How a learning athlete prepares to interview Nobel Prize winners (with Joe Walker)

14 snips

Jun 10, 2025

In this conversation with Joe Walker, host of The Joe Walker Podcast, he shares his unique approach to preparing for interviews with world-renowned thinkers. Joe reveals his extensive research methods, including flashcards and immersive study environments, which allow him to tackle complex topics effectively. He discusses how engaging with experts has reshaped his views on nuclear risks and the dynamics of belief formation. The discussion emphasizes the power of conversations in fostering personal growth and understanding diverse perspectives.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Learning Identity Enables Adaptability

Joe Walker identifies himself as someone who learns and asks questions.
This identity helps him easily change his mind without defending fixed positions.

ADVICE

Mapping Interview Research Topics

Map out interview topics by watching guest interviews and identifying gaps.
Talk to experts and friends to clarify important questions and context.

ADVICE

Daily Intensive Research Routine

Start the day reviewing spaced repetition flashcards to consolidate memory.
Spend the rest reading guest works and occasionally consulting experts.

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

Get the app

On liberty

John Stuart Mill

Published in 1859, 'On Liberty' is a seminal work by John Stuart Mill that argues for the protection of individual freedoms from the tyranny of the majority and government interference. Mill uses utilitarian philosophy to justify the value of liberty, emphasizing the importance of freedom of thought, discussion, and action. He introduces the 'harm principle,' which states that individuals should only be restrained from acting when their conduct may harm others. The essay is structured into five chapters, each addressing different aspects of liberty, including the liberty of thought and discussion, individual liberty, the limits of authority, and practical applications of his theories. Mill argues that protecting individual liberties is essential for societal progress and the avoidance of social stagnation[2][3][5].

The Making of the Atomic Bomb

Richard Rhodes

This book provides a detailed and panoramic account of the development of the atomic bomb, starting from the early 19th-century discoveries in physics to the culmination of the Manhattan Project during World War II. It includes the contributions of key scientists such as Niels Bohr, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and others, and explores the scientific, political, and human aspects that led to the creation and use of the atomic bomb. The book won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award for its rigorous scholarship and compelling narrative[2][3][4].

The Secret of Our Success

Jonathan Yen

Joseph Henrich

In 'The Secret of Our Success', Joseph Henrich presents a provocative alternative to the standard narrative about human evolution. He argues that the key to human success is not our individual intelligence, but our ability to form collective brains that store and transmit vast amounts of cultural knowledge. Henrich draws on findings from anthropology, linguistics, behavioral economics, psychology, and evolutionary biology to demonstrate how culture and genes interact in a unique evolutionary process that drives human innovation and progress. The book challenges traditional views of evolution and highlights the importance of social and cultural factors in shaping human behavior and achievements.

The WEIRDest People in the World

Joseph Patrick Henrich

Korey Jackson

Joseph Henrich

In this book, Joseph Henrich explores how Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations developed their unique psychological profiles. He argues that changes in family structures, marriage, and religion, particularly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church, led to the emergence of WEIRD psychology. This psychology is characterized by individualism, self-obsession, control-orientation, nonconformity, and analytical thinking, which contrast with the more group-focused and shame-driven cultures of non-Western societies. Henrich uses research from anthropology, psychology, economics, and evolutionary biology to explain how these psychological differences contributed to the industrial revolution and the global expansion of Europe[1][4][5].

The Myth of the Framework

In Defence of Science and Rationality

M. A. Notturno

Karl Popper

In this book, Karl Popper discusses key issues such as the aims of science, the role of science in civilization, the moral responsibility of scientists, the structure of history, and the choice between reason and revolution. Popper argues against intellectual fashions like positivism and relativism, advocating for his own critical rationalism as a theory of knowledge and an attitude towards human life, morals, and democracy. The book is a compilation of some of Popper's most important work on these subjects, published in cooperation with the Central European University.

The Precipice

Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity

Toby Ord

In this book, Toby Ord argues that humanity is in a uniquely dangerous period, which he terms 'the Precipice,' beginning with the first atomic bomb test in 1945. Ord examines various existential risks, including natural and anthropogenic threats, and estimates that there is a one in six chance of humanity suffering an existential catastrophe within the next 100 years. He advocates for a major reorientation in how we see the world and our role in it, emphasizing the need for collective action to minimize these risks and ensure a safe future for humanity. The book integrates insights from multiple disciplines, including physics, biology, earth science, computer science, history, anthropology, statistics, international relations, and moral philosophy[1][3][5].

The Scout Mindset

None

Julia Galef

Dans "The Scout Mindset", Julia Galef explore la différence entre deux approches mentales : le "Mindset du Soldat", axé sur la défense de ses croyances, et le "Mindset du Scout", qui privilégie la recherche de la vérité, même si cela remet en question ses propres convictions. L'auteure argumente que le Mindset du Scout est essentiel pour une prise de décision rationnelle et efficace. Le livre propose des outils et des techniques pour cultiver ce Mindset, en encourageant l'ouverture d'esprit, la remise en question et l'acceptation de l'incertitude. Galef utilise des exemples concrets et des anecdotes pour illustrer ses points, rendant le livre accessible à un large public. L'ouvrage est une invitation à adopter une approche plus objective et plus rigoureuse dans la formation de ses opinions et dans la prise de décisions.

How to Defend Australia

Hugh White