Neal Stephenson, renowned author of imaginative works like "Snow Crash," delves into the past in his latest novel, "Polistan," exploring the Soviet era's complexities. He discusses the burdens of spies, contrasting real espionage with Hollywood glamor. The conversation shifts to the admiration some American intellectuals held for Stalinism, despite harsh realities. They also tackle the evolution from public social media to private chats, pondering AI's role in art and the speculative future of general intelligence. Stephenson's insights blend historical reflection with modern technological anxieties.

Neal Stephenson, a renowned sci-fi author known for "Snow Crash" and "Cryptonomicon," shares his insights as a former Chief Futurist at Magic Leap and a pioneer at Blue Origin. He discusses the intertwining of technology with human nature throughout history, examines the potential of AI in personal growth, and ponders the challenges of interstellar colonization. Stephenson also dives into the evolution of cryptocurrency and storytelling, reflecting on their impacts on society and innovation. His perspectives on virtual reality and the future of humanity are both thought-provoking and inspiring.

Neal Stephenson, a visionary author known for his speculative fiction like Cryptonomicon, joins journalist Charles C. Mann to discuss his new book, Polostan. They explore the intriguing themes of historical storytelling set against the backdrop of the Atomic Age. The conversation delves into the creative journey of writing, future challenges like climate change, and the role of women in history. They also touch on humor in exploration narratives and reflect on the complexities of historical events, offering listeners a rich tapestry of insights and ideas.

Neal Stephenson, the visionary science fiction writer behind Snow Crash, discusses the birth of the metaverse he conceived decades ago. He dives into the realities of building Lamina1, a blockchain aimed at creators. Topics include the challenges of VR/AR, the need for interoperability, and how AI intersects with intellectual property in the digital world. Stephenson also explores technology's dual nature—its potential for utopia or dystopia—and draws inspiration for his work while emphasizing the societal implications of emerging technologies.

Chris Young is an obsessive tinkerer, inventor, and innovator. His areas of expertise range from extreme aviation (world-record goals) to mathematics and apocalyptic-scale BBQs. Above all, he is one of the clearest thinkers I know. In this interview, we discuss a great many things, including his wild story and lessons learned from rainmakers like Bill Gates, Gabe Newell, Neal Stephenson, and many more. More topics we tackle: How he managed to get jobs working for the best in the world...despite having no credentials. Advice -- and incredible questions -- from self-made billionaires. Why raw foodism isn't always what it's cracked up to be. How geniuses show disappointment and ensure you correct yourself. The "emoji egg" breakfast. And much more... If you only have 5 minutes, I highly recommend listening to Chris's secret to working with hard-to-reach people. Enjoy! Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast. This podcast is brought to you by Audible. I have used Audible for years, and I love audio books. I have two to recommend: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Vagabonding by Rolf Potts All you need to do to get your free 30-day Audible trial is go to Audible.com/Tim. Choose one of the above books, or choose between more than 180,000 audio programs. That could be a book, a newspaper, a magazine, or even a class. It's that easy. Go to Audible.com/Tim and get started today. Enjoy. This podcast is also brought to you by Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service led by technologists from places like Apple. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years and now has more than $2.5B under management. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it's all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams. Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they'll show you -- for free -- exactly the portfolio they'd put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Well worth a few minutes to explore: wealthfront.com/tim.***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Visit tim.blog/sponsor and fill out the form.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Neal Stephenson, a #1 New York Times bestselling author, explores his new novel 'Polostan,' intertwining history and fiction. He discusses Dawn Rae Bjornberg's journey through pivotal 20th-century events like the Great Depression and her unexpected role as a KGB spy. The conversation covers Magnitogorsk's steel legacy, the socio-political struggles of British polo, and military tactics during upheaval, revealing the fascinating interplay between technology, ideology, and humanity in shaping history.

Meet one of Kevin’s favorite sci-fi authors who influenced him as a kid growing up in rural Virginia. Kevin and this award-winning writer talk about metaverse and misinformation, as well as ways to combat climate change - including carbon capture, which Neal believes will be one of the biggest tech projects in human history.  Neal Stephenson  Kevin Scott  Behind the Tech with Kevin Scott  Discover and listen to other Microsoft podcasts.  

Join bestselling author Neal Stephenson, known for his groundbreaking works in science fiction, as he explores a variety of fascinating topics. Delve into the ethics of atomic weaponry and the nuances of game theory in nuclear deterrence. Discover his predictions about cryptocurrency and the metaverse, particularly in light of recent controversies. Stephenson also discusses the concept of the singularity and its implications for identity and memory. Plus, he examines the evolving landscape of democracy and politics through a philosophical lens.

Mark Zuckerberg wants to build the metaverse. Neal Stephenson created the meta verse three decades ago.The author’s 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash popularized the use of the term “avatar” in a digital context, inspired the makers of Google Earth, and, of course, imagined (and named) the dystopian metaverse that Silicon Valley is racing to make a reality.Stephenson has also tried his hand at actual science - helping Jeff Bezos build his private rocket ship business, and later working with Magic Leap at its fizzled AR goggles attempt. Now he’s trying his hand at the blockchain and says he’s not dissuaded by last year’s crypto crash. And if you act right now, you can bid on some of his real and digital goods at a Sotheby’s auction.Stephenson talks to Recode’s Peter Kafka about all of that, plus his failed (so far) attempts to turn his work into TV shows or movies, the future of VR, and why his vision of cautious optimism involves calamitous climate disasters.Featuring: Neal Stephenson (@nealstephenson), AuthorHost: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at RecodeMore to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclaimed reporters, talks to business titans, journalists, comedians, and more to get their take on today's media landscape.About Recode by Vox: Recode by Vox helps you understand how tech is changing the world — and changing us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Neal Stephenson, a speculative fiction author celebrated for his visionary tech depictions, joins the conversation to explore a variety of captivating topics. He discusses his latest novel, which delves into the implications of digital afterlives. The conversation shifts to the future of surveillance technologies and their impact on privacy, plus the challenges of media fragmentation in shaping our reality. With humor, he critiques cryptocurrencies while pondering the societal implications of innovation starvation, drawing from history and personal experiences to enrich storytelling.