Isaac Asimov: Foundation of a Writing Genius

[@Biographics]

Thank you, The Great Courses Plus! Signup for your FREE trial to The Great Courses Plus here: ow.ly/dtkw30qdmE7

[@BioDynamicIndustries]

Please do Leonhard Euler! !!

[@aspookyfox]

Biographics the quote about a “cult of ignorance” is so fitting in our modern age

[@tamasmihaly1]

Robota means work in Russian. Not a huge leap admittedly.

[@anarchyantz1564]

See, I said months ago this was Deepfake Simon!

[@mrnukes797]

If you get the chance frank herbert would be a good choice for fiction and science fiction authors

[@plaguedoctormasque8089]

I had the Great Honor of meeting Dr. Asimov twice. He gave me his card, at my request. I wrote him often to which he responded personally. My first exposer to his writing was Lucky Starr. I found the entire series except one. After reading almost his whole Robot series. I wrote to Dr. Asimov telling him I was going off to College because of him and him alone. I also told him that my Asimov collection which waa 300+ was incomplete without Lucky Starr and the Rings of Saturn. Oh well. 3 weeks after that I received a manila envelope inside with a personally autographed copy of Lucky Star and the rings of Saturn. I Will Always Love You Isaac rest in peace

[@RabidlyTaboo]

If true, I love this.

[@morskojvolk]

Holy cow! Sounds like something Dr. A. would do.

[@pathallahan3016]

Wow. That is awesome.

[@catherinegreer854]

What a great story!😀 Thank you for sharing ❤

[@donnaezrol4777]

Great man, no doubt. Asimov, Herbert, and Heinlein The Holy Trinity of Sci/fi.

[@abbofun9022]

“Violence is the last resort of the incompetent”, it is this quote from the Foundation series that made me look in the mirror and change my attitude in life. So simple, yet so brilliant.

[@TheWolfsnack]

...unfortunately Asimov believed that the first resort pf the competent was pedophilia.....

[@ImFrelled]

@@TheWolfsnack ~ That was his son David. Weren't you paying attention? Issac Asimov may have been a bottom pinching harasser of young women at his conventions but he wasn't a pedophile. He was an asshole for what he did but he wasn't what you are trying to paint him as.

[@popkhorne5372]

Were you even a violent person in the first place.

[@abbofun9022]

Pop Khorne , nah, not really. Just a youngster with tantrums who needed badly to grow up.

[@esecallum]

“The work of each individual contributes to a totality, and so becomes an undying part of the totality. That totality of human lives-past and present and to come-forms a tapestry that has been in existence now for many tens of thousands of years and has been growing more elaborate and, on the whole, more beautiful in all that time. Even the Spacers are an offshoot of the tapestry and they, too, add to the elaborateness and beauty of the pattern. An individual life is one thread in the tapestry and what is one thread compared to the whole? Daneel, keep your mind fixed firmly on the tapestry and do not let the trailing off of a single thread affect you.”

[@jeffk8019]

True Story: When I was a kid in the late 70s, I wrote Asimov through his publisher to tell him how much I loved his books- especially the science and Sci Fi ones. I said that if I ever wrote a book myself, I would dedicate it to him. Lo and behold, he wrote a postcard back to me saying he was thankful for my note and that he didn't want me to 'forget that dedication' because he 'likes to see his name in print'. Ahh, the wonderful Isaac Asimov!

[@ppanonymous1700]

I love that quote about "your ignorance" vs "my knowledge"-so true. Another one I appreciate in this current world we are in is :"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts." Daniel Patrick Moynihan

[@iananderson1848]

Very poignant . Elegant line . From a humble Aussie and fan.

[@mikeappleget482]

But the most uneducated religious conservatives who believe in Young Earth Creationism and think the Bible is literal and written by Jesus himself also think they are knowledgable and that college educated evolutionary biologists are the ignorant ones.

[@gracel316]

@@mikeappleget482 think about this: doesn't your generalization (discrimination) of religious people demostraste your own ignorance?

[@mikeappleget482]

Grace Lozada I didn’t say ALL religious people were like that. You’re using a strawman argument to try and imply that I said all religious people are stupid. The smartest person I’ve ever met was the most religious person I’ve ever met. And the kindest people I’ve met were all mostly religious people. Look up the “Dunning-Krueger effect”, that’s all I’m pointing out in my original comment.

[@mohit5496]

@@gracel316 "everyone is entitled to opion but not fact" . What is said was fact for most of the religion, "most of " itself is a defination of genralization. Everything that does'nt suit you or offend you don't count as ignorance.

[@MsKestrela]

I discovered Asimov in my early teens, and his writing inspired me to a most eclectic life. I am now in my mid-sixties, with a wealth of grand adventures and an unstoppable thirst for learning. I credit Asimov, the author and human being, for inspiration. Thanks for this Biography.

