Lex Fridman Podcast

#180 – Jeremi Suri: History of American Power

Apr 30, 2021

Jeremi Suri, a historian at UT Austin, specializes in modern American history and the dynamics of power. He discusses Abraham Lincoln's transformative leadership and political genius, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in presidential power. Suri contrasts historical figures like George Washington and Franklin D. Roosevelt with contemporary leaders, exploring the complexities of power and empathy. He also dives into the evolution of corporate ideals, the impact of the Cold War on modern geopolitics, and how history informs future innovations and the coexistence with AI.

02:14:56

Creator website

Episode guests

Jeremi Suri

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

4min

Ethical Meat and Wellness Innovations

3min

Lincoln's Transformative Legacy

5min

The Political Genius of Lincoln

24min

Reflections on Presidents: Authenticity and Historical Awareness

5min

The Role of History in Shaping Future Innovations

2min

Power and Leadership: From Washington to Putin

7min

The Evolution of Corporate Ideals: A Reflection on Google and American Innovation

2min

Empathy and Leadership: Franklin D. Roosevelt's Legacy

15min

10.

The Complex Legacy of Kissinger

19min

11.

Realism vs. Idealism in Power

9min

12.

Cold War Echoes in Modern Geopolitics

21min

13.

Language, Culture, and Personal Growth

14min

14.

Exploring Humanity's Evolution and Future Coexistence with AI

3min

Jeremi Suri is a historian at UT Austin. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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EPISODE LINKS:
Jeremi’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeremiSuri
Jeremi’s Website: http://jeremisuri.net
This is Democracy Podcast: http://jeremisuri.net/archives/1798
The Impossible Presidency (book): https://amzn.to/2QKC5Jp

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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(14:33) – Power of charisma
(20:24) – US presidency
(31:10) – Aliens
(36:17) – Bill Clinton
(39:07) – Students of history
(43:58) – George Washington
(46:44) – Putin
(53:27) – FDR
(1:08:39) – Henry Kissinger
(1:18:32) – Realpolitik
(1:30:22) – What is a just war?
(1:36:27) – Cold war
(1:40:44) – Communism in the United States
(1:50:42) – Vaccines and the future of the human species
(1:55:57) – Book recommendations
(1:57:31) – Learning another language
(2:01:58) – Advice for young people
(2:08:10) – Grandmother
(2:11:03) – Meaning of life