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