#248 – Norman Naimark: Genocide, Stalin, Hitler, Mao, and Absolute Power

About this episode

<p>Norman Naimark is a historian at Stanford, specializing in the history of genocide. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:<br /> &#8211; <b>Coinbase</b>: <a href="https://coinbase.com/lex">https://coinbase.com/lex</a> to get $5 in free Bitcoin<br /> &#8211; <b>Quip</b>: <a href="https://getquip.com/lex">https://getquip.com/lex</a> to get first refill free<br /> &#8211; <b>Eight Sleep</b>: <a href="https://www.eightsleep.com/lex">https://www.eightsleep.com/lex</a> and use code LEX to get special savings<br /> &#8211; <b>NetSuite</b>: <a href="http://netsuite.com/lex">http://netsuite.com/lex</a> to get free product tour<br /> &#8211; <b>ExpressVPN</b>: <a href="https://expressvpn.com/lexpod">https://expressvpn.com/lexpod</a> and use code LexPod to get 3 months free</p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Norman&#8217;s Website: <a href="https://history.stanford.edu/people/norman-naimark">https://history.stanford.edu/people/norman-naimark</a><br /> Stalin&#8217;s Genocides (book): <a href="https://amzn.to/3oO0Hzb">https://amzn.to/3oO0Hzb</a><br /> Stalin and the Fate of Europe (book): <a href="https://amzn.to/3pLbWrk">https://amzn.to/3pLbWrk</a><br /> Books &#38; resources mentioned:<br /> The Origins of Totalitarianism (book): <a href="https://amzn.to/3oNDSvA">https://amzn.to/3oNDSvA</a><br /> Man&#8217;s Search for Meaning (book): <a href="https://amzn.to/3pMzs7d">https://amzn.to/3pMzs7d</a><br /> Radio Majdanek (Research Paper): <a href="https://bit.ly/3GxPEAb">https://bit.ly/3GxPEAb</a></p> <p><b>PODCAST INFO:</b><br /> Podcast website: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast</a><br /> Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr</a><br /> Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8</a><br /> RSS: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/</a><br /> YouTube Full Episodes: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexfridman">https://youtube.com/lexfridman</a><br /> YouTube Clips: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexclips">https://youtube.com/lexclips</a></p> <p><b>SUPPORT &#38; CONNECT:</b><br /> &#8211; Check out the sponsors above, it&#8217;s the best way to support this podcast<br /> &#8211; Support on Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman">https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/lexfridman">https://twitter.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman">https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman">https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Medium: <a href="https://medium.com/@lexfridman">https://medium.com/@lexfridman</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> Here&#8217;s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.<br /> (00:00) &#8211; Introduction<br /> (07:08) &#8211; Stalin and absolute power<br /> (21:05) &#8211; Dictators and genocide<br /> (45:31) &#8211; What is genocide<br /> (55:38) &#8211; Human nature and suffering<br /> (1:25:23) &#8211; Mao&#8217;s Great Leap Forward<br /> (1:32:37) &#8211; North Korea<br /> (1:36:30) &#8211; Our role in fighting against atrocities<br /> (1:45:26) &#8211; China<br /> (1:49:35) &#8211; Hopes for the future and technology<br /> (2:04:28) &#8211; Advice for young people<br /> (2:07:15) &#8211; Love and tragedy</p>