PODCAST · arts
Worker and Parasite
by Jerry Brito, Stan Tsirulnikov
Jerry and Stably engage in a fortnightly conversation about a book they have recently read.
Episodes
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Buddha's Little Finger by Victor Pelevin
In this episode Jerry and Stably discussed Buddha's Little Finger by Victor Pelevin. The hosts explored this postmodern Russian novel that weaves together multiple narrative threads across different time periods and realities. The protagonist Pyotr Void exists simultaneously as a patient in a…
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Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong by J.L. Mackie
In this episode Jerry and Stably discussed Ethics: Inventing Right and Wrong by J.L. Mackie, a dense, academic defense of moral error theory: the claim that no objective morality exists. They walked through Mackie's argument from relativity (moral codes vary across cultures) and his "argument…
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The Great Leveler by Walter Scheidel
In this episode Jerry and Stably discussed The Great Leveler: Violence and the History of Inequality from the Stone Age to the Twenty-First Century by Walter Scheidel. The hosts examined Scheidel's thesis that historically, reductions in economic inequality have only occurred through four violent...
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The God Test by Robert Wright
In this episode Jerry and Stably discussed The God Test: Artificial Intelligence and Our Coming Cosmic Reckoning by Robert Wright. The book's first half explains AI's rise and risks; the second argues, via Teilhard de Chardin-style "complexification," that evolution is driving Earth toward a...
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Addiction by Design by Natasha Dow Schull
In this episode Jerry and Stably discussed Addiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas by Natasha Dow Schüll. The academic ethnography examines how slot machines—once a marginal casino afterthought—now generate most gambling revenue, driven largely by local repeat players rather than...
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The Special One by Diego Torres
This episode covers The Special One: The Secret World of Jose Mourinho by Diego Torres, Jerry's pick timed to Mourinho's appointment as Real Madrid manager. Jerry and Stably discuss the book's chronicle of Mourinho's tumultuous 2010-2013 Madrid tenure, focusing on his combative management style:...
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Homo Ludens by Johan Huizinga
In this episode Jerry and Stably discussed Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture by Johan Huizinga. They examined the central thesis that play forms the foundation of human culture and critiqued the author for utilizing vague definitions and romanticizing historical conflict.
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Ride the Tiger by Julius Evola
In this episode Jerry and Stably discussed Ride the Tiger, a survival manual for the aristocrats of the soul by Julius Evola. The discussion centered on Evola’s core thesis that the modern world is in terminal decline, having fallen from a traditional, hierarchical society where people found...
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Leap of Faith by Michael J. Mazarr
In this episode Jerry and Stably discussed Leap of Faith by Michael J. Mazarr. Mazarr, a RAND Corporation scholar, draws on every available memoir, declassified document, and interviews with senior administration officials to dissect how the United States stumbled into the Iraq War. His central...
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The Digital Reversal by Andrey Mir
In this episode Jerry and Stably discussed Andrey Mir’s The Digital Reversal, which explores the concept of reversal, arguing that media, when pushed to extremes, reverse their cultural effects due to accelerating technological change. They discussed debated the book's support for technological...
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On Photography by Susan Sontag
In this episode Jerry and Stablydiscussed Susan Sontag’s On Photography, with both finding the book overly long, baroque, and pedantic, though both agreed that Sontag's observations were interesting when extracted from the dense, "show-offy" prose. Jerry and Stably critiqued Sontag’s positions on...
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On the Suffering of the World by Arthur Schopenhauer
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discussed Arthur Schopenhauer's On the Suffering of the World. Jerry praised the book as a great introduction to Schopenhauer's philosophy and its insights, particularly the concept of life as a balance between suffering and boredom, while Stan found the text...
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The Return of the Common Good by Stefan Borg
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discussed Stefan Borg's book, The Return of the Common Good: The Post-Liberal Project Left and Right, with Stably finding it enjoyable but wanting more and Jerry viewing it as a concise outline confirming prior beliefs, while both criticized its dense, academic...
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The Human Stain by Philip Roth
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss Philip Roth's The Human Stain, focusing on the character Coleman Silk, a disgraced college professor whose downfall began after a misconstrued comment with a big secret. They analyzed the book's themes of radical individualism, societal judgment, and the...
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Days of Rage by Bryan Burrough
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss Bryan Burrough's book, Days of Rage: America's Radical Underground, the FBI, and the Forgotten Age of Revolutionary Violence, focusing on the complexity, motivations, and incompetence of 1970s radical groups like the Weather Underground, BLA, SLA, and FALN.
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The Invention of Good and Evil by Hanno Sauer
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss Hanno Sauer's book, "The Invention of Good and Evil: A World History of Morality." The discussion highlighted the book's exploration of cooperation in early hominid evolution, the emergence of punishment, the impact of agriculture and "big gods," and the...
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Total Defense by Andrew Preston
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss Andrew Preston's book, "Total Defense, the New Deal, and the Invention of National Security," which explored the evolution of "national security" from territorial defense to an ideological concept linked with the New Deal and global interventionism.
