The MANIAC

This book by Benjamin Labatut has been genuinely recommended 2 times across 2 different shows: Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman. The people who vouched for it on air: Bradley Cooper, Lex Fridman. It comes up in conversations about consciousness, focus & dopamine. The earliest recommendation we indexed is from Jul 2025 and the most recent from Jan 2026. Every quote below is verbatim, attributed, and linked to the exact second it was said. Sourced expert opinion, not medical advice.

• “I read this great book called the maniac by Benjamin Lebatude who talked about Yan Newman”

  Why it counts as a recommendation: “this great book”
  Bradley Cooper · The Joe Rogan Experience · Jan 202601:56:50

  Said during "Joe Rogan Experience #2435 - Bradley Cooper". The episode features Bradley Cooper: Oscar-nominated actor and director (American Sniper, A Star Is Born, Maestro) who directed the new standup-world film Is This Thing On?. A New York-trained method actor from the Actors Studio. Bradley Cooper talks craft, becoming Chris Kyle, raising kids, AI's coming wave, and why connection beats the dopamine drip.

• “You mentioned to me the book the maniac by Benjamin Levitut ... a haunting and beautiful exploration of madness and genius”

  Why it counts as a recommendation: “a haunting and beautiful exploration of madness and genius”
  Lex Fridman · Lex Fridman Podcast · Jul 202501:48:42

  Said during "Demis Hassabis: Future of AI, Simulating Reality, Physics and Video Games | Lex Fridman Podcast #475". The episode features Demis Hassabis: CEO and co-founder of Google DeepMind and a Nobel Prize winner (for AlphaFold). A former chess prodigy and video game designer turned AI researcher exploring intelligence, the simulation of reality, and the deepest questions of physics and biology. Nobel laureate Demis Hassabis on AGI by 2030, modeling reality with classical learning, video games, science, and the nature of life.