Skip to content

The question

Whose work do you read even when you disagree with them?

Originally asked

Vox, to writers and thinkers, 9 Questions, 2017

Vox used this as one of nine fixed questions in its 2017 series on intellectual habits.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

AR
Ariel Rubinstein

Professor of economics at Tel Aviv University and New York University

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here
Firstly, Bob Aumann is a very special man. I disagree with him about his political views – he is a right-wing person. I disagree with him about his current position on “what game theory is about”. From time to time he expresses views – about politics for example – backed with the authority of the great game theoretician. I don’t like those statements. In spite of this fact, I admire him for his academic work and personality.

Sophie Roell, Five Books interview, published transcript, 6 December 2016 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 26 →
Jessica Henwick Actress
The Sun/Daily Mail/other various rags. It’s not that I go out of my way to read them, but back in England any fish and chip shop worth their salt delivers your food wrapped in newspaper. Tabloids are cheapest. You can’t help but catch the headlines.
Recorded Sean Illing, Vox, “9 questions” series, 6 May 2017 source ↗
Henry Rollins Musician, writer and broadcaster
I’ve read Cheney’s and Bush’s autobiographies. Books by Sarah Palin and Anne Coulter. I read articles on Breitbart.
Recorded Sean Illing, Vox, “9 questions” series, 8 April 2017 source ↗
Lisa Randall Professor of theoretical physics at Harvard University
I read the New Yorker film critic Anthony Lane. Don’t always agree with his opinions on movies but he’s always deadly funny.
Recorded Sean Illing, Vox, “9 questions” series, 10 June 2017 source ↗
Paul Thagard Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Waterloo
That’s where I disagree with her. I don’t actually think happiness is a meaning of life, though lots of people assume that. Still, happiness is something folks care about, and she gives the best discussion I know, of the nature of happiness and the ways that one can practically accomplish it.
Recorded Five Books interview, published transcript source ↗

More on attention & the world

Also answered this

Beth Breeze, Myra Strober, Antulio J. Echevarria II, Alain de Botton, Henry Rollins, Kwame Anthony Appiah

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

Report this answer