[@maufuentes]

GMan & Mom you can find them online in Amazon or at most bookstores such as Barnes & Noble. The books’ prices may start at $7 for the paperbacks.

[@maufuentes]

I discovered I. Asimov’s books as a teenager as well (I’m now in my 40s) and it opened my mind and imagination. His books are so easy to read and understand that they are a delight to read.

[@maufuentes]

I discovered I. Asimov’s books as a teenager as well and it opened my mind and imagination. His books are so easy to read and understand that they are a delight to read. I’m now in my 40s, so if someone in his 30s and someone in his 20s would comment, we would get a nice continuum.

[@MsKestrela]

@GMan & Mom Check the library!

[@old-moose]

I had undiagnosed dyslexia while in school but I learned to read because of Asimov and Clarke. They became a very fortunate addiction for me. I even tried using factor analysis (a statistical method somewhat like psychohistory) in my doctoral research. I recommend Asimov's books on mathematics for anyone struggling with math or algebra. They sure helped me. Much of who I am, is Asimov's fault. ;-)

[@MrVvulf]

Asimov's favorite of his own short stories is also mine - "The Last Question" blew my mind when I read it as a teen, many many moons ago.

[@aragonnetje]

Insufficient data for meaningful answer

[@justinmusser8886]

It remains my favorite short story in sci-fi. The ending is pure perfection.

[@CrisMind]

Oh I love that one! So many people don't get it when I bring it up though

[@doncarlin9081]

It still blows my mind today. And I read it my first time over 30 years ago.

[@ricardojurado9121]

I read it 3 months ago and also blew my mind

[@WantSomeWhiskey818]

I picked up Foundation on a whim on Audible to listen to during my all nighters at work and was instantly enthralled with its premise, characters, and world. A masterpiece in every sense of the word written by a genius and master at his craft. So good.

[@iCapitalism]

The Foundation series will always have a place in my robotic heart.

[@ahippy8972]

I, Rrobot.

[@grmpEqweer]

@@ahippy8972 More like...him, robot.😝

[@iananderson1848]

Amen brother

[@deathwings51]

You mean your positronic brain 😛

[@iananderson1848]

I wish . But right on. Be damn hard to make a movie of it . Dune was pretty ordinary . But a weird concept to begin with . You had to be stoned to enjoy I guess

[@NemonicanatLarge]

To : Issac Asimov from Robbie Robert Wayne Dukes. I said all that to say all this: To never have met you in person, you / your books have had the most profound impact on my life. I’m now 70 years old Sometimes, I would take a commuter’s bus (I think I was about 10😊 / 14 years old) - cost a dollar - to the station and walk to the Atlanta Public Library and take a look around (my first trip there) and decided on a science fiction book. “I Robot”. Now, I build them … thanks!

[@marie-helenemartel7147]

Asimov changed my life. He made me fall in love with Science Fiction, and he will always have a very important place in my mind and my heart.

[@superglue3398]

Exactly the same for myself.

[@richardconway6425]

Ray Bradbury did exactly the same for me. I'm embarrassed to admit, especially here, that I've never read any Asimov, although I've been hearing people talk about his work all my life. I intend to remedy this asap. Another writer that I want to investigate properly is Philip K Dick. Everyone has been exposed to his work, because his stories have been turned into very successful films, but I have never actually read any of his books.

[@donnaezrol4777]

I think that I learned to be a better person, because of Asimov, Heinlein, and Hurbert. They replaced absentee parent, a broken educational system, and the void left by my mother's excommunication from our church. They gave me a lifelong love of science,The ability to overcome my reading difficulty, and Hope! Hope that there was going to be a future. I learned how to be smart lazy from Heinlein. I thought that robots were definitely in my future, from Asimov. And, got my first dark inkling that the War on Drugs, was to a militarized police force, from Hurbert. They gave me a healthy cynicism about everything ! And a show me kinda trust, word can deceive, actions speak louder. The first big kid book I ever read, was Lost Race of Mars by Robert Silverberg. I was hooked. Stranger in a Strange Land, was good prep for Foundation. I have tried to convince other profs to use Sci/Fi as a means of looking at issues that would be difficult to examine, if used in a "Real World"context. Sci/Fi isolates the problem. Then we can dissect it freely. Also, it calms the fear that you are other. Being other usually ends up being the best!

[@dannymccune1888]

Was it Assimov or Herbert that had the chairdogs?

