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A former Bolshevik wrote the first dystopian novel—before Orwell, before Huxley—and it predicted everything: AI replacing creativity, state-run families, engineered conformity, even citizens begging to be lobotomized. Michael Knowles and Mollie Hemingway crack open Zamyatin's We and discover a 1921 warning that reads like a 2026 headline. From COVID compliance to social-media groupthink to the destruction of the family, this forgotten Russian masterpiece holds a mirror up to us—and what stares back isn't comfortable. ▶️ Watch more episodes of The Book Club at: https://l.prageru.com/4tVOtTH ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation! 👉 What else is PragerU unpacking? From timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager to unfiltered Real Talk with Marissa Streit — discover your next favorite at PragerU.com/podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/40ZbPLH Follow PragerU: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU ⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prageru  X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/prageru ⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/prageru ⁠⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/PragerU Follow Michael Knowles: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/michaeljknowles/  X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/michaeljknowles  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/XAVIAER Follow Mollie Hemingway: X/Twitter: https://x.com/MZHemingway Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MollieZHemingway Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Book Club, Michael Knowles sits down with actor and comedian Bryan Callen to discuss Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, one of the most influential plays in American literature. Together, they explore why Willy Loman remains a powerful, tragic figure, whether the play is a critique of capitalism or a warning about personal dishonesty, and what Death of a Salesman teaches us about truth, ambition, family, and responsibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does every utopia eventually turn into a tyranny? In Animal Farm, George Orwell tells the story of a farm revolution that begins with a promise of equality and ends with a new ruling class that looks no different from the one it replaced. Michael Knowles is joined by radio host Rich Zeoli to explore Orwell’s famous allegory of the Russian Revolution, the corrupting nature of power, and how noble ideals can be twisted into propaganda and oppression. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can reason alone lead us to truth? In Pensées, Blaise Pascal—the brilliant mathematician and Christian apologist—wrestles with the deepest questions of faith, doubt, and what it means to be human. Once a champion of the Enlightenment, Pascal came to see its limits and devoted the rest of his life to exploring the spiritual truths that reason alone cannot reach. Michael Knowles sits down with author Alexandra Hudson to discuss Pascal’s unfinished work exploring the misery and greatness of man, the tension between faith and reason, and the longing for God at the heart of every soul. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does war reshape not only nations—but the souls of those who live through it? In War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy sets Napoleon’s invasion of Russia as the backdrop for what many consider the greatest novel ever written. Michael Knowles is joined by renowned historian and author Niall Ferguson to explore how the chaos of war ripples through the lives of everyday citizens—from peasants and soldiers to aristocratic families. More than a historical epic, War and Peace is a powerful meditation on love, destiny, and the human spirit in times of upheaval. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the pursuit of a dream worth it, even if it’s torn apart in the end? In The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway tells the story of Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman determined to break a long streak of bad luck. Venturing far into the open sea, he hooks the catch of a lifetime—but as he battles to bring it home, he watches it slowly devoured by sharks. Michael Knowles is joined by popular Canadian podcaster Viva Frei to explore the deeper meaning behind Hemingway’s classic—its Christian symbolism, themes of suffering and redemption, and how even in defeat, the human spirit can triumph. Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram  X/Twitter Facebook  Rumble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s wrong with saying “my truth” and embracing moral relativism? In The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis warns that abandoning objective truth doesn’t just erode morality—it opens the door for manipulation by those in power. Decades later, his prophetic critique is more relevant than ever. Join Michael Knowles and Neil Shenvi, a Christian apologist, author, and chemist, as they explore Lewis’s timeless insights into natural law, the dangers of subjective morality, and how rejecting truth ultimately leads to tyranny. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to survive when civilization falls away? The Call of the Wild is more than a story about a dog thrust into the harsh wilderness during the Gold Rush—it’s an exploration of survival, instinct, and the untamed spirit within us all. Join Michael Knowles and Michael Malice as they delve into Jack London’s timeless tale of transformation, uncovering profound lessons about strength and resilience in the face of life’s greatest challenges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you do whatever you want—even harm yourself—as long as you don’t harm others? In On Liberty, John Stuart Mill warns against threats to personal freedom, especially through the “tyranny of the majority.” Michael Knowles is joined by Joe Fournier, a political science professor at Rochester Institute of Technology, to explore Mill's classic work, the importance of defending free speech and personal choice, and why individualism is essential for true progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you sell your soul to stay young forever? In Oscar Wilde’s famous novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, a handsome young man’s wish for eternal youth is granted while his portrait ages in his place. As Dorian indulges in a life of hedonism, his portrait reveals the grotesque toll of his moral corruption. Join Michael Knowles and Will Witt as they discuss this beloved novel and explore its insights into the dangers of vanity, immorality, and the ultimate cost of a life without virtue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House the feminist landmark it’s often portrayed to be? Or is it a critique of radical individualism and the undermining of traditional societal roles? The Post Millennial’s Libby Emmons joins Michael Knowles to discuss this groundbreaking 19th-century play and explore its insights into our intrinsic selfish nature and tendency to lie for self-preservation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once required reading for high school students, To Kill a Mockingbird now comes with trigger warnings. The book, which confronts and calls out the evils of racism, is considered by some to be too offensive for our modern-day woke sensibilities. Why? Set in 1930s Alabama, a young girl watches her attorney father defend a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. Michael Knowles is joined by Derryck Green to discuss the powerful themes of this timeless American classic and why it should continue to be read (not banned). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Knowles is joined by Pastor Rob McCoy to discuss the Sermon on the Mount, one of the most beloved and frequently cited passages in the gospels of the New Testament. Together, Michael and Pastor McCoy explore the various interpretations of the text and reflect on the lessons that Jesus’s sermon teaches us about living a virtuous Christian life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the purpose of life happiness, and if so, how can we achieve it? Written nearly 2,500 years ago, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is as relevant today as it's ever been. Michael Knowles is joined by Professor Charles Kessler to discuss this seminal work exploring the age-old question of how to live a happy and meaningful life. As it turns out, Aristotle’s recipe for the good life has not grown stale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your sins were on display for all the world to see? Michael Knowles is joined by Julie Hartman to discuss The Scarlet Letter, which tells the story of a young woman who is shunned by her community after bearing an illegitimate child. What can we learn from this American classic about society’s response to immorality, the complexities of love and passion, guilt, shame, hypocrisy, and repentance? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices