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Intelligence Squared

Holiday Reads: Naomi Klein, Mehdi Hasan and Mustafa Suleyman

Dec 15, 2023
Naomi Klein, an influential author and activist, dives into her book Doppelganger, unraveling the complexities of conspiracy theories and today’s polarized political landscape. Mehdi Hasan, a celebrated journalist, shares insights from How to Win Every Argument, discussing the nuances of effective persuasion and the art of debate. Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind, provides a glimpse into the future with his book The Coming Wave, exploring AI's transformative potential, ethical challenges, and the realities of a tech-driven world.
01:06:09

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Naomi Klein's book 'Doppelganger' explores the concept of doubling and mirroring in today's political climate and the dangers of societal flip-flops towards fascism.
  • Mehdi Hasan's book 'How to Win Every Argument' provides strategies and techniques for effective argumentation, emphasizing the importance of concessions, strong points, and finding common ground.

Deep dives

Naomi Klein's book 'Doppelganger' explores the concept of doubling and mirroring in today's political climate

Naomi Klein's book 'Doppelganger' takes a unique approach, blending memoir and cultural analysis to explore the concept of doubling and mirroring in today's political climate. The book delves into the idea of having a doppelganger, someone who is often mistaken for the author, and uses it as a device to understand the doubling and mirroring happening in our world. It examines how societies can have an evil twin version of themselves and explores the dangers of societal flip-flops towards fascism.

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