[@theroyalpotato8390]

@@dannymccune1888 That would be Herbert. "He indicated a chairdog against the wall to his right, snapped his fingers. The semi-sentient artifact glided to a position behind McKie. "Please be seated." McKie, his caution realerted by Bolin's reference to "uninhibited conversation," sank into the chairdog, patting it until it assumed the contours he wanted." From The Tactful Saboteur.

[@GH-oi2jf]

Heinlein strikes me as a poor role model for someone aspiring to be a better person. I did read his famous work, but his own values, which are inserted throughout the book, were a turnoff. I never read another of his.

[@donnaezrol4777]

@@GH-oi2jf well, I can live without the sexism and homophobia. Given the times he lived in. Time Enough for Love, just had an enormous impact on me. 666, the Number of the beast, was a flight of fancy that heals my heart.

[@Irigoyen4]

One of my biggest heroes. Rest In Peace Mr.Asimov. You gave us incredible alternative realities to sooth our souls from this crazy place. You have my eternal gratitude.

[@daviemcl110]

Elijah Baley is the greatest detective of all time. Big heads up for Daneel and Giskard.

[@marie-helenemartel7147]

Cannot agree more !! I adore this book series.

[@lashlarue59]

I agree and his partner R. Daneel Olivaw!

[@WickedKingLycoan]

Davie Mcl: I Love ‘Caves Of Steel’!

[@billbaggins]

A truly brilliant man.. I've read the foundation series every 2-3 years since the late 80's 🤓 Sadly it is getting hard to find him in the 2nd hand bookshops but a few years back I found a copy of " The stars in their courses" A fascinating book. Always felt that he got the "violence is the last resort of the incompetent" line wrong as violence tends to be the first resort.

[@jamierennie9099]

After some market stalls had packed up for the day , I found - Isaac Asimov - The winds of change , just lying on the ground. I picked it up , read it in one night , and never looked back.Changed my life. I now never have a book out of my hand. Asimov is my sci-fi hero.🚀

[@brianmcdaid3178]

This was quite timely as I just finished, and re-read, the whole Foundation series. Asimov and Heinlein are my favorite sci-fi authors.

[@RedactedATS]

My dad had a few Asimov books so when I was growing up, I'd read them. Even as a very young child with minimal reading comprehension abilities, the stories fascinated me and when read them again years later, they were even better

[@Bethelaine1]

He wrote “The Sensuous Dirty Old Man”, a response to “ The Sensuous woman”. I loved him even more after that. My father introduced me to his Science Fiction when I was young, but it was amazing that he had a wonderful, twisted humor.

[@TheNameOfJesus]

When I was young I wrote a letter to Isaac Asimov and he wrote back. In my letter I wrote, "If you "live to learn", as you said in one of your books, why do you write science fiction?" He sent me a postcard in return and replied on it in a sloppy typewritten form, "You can learn from everything and anything, and in the case of writing science fiction, you can learn how to express yourself more clearly." I've lost the card, but that's basically what he wrote to me, and he signed the postcard too. It doesn't bother me that I lost the card, because I don't hold much value to historical artifacts. The only other person I ever wrote to was "The Fonz" and all I got back from him was a photo of him holding out his thumbs. I much prefer Asimov's response.

[@CommodoreFloopjack78]

Great video. Speaking of awesome sci-fi authors, how about a video on Arthur C. Clarke?

[@darlenedimapilis7204]

Thank you for featuring one of my favorite authors. Aside from his sci-fi books, I also enjoyed his mystery books. I mourned when I learned of his passing as I have never mourned any other celebrities' passing. Thankfully, his books are still a source of solace, comfort, and celebration.

[@TheDeadlyDan]

I was lucky enough to have been a voracious reader through my teens, and I idolized Asimov. He was responsible for my introduction to chemistry and physics through his popular science series of books. His writing is among the best. An exceptionally clear mind.

[@julievazquez3839]

Nicely written Arnaldo! (I especially like the way respect and a healthy view of others is highlighted in the show. It can't be taken for granted that all who are watching know what is right and what is wrong when it comes to the treatment of others. You've stated it tactfully and in a straightforward manner.)

[@steve4562]

The Foundation series is some of the best space opera ever written.

[@pauldzim]

@Brett Mitchell That's a little harsh. I read it in my teens and found it wonderful, then reread it many years later and thought, "meh." So it has an audience.

[@Tsagan]

You should watch Legend of Galactic Heroes.

[@davidfruchter9770]

@Brett Mitchell My favorite novels and a kid. Reread it as an adult. It did not age well.

[@ZacLowing]

Make it a movie then?

[@Civsuccess2]

Let me change for you. The Original Foundation is the best space opera. Not the other books of the series.

[@deathdoor]

"The End of Eternity" and "The Gods Themselves" are his best books.

[@nivekleveb8872]

You have good taste...I think "The Naked Sun" is also an underrated gem.

