Co-Host

And it's funny because I just got a notebook for some basic note-taking, like a physical notebook with a physical pen. And it feels so limiting. And not limiting in a good way, like the constraints are a catalyst for creativity. I mean, limiting like I want to run some algorithms to summarize stuff, to generate some more text to give me ideas, all of that.

And it's funny because I just got a notebook for some basic note-taking, like a physical notebook with a physical pen. And it feels so limiting. And not limiting in a good way, like the constraints are a catalyst for creativity. I mean, limiting like I want to run some algorithms to summarize stuff, to generate some more text to give me ideas, all of that.

And it's funny because I just got a notebook for some basic note-taking, like a physical notebook with a physical pen. And it feels so limiting. And not limiting in a good way, like the constraints are a catalyst for creativity. I mean, limiting like I want to run some algorithms to summarize stuff, to generate some more text to give me ideas, all of that.

But I just need the notebook because sometimes I don't have any electronic devices on me. And specifically, that is one of the things I like to do for creativity is to remove things electronic devices for my life for long stretches of time, for many hours in a day, sometimes multiple days, and it just forces you to be creative in the way that devices somehow suffocate.

But I just need the notebook because sometimes I don't have any electronic devices on me. And specifically, that is one of the things I like to do for creativity is to remove things electronic devices for my life for long stretches of time, for many hours in a day, sometimes multiple days, and it just forces you to be creative in the way that devices somehow suffocate.

But I just need the notebook because sometimes I don't have any electronic devices on me. And specifically, that is one of the things I like to do for creativity is to remove things electronic devices for my life for long stretches of time, for many hours in a day, sometimes multiple days, and it just forces you to be creative in the way that devices somehow suffocate.

They too easily get you to be task switching, one task to the next, to the next, to the next, and that kills the kind of deep focus that's required, first of all, to be truly present for life, for thoughts, for ideas that you're working through. And also to just focus on solving difficult puzzles, whether they're creative puzzles or engineering puzzles.

They too easily get you to be task switching, one task to the next, to the next, to the next, and that kills the kind of deep focus that's required, first of all, to be truly present for life, for thoughts, for ideas that you're working through. And also to just focus on solving difficult puzzles, whether they're creative puzzles or engineering puzzles.

They too easily get you to be task switching, one task to the next, to the next, to the next, and that kills the kind of deep focus that's required, first of all, to be truly present for life, for thoughts, for ideas that you're working through. And also to just focus on solving difficult puzzles, whether they're creative puzzles or engineering puzzles.

So, sometimes I wish I could just use Notion and have everything else removed. Yeah, this digital technological life that we're thrust into is a real puzzle, isn't it? Try Notion AI for free when you go to notion.com. That's all lowercase, notion.com. To try the power of Notion AI today. This is the Lex Friedman Podcast.

So, sometimes I wish I could just use Notion and have everything else removed. Yeah, this digital technological life that we're thrust into is a real puzzle, isn't it? Try Notion AI for free when you go to notion.com. That's all lowercase, notion.com. To try the power of Notion AI today. This is the Lex Friedman Podcast.

So, sometimes I wish I could just use Notion and have everything else removed. Yeah, this digital technological life that we're thrust into is a real puzzle, isn't it? Try Notion AI for free when you go to notion.com. That's all lowercase, notion.com. To try the power of Notion AI today. This is the Lex Friedman Podcast.

To support it, please check out our sponsors in the description or at lexfriedman.com slash sponsors. And now, dear friends, here's James Holland. In Volume 1 of The War in the West, your book series on World War II, you write, The Second World War witnessed the deaths of more than 60 million people from over 60 different countries. Entire cities were laid waste.

To support it, please check out our sponsors in the description or at lexfriedman.com slash sponsors. And now, dear friends, here's James Holland. In Volume 1 of The War in the West, your book series on World War II, you write, The Second World War witnessed the deaths of more than 60 million people from over 60 different countries. Entire cities were laid waste.

To support it, please check out our sponsors in the description or at lexfriedman.com slash sponsors. And now, dear friends, here's James Holland. In Volume 1 of The War in the West, your book series on World War II, you write, The Second World War witnessed the deaths of more than 60 million people from over 60 different countries. Entire cities were laid waste.

National borders were redrawn, and many millions more people found themselves displaced. Over the past couple of decades, many of those living in the Middle East or parts of Africa, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and even the United States may feel justifiably that these troubled times have already proved the most traumatic in their recent past.

National borders were redrawn, and many millions more people found themselves displaced. Over the past couple of decades, many of those living in the Middle East or parts of Africa, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and even the United States may feel justifiably that these troubled times have already proved the most traumatic in their recent past.

National borders were redrawn, and many millions more people found themselves displaced. Over the past couple of decades, many of those living in the Middle East or parts of Africa, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and even the United States may feel justifiably that these troubled times have already proved the most traumatic in their recent past.

Yet, globally, the Second World War was and remains the single biggest catastrophe of modern history. In terms of human drama, it is unrivaled. No other war has affected so many lives in such a large number of countries. So, what to you makes World War II the biggest catastrophe in human drama in modern history? And maybe from a historian perspective, the most fascinating subject to study?

Yet, globally, the Second World War was and remains the single biggest catastrophe of modern history. In terms of human drama, it is unrivaled. No other war has affected so many lives in such a large number of countries. So, what to you makes World War II the biggest catastrophe in human drama in modern history? And maybe from a historian perspective, the most fascinating subject to study?