In this engaging discussion, Jonathan Freedland, a journalist and author of "The Escape Artist," reflects on the harrowing journey of Holocaust escapees, emphasizing the critical need for historical remembrance. Katherine Rundell, known for her book "The Golden Mole," dives into the enchanting diversity of endangered species, exploring humanity's bond with nature. They also touch on the philosophy of long-termism, advocating for a more responsible view of our actions today and their impact on future generations, urging a shift towards ethical considerations in our choices.
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Discovering Vrba
Jonathan Freedland first encountered Rudolf Vrba's story in Claude Lanzmann's Shoah.
Vrba's charisma and youthful appearance stood out among other Holocaust witnesses.
insights INSIGHT
Timely Relevance
Vrba's escape from Auschwitz and his dedication to truth became relevant in the era of fake news.
Freedland saw parallels between Vrba's fight against Nazi lies and contemporary struggles with misinformation.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Meeting Gerta
Freedland located Vrba's first wife, Gerta Vrbova, shortly before her death.
Vrbova, who knew Vrba before Auschwitz, provided invaluable information and letters.
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In *The Golden Mole*, Katherine Rundell presents a captivating bestiary of endangered species, from pangolins to seahorses, urging readers to treasure and protect these vanishing wonders. The book is both an educational journey and a call to action against climate change and species extinction.
What We Owe the Future
William MacAskill
In this book, William MacAskill advocates for longtermism, the idea that positively influencing the long-term future is a key moral priority. He argues that future people count, there could be many of them, and we can make their lives better. MacAskill discusses various threats to humanity, including climate change, AI misalignment, and pandemics, and proposes strategies to ensure civilization's survival and improve its trajectory. The book explores moral and philosophical issues surrounding longtermism, including the risks of human extinction, civilizational collapse, and technological stagnation, while offering a measured optimism about the future's potential for human flourishing[1][5][4].
The Escape Artist
Judith Katz
The book is a picaresque tale about two remarkable women, Sofia and Hankus, both from Poland. Sofia is tricked into moving to Buenos Aires, while Hankus escapes from pogroms by passing as a man and becomes an illusionist and escape artist. Their paths intersect through Tutsik Goldenberg, leading to a complex web of love, freedom, and independence.
For our final look at some of the best books to have hit shelves in 2022, we dive back into standout discussions from the past 12 months including Jonathan Freedland, whose book, The Escape Artist, tells the story of Auschwitz escapees Rudolf Vrba and Alfréd Wetzler. We also revisit our discussion with philosopher Will MacAskill, whose book, What We Owe The Future, claims that society needs to take a far longer-sighted view of how altruism can be effective. The book has also come under scrutiny in the latter half of 2022 due to its influence on the behaviour of billionaire philanthropists. We finish the 12 Books of Christmas with a sneak preview from our upcoming episode with author Katherine Rundell. Her latest book, The Golden Mole, celebrates the irreplaceable diversity found within the animal kingdom.
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