[@scottrussell6873]

I really enjoyed this Biographic on one of my favorite writers. Have you thought of doing one on Arthur C. Clarke or Robert A. Heinlein?

[@camilohiche4475]

That last quote is VERY meaningful and essential.

[@iCapitalism]

My best takeaway from the Foundation Series was the non-use of violence unless in self defence. As Asimov stated "Violence is the last resort of the incompetent".

[@Silkendrum]

That's my favorite Asimov quote!

[@CFG-eb3my]

you missed a few pages

[@Bj5m17h]

It's also a reinterpretation of another famous quote. "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel". Very appropriate for these times we exist in.

[@juliestevens6931]

I think "Nightfall" was the first Asimov story I read. He and Heinlein were among my first SF reads. This was about 50+ years ago. I still go back to them now and then. :o) I can remember going to Sci-Fi conventions (started going in the late 70s) and being warned about Asimov. I actually saw him from afar, but had no desire to go up to him (more because I was shy than anything anyone said about him).

[@mkl21bis]

My favorite sci-fi writer. Foundation series is a masterpiece.

[@nagi603]

Good on you not leaving out the uncomfortable part.

[@civwar054]

I've been an Asimov fan since I've been a kid in the 60s. I've read almost everything, and even have an autographed autobiography I got when I saw him speak in the 1980s. Yet I still enjoyed your video and learned new things about the greatest Science Fiction writer of all time.. Great job and thanks for making it!

[@johncomstock2759]

One correction to your wonderful piece, the job in Philadelphia was not because he was drafted but to keep him from being drafted. Other SF authors, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Sprage DeCamp, and Fred Pohl were also involved. The positions were set up my Naval Academy graduate Heinlein. Asimov was drafted after the end of hostilities to serve as a clerk/typist to help with demobilization. He applied for and received a discharge to return to his studies at Columbia. See: In Memory Still Green, the first volume of his autobiography.

[@socialanarchist9623]

Science Fiction starts from Asimov. Robotics is Asimov. One man gave us what we think of science fiction today . For horror Lovecraft, then the world followed . For science fiction there is only Asimov. Thank you @Biographics

[@RookhKshatriya]

What about H G Wells? Great though Asimov is, Wells was defining sci fi in the Victorian age.

[@parypearl382]

I named my son Isaac after Asimov, but SF started from H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. Asimov was one of the "big three" of the golden age of scifi in mid 20th century.

[@Trekyhunter]

Some interesting trivia. The word 'robot' actually comes from a Czech word for 'forced labor' and was introduced into English through a book "Rossom's universal Robots" in the 1920's.

[@rikosaikawa9024]

Yeah who needs mary shelly

[@RictusHolloweye]

@@rikosaikawa9024 - or Lucian of Samosata. That said, Asimov reshaped the genre as did the great contributors who preceded him.

[@esecallum]

*“The work of each individual contributes to a totality, and so becomes an undying part of the totality. That totality of human lives-past and present and to come-forms a tapestry that has been in existence now for many tens of thousands of years and has been growing more elaborate and, on the whole, more beautiful in all that time. Even the Others are an offshoot of the tapestry and they, too, add to the elaborateness and beauty of the pattern. An individual life is one thread in the tapestry and what is one thread compared to the whole? You, keep your mind fixed firmly on the tapestry and do not let the trailing off of a single thread affect you.”*

[@shaunmattice6413]

I finally checked out the Great Courses Plus; thank you Simon for pushing it on us; well worth the checking it out.

[@MrWhangdoodles]

Asimov and Tolkien were both the fathers of their respective genres. They're legends and to call one better than the other shows one's ignorance to their significance.

[@applesandgrapesfordinner4626]

T R U T H

[@zappawench6048]

I can't tell you how happy I was to see the Good Doctor as the topic of another excellent Biographics video. I first heard of Isaac Asimov from my high school boyfriend, but I misunderstood him and thought he said "I Zachasimov is a really good writer." So I was looking for him in various libraries at the totally wrong end of the alphabet! It was only one day, browsing books on a carousel type bookcase, where they were not in alphabetical order, that I saw the name "Isaac Asimov". I literally did a double-take and kicked myself for not realising my mistake earlier. I picked up the book, which happened to be "I, Robot" and upon reading it I knew I'd found a author whom I would love for the rest of my life. His writing was so straightforward, the emphasis was always on the plot and very cleanly written, with no unnecessary verbosity. I didn't realise how old he was, as his writing always seemed so fresh and obviously futuristic. His death came as a complete shock to me. Strange to think that both he and Freddie Mercury were taken by AIDS, just 5 months apart. The family agreed to keep his diagnosis secret for ten years due to the stigma surrounding the disease, which is hard to overstate at the time. If only he had lived a little longer, he might have been able to benefit from the medical treatments that allow victims of this infection to live a virtually normal life and lifespan today. What a tragedy, and what great works the world has missed out on! We can only be grateful that he left such a prolific volume of works behind him.

[@grmpEqweer]

Thank you for doing Asimov. He was a good 'un. One of the best.

[@grmpEqweer]

I didn't know he groped women though...I can't say that that was remotely ok. Sigh. I still like and admire him, but I'm disappointed about that item. Nobody's perfect.😐

[@rcknbob1]

@@grmpEqweer Read "The Sensuous Dirty Old Man" by "Dr. A". Yes, Asimov was rather sexist and something of an MCP, but at least he realized his shortcomings and made fun of them.

[@rcknbob1]

@@zhg4485 Agreed, although the actual title was indeed "The Sensuous Dirty Old Man" (I owned a copy until a house fire).

[@josephreichardt5086]

Fascinating. As always an excellent job, Simon and company. Isaac Asimov was the commencement speaker when I graduated from college. I remember hearing about the fear of flying but never really understood anything else. I've always been a voracious reader but it took until the 2000's before I read the foundation trilogy. Good stuff. I also remember meeting release being in the same room as Arthur C Clarke. He came to some lecture that we had, he just came to hear the lecture I really don't remember who gave the talk. I can picture the room but that's about it.

[@darrellpidgeon6440]

For me, it began in Jr. High with the Foundation Series. One of the last books I read by Asimov was his complete re-write of "Fantastic Voyage". He had such a gift.

[@davidwoodward9528]

Delightful vignette on one of my childhood and teen writing heroes (flaws and all, much like Roddenbery) Octavia Butler and Ray Bradbury would ALSO be fascinating subjects....🤗🤗

[@kevinrwhooley9439]

Hey Simon, if you are ever looking for any Irish historical figures for St. Patrick's day then here's a few suggestions- Thomas Andrews(1873-1912) Dr James Barry or Margaret Bulkley(1789-1865) Lilian Bland(1878-1971) Brian Boru(941-1014) Robert Boyle(1627-1691) William Brown or Guillermo brown or Almirante Brown(1777-1857) Gay Byrne(1934-2019) Sir Roger Casement(1864-1916) Thomas J. Clarke(1858-1916)- Agnes Clerke(1842-1907)l Michael Collins(1890-1922)-m Saint Columba or Colum Cille(521-597)- James Connolly(1868-1916) Edward Despard(1751-1803) Anne Devlin(1780-1851) Margaretta or Margaret Eager(1863-1936) Mary Elmes(1908-2002) Robert Emmet(1778-1803) 'Silken' Thomas Fitzgerald(1513-1537) Betsy Gray(died 1798) Patrick Lafcadia Hearn or Koizumi Yakumo(1850-1904) Chaim Herzog(1918-1997) James Joyce(1882-1941) Sir Hugh Lane(1875-1915) James Larkin(1878-1947)l C.S. Lewis(1898-1963) Juan or Kuhn Mackenna(1771-1814) Terence MacSwiny(1879-1920) Annette Elizabeth Mahon(1918-2013) Constance Markievicz(1868-1927) Bernadette Devlin McAliskey(1947-present) Thomas Francis Meagher(1823-1867) Annie Moore(1874-1924) Turlough O'Carolan(1670-1738) Daniel O'Connell(1775-1843) Hugh O'Flaherty(1897-1963)l Gráinne Ní Mháilleor or Grace O'Malley(1530-1603) Hugh O'Neill(1550-1616) Peter O'Toole(1932-2013) Charles Stewart Parnell(1946-1891) Padraig or Patrick Pearse(1879-1916) Jeremiah O'Donavan Rossa(1831-1915) - Mary Ryan(1873-1961) Bobby Sands(1954-1981) Ernest Shackleton(1874-1922) George Bernard Shaw(1856-1950) Francis Sheehy-Skeffington(1878-1916) Jonathan Swift(1667-1745) Theobald Wolfe Tone(1763-1798) Eamon de Valera(1882-1975)- Ernest Walton(1903-1995) Arthur Wellesley(1769-1852) William Butler Yeats(1865-1939) And for April fools day you should do Nat Tate and for pride month you should do Judy Garland. Anyway great video, as always. Keep up the good work.

[@socialanarchist9623]

Beautiful .

[@marywilkinson5937]

I was privileged to meet him briefly at an event in 1975. While not quite 20, I’d already read many of his books, including the Foundation. It was a thrill to be in the presence of such genius.

[@beardedroofer]

The Foundation series is one of the best scifi stories ever told. I've always wondered why it hasn't been put to film.