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The Dorito Effect by Mark Schatzker
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss two books by Mark Schatzker, "The Dorito Effect" and "The End of Craving," exploring how artificial flavors and government mandates have altered food, affecting satiety and nutritional wisdom. They also talked about the challenges of engineering natural...
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Why Nothing Works by Marc J. Dunkelman
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress and How to Bring It Back by Mark J. Dunkelman. The conversation centers on Dunkelman’s core thesis that modern progressivism has become paralyzed by internal contradictions between its Jeffersonian impulse to...
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The Cynic Philosophers: From Diogenes to Julian
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss The Cynic Philosophers: From Diogenes to Julian, edited by Robert Dobbin. The conversation centers on the core tenets of Cynicism, such as radical self-sufficiency, rejection of societal norms, and public acts meant to provoke reflection. The hosts…
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The Unaccountability Machine by Dan Davies
Jerry and Stably discuss The Unaccountability Machine by Dan Davies, a book exploring why large systems often produce irrational outcomes. While the subtitle promises insight into how “the world lost its mind,” the hosts note the book leans heavily into cybernetics and systems theory, which was...
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The Art of Happiness by Epicurus
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss The Art of Happiness by Epicurus, specifically the Penguin Classics edition that compiles Epicurean texts alongside interpretations by editors like Dan Klein and George K. Strodach. They clarify that Epicurus never authored a book by that title; rather…
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Huey Long by T. Harry Williams (Part 2)
The episode continues Jerry and Stably’s deep dive into Huey Long by T. Harry Williams, covering the second half of the biography of the controversial Louisiana politician. Picking up after Long’s first gubernatorial win, the discussion traces his aggressive consolidation of power, his...
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Huey Long by T. Harry Williams (Part 1)
The episode features hosts Jerry and Stably engaging in a discussion about Huey Long: A Biography by T. Harry Williams. The conversation begins with Jerry expressing his frustration with the book’s length and dense formatting, noting that it was difficult to obtain digitally. Stably acknowledges...
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A Generation of Sociopaths by Bruce Cannon Gibney
In this episode we discuss A Generation of Sociopaths: How the Baby Boomers Betrayed America by Bruce Cannon Gibney. Jerry selected the book as a deep dive into the behaviors and societal impact of the baby boomer generation, a topic that both hosts had discussed in passing. The conversation...
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Kaiser! by Rob Smyth
In this episode, Jerry and Stably dive into Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football by Rob Smyth, a fascinating exploration of the life and myth of Carlos Kaiser. Known for his extraordinary ability to avoid playing professional football while maintaining a high-profile “career,”...
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Fat Leonard by Craig Whitlock
The podcast episode explores Fat Leonard: The Con Man Who Corrupted the US Navy by Craig Whitlock, focusing on the astonishing true story of Leonard Glenn Francis and his large-scale corruption scandal involving the U.S. Navy. Hosts Jerry and Stably delve into the book’s narrative, beginning with...
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Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov
The episode opens with Jerry and Stably greeting each other warmly after a holiday break, reflecting on the New Year and its opportunities for renewal. They segue into the central discussion, focusing on “Heart of a Dog” by Mikhail Bulgakov, a novella set in 1920s Moscow. Stably introduces the...
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The Image by Daniel J. Boorstin
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America by Daniel J. Boorstin, a book that explores the construction of unreality in American media and culture. Jerry introduces the book as his pick and notes its thematic resonance with previous discussions,...
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The Theological Origins of Modernity by Michael Allen Gillespie
In this episode, Jerry and Stably engage in a thoughtful discussion about The Theological Origins of Modernity by Michael Allen Gillespie. The hosts delve into the book’s central thesis that the modern world, often perceived as secular and rational, has deep roots in theological and metaphysical...
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The Prophets of Doom by Neema Parvini
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss “Prophets of Doom” by Neema Parvini, a book that delves into societal power dynamics and the mechanisms by which elites maintain control. The discussion begins with an overview of Parvini’s intellectual background and his previous work on elite theory,...
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What Went Wrong with Capitalism by Ruchir Sharma
The episode focuses on a discussion between Jerry and Stably about Ruchir Sharma’s book What Went Wrong With Capitalism. The hosts delve into the central themes of the book, including the rise of economic inequality, the stagnation of middle-class wages, and the growing influence of monopolies in...
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The Case Against Reality by Donald Hoffman
The episode features Jerry and Stably discussing the book The Case Against Reality by Donald Hoffman. Jerry introduces the book as a thought-provoking exploration of perception, reality, and consciousness, inspired by a personal recommendation. The hosts delve into Hoffman’s central argument that...
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Losing the Long Game by Philip H. Gordon
The episode centers on a discussion of Losing the Long Game: The False Promise of Regime Change in the Middle East by Philip H. Gordon, a book selected by Stably. The hosts examine Gordon’s analysis of the United States’ history of regime change in the Middle East, highlighting the recurring...
