, demonstrating the impact of listener support.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Kanye West Controversy and Backlash
Sam Harris discusses the controversy surrounding Kanye West's antisemitic remarks and the unexpected reactions he received after criticizing West.
He highlights the diverse range of negative responses, including accusations of bigotry and whataboutism related to his past criticisms of Islam.
insights INSIGHT
Ukraine's Agency
Timothy Snyder emphasizes that Ukraine's agency in the conflict is often overlooked.
He notes that the US initially expected a swift Russian victory, highlighting Ukraine's crucial role in shaping the conflict's trajectory.
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In 'Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning', Timothy Snyder presents a new explanation of the Holocaust, focusing on the political, social, and intellectual circumstances that led to the genocide. Snyder argues that statelessness was a crucial factor, as the destruction of states and the creation of zones without legal or political protection made Jews particularly vulnerable. He also explores Hitler's worldview, which saw the world as a space where races compete for resources, and Jews as obstacles to this natural order. The book draws parallels between the early 20th century and the early 21st century, warning that the conditions that led to the Holocaust are still present today, with growing preoccupations with food, water, and ideological challenges to global order[2][3][5].
Bloodlands
Europe Between Hitler and Stalin
Timothy Snyder
On Tyranny
Victor Gourevitch
Leo Strauss
Michael S. Roth
This book is a comprehensive analysis of Xenophon's dialogue Hiero, in which the tyrant Hiero and the poet Simonides discuss the advantages and disadvantages of exercising tyranny. The work includes a translation of the dialogue from its original Greek, Strauss's commentary on it, a critique of Strauss's commentary by Alexandre Kojève, and the complete correspondence between Strauss and Kojève. The discussion delves into the nature of tyranny, the distinction between tyrants and kings, and the philosophical implications of these concepts. The book also explores the debate between Strauss and Kojève on the role of philosophy in ruling the world and the concept of the Universal Homogenous State[1][3][5].
Sam Harris speaks with Timothy Snyder about the ongoing war in Ukraine. They discuss the effect of Russian propaganda, Putin’s motives, whether the US and NATO bear some responsibility for the war, widespread calls for de-escalation, nuclear blackmail and nuclear risk, and other topics.
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Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.
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