[@maxnullifidian]

I remember reading his autobiography, In Memory Yet Green, when I was a teenager. But that was decades ago, so I'm glad to have this refresher course!

[@davidlucey1311]

I have not read the Foundation books, but I will plan to read them as soon as possible. Just based on the summary sounds like the foundation box examine a lot of the same ideas that Frank Herbert explored in the Dune books.

[@TheFalconking]

Thanks Simon for making a video about my absolute idol and personal hero, the great Isaac Asimov !

[@densealloy]

Arnoldo, this was an excellent script. I am an immense fan of Asimov and I suspect the same can be said for you. If you are not and you wrote this with a cursory examination of Asimov's life, then your sources were excellent. You emphasised complicated themes and summarized Foundations' plot and themes. More importantly you captured Asimov's brilliance with an superlative collection of quotes that highlight the ontological and epistemological questions skillfully woven into Foundation and fundamentally the 3 laws. Thank you for this script and to the venerable Simon for his wonderful presentation.

[@johnwatson3948]

I saw Asimov speak at a packed University theater in 1982 - he was very entertaining and even more so when a group of born-again Christians in the audience took issue with him during a Q&A at the end. One young man demanded: “Mr. Asimov why do you claim you could never be a Christian?” to which he replied “because I was born a Jew!” - and the whole theater exploded in laughter. The red faced man continued: “Why then Mr. Asimov do you know nothing of the Bible?” to which he replied “I once wrote a two volume study of the Bible” - more laughter.

[@Silkendrum]

I have a copy of his Bible tomes, wherein he explains what's really going on, verse by verse. His book on Shakespeare was better, though.

[@nymnicholas]

Thank you for the video. i Robot will always be my fav, till the end of time. When he wrote Susan Calvin, it was a genius Robopsychologist character, but sadly died at the age of 82. He could have made a clone of her at some stage, but perhaps it's for the better. Nothing last forever. Peace :-)

[@catherinegreer854]

Awesome!!! Love Asimov 's work. I read a little bio on him once. It was much better with your melodies voice and enthusiasm 😊

[@GlenaGarrett]

Asimov, Heinlen and Clarke were the trio that started and still keep my SF fascination. Rereading is like reading them for the first time, there's so much detail you always miss something.

[@gregtoland1102]

Thanks for this video which I enjoyed. I have read Asimov for most of my life, now 66, and enjoyed the Sci-Fi, Mystery, Fantasy, Factual, ... to the extent that it became a fun part of my life exploring used book stores for his works. My collection of book and ephemera now exceeds 500 items! I actually have a copy of "Five and Five and One" Preliminary Treaty from the Boston collection that is referred to in this video where, in Isaac's own hand, it reads "Nothing ever came of this because McCartney couldn't recognise good stuff". I visited the archive back in 2003 whilst on holiday and recommend anyone interested in Asimov to do so.

[@shannonbloom4133]

Arthur C. Clarke would be a nice subject.

[@DurandCompton]

Meh.

[@jorgealdridge6665]

@@DurandCompton your not smart

[@Iamtheliquor]

jorge aldridge *you're

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

that would be great

[@halasimov1362]

Daisy.. Daisy....

[@donbrunodelamancha1927]

Master Simon, as someone who cannot abide wanton ignorance, thank you for the Asimov quote that, “Our Democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” I will treasure it‼️ Much L♥️VE You, Your Lovely Wife, whom I personally hope to see on here sometime and of course the Whole of Team Biographics‼️‼️‼️♥️♥️♥️💫💫💫✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼🚀🚀🚀🚅🚅🚅🎖🎖🎖🥃🥃🥃

[@ravenkahne8484]

Been waiting patiently for this one, thank you. :)

[@OverLordthe1st]

Read a collection of his short stories a couple years back. Some of them were so profound, so creative, so full of untouchable imagination I laughed and cried. I wish I had a 10th of the man's genius and imagination.

[@brucepeterson6344]

A major component of Asimov's output: interpreter of science for the layman. One day not too long ago, I was having supper in a restaurant and reading an article about neutrinos in a science magazine. Returning from the restroom, I found my waitress poring over the article. (OK, it was a slack time.) In a brief conversation, I found out that she was an art major but fascinated by science. Returning home, I logged on to a cheap online bookstore and found a listing for "The Intelligent Man's Guide to Science" by Dr Asimov. Now, this book is about 60 years out of date, but it has held up very well. You won't find anything about dark energy or quarks or DNA, but what is in it is sound and endlessly fascinating. So, I ordered a copy of it and gave it to the young woman on my next visit to her restaurant. She was overwhelmed. But, hey we nerds must stick together.

[@TrevorduBuisson]

Fascinating bio. Every word of this presentation yielded something interesting! I particularly liked the last quote and I'm going to do my best to commit it to memory.