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The World That Wasn't by Benn Steil
The episode features a discussion of Ben Steil The World That Wasn’t: Henry Wallace and the Fate of the American Century, focusing on the life and legacy of Henry Wallace, a controversial figure in mid-20th century American politics. Jerry and Stably explore the book’s central themes, including...
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The World Beyond Your Head by Matthew B. Crawford
The episode centers on a discussion of Matthew B. Crawford’s The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction, selected by Stably. The hosts delve into Crawford’s exploration of attention, individuality, and the challenges posed by the modern, hyper-stimulating...
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The United States of Paranoia by Jesse Walker
In this episode of the podcast, Jerry and Stably delve into a discussion of Jesse Walker’s book, The United States of Paranoia: A Conspiracy Theory. The hosts begin by sharing their initial reactions to the book, noting its length and distinct structural halves. Jerry and Stably express differing...
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The Populist Delusion by Neema Parvini
In this episode, Jerry and Stably engage in a thoughtful discussion about The Populist Delusion by Neema Parvini. The book examines the mechanics of political power and challenges prevailing democratic narratives by highlighting the influence of elites in shaping societal structures. Stably, who...
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Lessons in Stoicism by John Sellars
In this episode, Jerry and Stably embark on a lively discussion that begins with their initial intention to review Cicero’s On Duties but ultimately pivots to John Sellars’ Lessons in Stoicism: What Ancient Philosophers Teach Us about How to Live. The shift reflects their candid admission that...
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The Formula by Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg
In this episode, hosts Jerry and Stably delve into "The Formula: How Rogues, Geniuses, and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 into the World's Fastest Growing Sport," authored by Joshua Robinson and Jonathon Clegg. The discussion centers on the transformation of Formula One (F1) from a niche motorsport...
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Virtue Hoarders by Catherine Liu
In this episode, Jerry and Stably engage in a thought-provoking discussion centered on the book Virtue Hoarders: The Case against the Professional Managerial Class by Catherine Liu. The conversation examines the core arguments presented in the book, delving into the societal and economic...
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The Collapse of Complex Societies by Joseph A. Tainter
In this episode, Jerry and Stably engage in an insightful discussion on Joseph A. Tainter’s seminal work, The Collapse of Complex Societies. The conversation unpacks Tainter’s central arguments, exploring the reasons behind the decline of complex societies and the factors that make collapse a...
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Technopoly by Neil Postman
In this episode, Jerry and Stabley delve into Neil Postman’s book Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. The discussion begins with their impressions of the book, with both hosts acknowledging its engaging yet at times polemical tone. They highlight how Postman’s central argument...
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How the World Really Works by Vaclav Smil
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss How the World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going by Vaclav Smil. The conversation explores how technological advancements and societal behaviors intersect with environmental and economic realities. The hosts reflect on...
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A City on Mars by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through? by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith. The hosts discuss the parallels between space settlement and other forms of human endeavor, emphasizing the mixture of...
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Digital Future in the Rearview Mirror by Andrey Mir
In this episode, Jerry and Stably engage in a dynamic discussion about the themes and concepts in the book Digital Future in the Rearview Mirror: Jaspers’ Axial Age and Logan’s Alphabet Effect by Andrey Mir. As a friend of the podcast, Mir’s work provides a fascinating lens through which to…
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The Rise and Decline of Nations by Mancur Olson
In this podcast episode, hosts Jerry and Stably engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the book The Rise and Decline of Nations: Economic Growth, Stagflation, and Social Rigidities by Mancur Olson. The book serves as a foundation for their exploration of the interplay between economic...
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In Defense of Civilization by Michael RJ Bonner
In this episode, hosts Jerry and Stably delve into Michael R.J. Bonner’s book In Defense of Civilization: How Our Past Can Renew Our Present, a thought-provoking exploration of history’s lessons and their relevance to contemporary challenges. Stably, who selected the book, introduces Bonner as a...
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Offside by Andrei Markovits and Steven L. Hellerman
In this episode, Jerry and Stably dive into a discussion about the book Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism by André Markovits and Steven L. Hellerin. The conversation begins with a lighthearted exchange, setting an informal tone as the hosts express their initial reactions to the book....
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The Origins of Woke by Richard Hanania
In this episode, Jerry and Stably discuss the book The Origins of Woke: Civil Rights Law, Corporate America, and the Triumph of Identity Politics by Richard Hanania. The conversation opens with some humor and banter about the book’s author, including playful speculation about his name and...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Worker and Parasite have?
Worker and Parasite currently has 113 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Worker and Parasite about?
Jerry and Stably engage in a fortnightly conversation about a book they have recently read.
How often does Worker and Parasite release new episodes?
Worker and Parasite publishes regularly with 113 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Worker and Parasite?
You can listen to Worker and Parasite on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Worker and Parasite?
Worker and Parasite is created and hosted by Jerry Brito, Stan Tsirulnikov.
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