[@caryrodda]

One of my all time favorite fiction writers! One of the big disappointments in my life was back in 1992 when I was volunteering for a writing festival and he had agreed to appear, but then passed away. Fortunately we got the consolation prize of all consolation prizes (if you can say that in a non-pejorative way) when Ray Bradbury agreed to fill in and I had the great good fortune to meet him. So it was a lose one, win one situation.

[@JaredPitchford]

Bravo, this was one of your best Biographics.

[@sisaktamas]

“The false notion that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge”. That is genius.

[@MikeFuller-ok6ok]

That was so enjoyable to listen to! Thank You Very Much!

[@TheSpoofoo]

Now this, is an author. Thanks Simon and crew

[@glenchapman3899]

Just a point of order. Asimov first pondered the balance between Science and religion in the story Trends, published a year or so before Nightfall

[@goldenoriolesilverbirch8220]

I was very pleased to see a huge ( and well executed ) portrait of the great man, Asimov, painted on the side of a building in Smolensk Russia.

[@n8archy121]

1 million subscribers, congrats!

[@davidj.thompson]

I was never a fan of the Foundation series. But, I remember reading "Nightfall" when young and found it terrifying.

[@esecallum]

“The work of each individual contributes to a totality, and so becomes an undying part of the totality. That totality of human lives-past and present and to come-forms a tapestry that has been in existence now for many tens of thousands of years and has been growing more elaborate and, on the whole, more beautiful in all that time. Even the Spacers are an offshoot of the tapestry and they, too, add to the elaborateness and beauty of the pattern. An individual life is one thread in the tapestry and what is one thread compared to the whole? Daneel, keep your mind fixed firmly on the tapestry and do not let the trailing off of a single thread affect you.”

[@alfredthegreat9543]

For those that may not know- the tv show "Foundation" is currently in production, (though its just been suspended due to COVID-19), in Ireland for Apple tv. Production was due to finish in July. Hopefully it will be released in early 2021.

[@poisonSerendipity]

Hey I love your videos! I was wondering if you could do a video on Vyacheslav Skriabin aka Molotov? He was pretty interesting to me and I'm actually something like his great great great niece (weird thing to brag about I guess) and while my family has passed down a few stories about him (which are pretty cool and I'd be happy to share them) I want to know more about him even though he didn't do good things and got a lot of people killed. Family is interesting (especially when you see the freaky resemblance on that side of the family). Thanks for all the knowledge and cool videos!

[@mirzoxidbaxtiyarov1423]

Thanks for the video, i am learning about the people i have no idea about before

[@better.better]

and, he lived here, in my city, Albany (maybe Schenectady), NY or, at least visited often but definitely wrote a column in the local newspaper, until very close to his death. He, Carl Sagan, and Kurt Vonegut used to attend the Institute in Rennselaerville, which is actually very close to my hometown. Odd to think that such great writers were all so close, so often yet I had no idea.

[@PJ-dx2qo]

Asimov's Foundation series was probably among the best SF books ever written. With his "Black Widowers" series he proved to be a master of the mystery literature, too. His books on history and general science alone would have made him one of the greatest authors of this genre; he managed to make science fun and accessible to the every-man. And, on top of all that, a master in the art of the naughty limerick!

[@mohammadmostafaii7535]

fantastic bio,really enjoyed it. thanks for your effort to convey useful knowledge to us.

[@theylied1776]

They quote Isaac Asimov a lot in Rick and Morty, Get Schwifty was one of the episodes taken from one of Asimov's books.

[@OtusAsio]

A great man! I read many of his books and always wanted for more...until there was no more...

[@Electy]

Grats on 1 mill

[@johnsmith-ij9by]

henry the navigator! I don't really have a good reason for him to be covered I just wanna learn about him myself lol

[@a.nonimus6705]

As a writer myself, I will share my personal experience on the most difficult part of writing; it isn't starting; it isn't even writing at all. For someone who loves to write, those parts are easy. The most difficult part of writing is coming up with truly compelling, original ideas. By that I mean, not just ideas that you enjoy writing about, but ideas that other people enjoy reading about; ideas that haven't been explored; or ideas that offer a new and enlightening perspective. It's easy to write. But writing something that has real value for humanity, or something that will truly stand the test of time (like Foundation); very few people can actually do that, ergo it is the most difficult part of writing. To simplify, the most difficult part of writing is coming up with something good. You see it all the time in a lot of modern works, they tick off all the flavors of the month, but they fail to leave an aftertaste that cements their longevity.

[@PWN3DU01]

He's a legend!

[@LynnePedigoRidayReiter]

Very enjoyable and thorough, thank you!

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:35 - Chapter 1 - Candy & Magazines 5:30 - Chapter 2 - Nightfall 7:25 - Chapter 3 - Father of robotics 10:25 - Mid roll ads 11:35 - Chapter 4 - Foundation 14:25 - Chapter 5 - On writing, pinching & dating 20:10 - Chapter 6 - Future visions 22:45 - Chapter 7 - A legacy of knowledge

[@choklityum]

Asimov is my favorite science fiction author. The Foundation books are a marvel and cemented his place in this bibliophile's heart. I cried when I learned of his death. Even with all the books I've read over my life, no one has supplanted Asimov as my favorite author.

[@JonBlondell]

You did a good job one this one. Thank you.

[@jamessutton3461]

To this day, I still collect old issues of his anthologies whenever I happen upon them in used book stores. I've loved his work, fantasies unbound by the mundanities of reality.

[@xaharidealogy598]

It's about time you talk about Isaac Asimov in this channel. Thank you.

[@rob-v1y]

My favorite author of all time. Thanks....and thanks for pointing out at the end why he was my favorite author. Anti intellectualism will kill us all. Something Asimov clued me in on back in the 60's.

[@DenitaArnold]

Great bio. I've never read any of his works but I admire that he didn't get writer's block

[@sandracastle42]

I first became familiar with Asimov through his short science fiction stories. While I always enjoyed his sci-fi stories, I really became a fan when I started reading his historical novels. I so enjoyed how he began at the very beginning of the development of the area he was writing about e.g. Centennial, Texas, Chesapeake, and Hawaii. I suppose the historical elements of his stories touched me more than the unreality of sci-fi. Whenever I would come to the end of one of his novels, I wanted the story of the people and places he wrote of to go on and on. When he died in 1992, I was heartbroken over the fact he would never be able to write another anything. He is still missed these 28 years later. RIP Isaac. Thank you for his personal story.

[@puncheex2]

Pardon, but Centennial, Hawaii, Chesapeake and Texas were written by James A. Mitchener.

[@sandracastle42]

puncheex2 Oh my goodness you are so right. I don’t know where my head was at when I wrote that. Well, Mitchner is also gone and I will miss never getting to read another book by him and stories by Asimov. Thanks for the heads up.

[@puncheex2]

@@sandracastle42 No problem, Sandra. They were all great reads.

[@2iyao2iyao6]

Congratulations on 1 million subscribers!!

[@WickedKingLycoan]

No argument here. I love both the ‘Foundation’ series and the ‘Lord of the Rings’. Both are sweeping classics and Wonders of literature.

[@jeanatwood1421]

My brother met him once at some kind of convention. They were both seated at the same table. He was impressed with him.

[@shadowking1380]

I remember watching a biography about Asimov as part of the show “prophets of science fiction” and this here is adding icing to the cake. And speaking of writers to do a biography on might I suggest one about Harlan Ellison?

[@ywoulduchoosetousethis]

Thank u. Isaac's story on populist is so much a play for this time. Emotion over rationale with disastrous results. He saw USA was heading here. Now u have arrived.

[@andrewsuryali8540]

Well, in about a decade we'll have big corporations playing around with psychohistory, so...

[@ywoulduchoosetousethis]

@@andrewsuryali8540 Before that. I think anxiety is a social epidemic and if u r not checking on ur own psychohistory a decade might be too late. The higher our iq climbs as a race every decade, the more gullible we r. Wars have force many to run into their ethnic groups and increased racism (gossip is a tool of fear as frequent human contact helps to dilute the heavy influx of dopamine but cause us to be less objective with our peers in fear of ostracization). I know this because I read Asimov preteen and I became a paraplegic at 18 and missed quite a bit of my youth years as I matured at 18 years old to a 30 years old level. I went to university at 34 years and the condensed life forced me to regress, review and amalgamate my psyche into a fluid whole before I could return to "flow". I completed that journey around 36 years old. I had Asimov to thank for the idea of psychohistory that led me to a less agitated self.

Foundation, fundação change my life since 1980! Mudou minha vida desde 1980!

[@missandi1971]

The first science fiction story I read was in a school book when I was 8. It was 'The Fun They Had'. When schools went remote for the pandemic, I thought of that story.

[@MattanzaMafiaFedora]

Please do Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church.

[@my_negative_world]

And including the ever so fake Book of Mormon written in 19th century in a 17th century style to look more convincing.

[@MattanzaMafiaFedora]

@Lochness Monsta Indeed! That's probably going to be the most interesting part about him. 👍

[@MattanzaMafiaFedora]

@@my_negative_world Interesting tactic he had there.

[@dannymccune1888]

MattanzaMafiaFedora ... Nessy - Can I borrow tree fitty?