Sherry Turkle joins Ezra Klein to discuss relationships with chatbots and what happens when machines become objects of emotional attachment. Their conversation considers technology’s effects on intimacy and human connection.
Her published reading list brings together psychology, political theory, and a computer scientist’s account of the limits of computation. These are the three books explicitly listed as recommendations in the episode notes.
Guest: Sherry Turkle
Episode: Is It a Relationship if No One’s on the Other Side?
Released: October 14, 2026
Sherry’s three picks
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Playing and Reality
Winnicott explores play, creativity, and the development of the self. His account of the space between inner experience and the external world has influenced psychology and thinking about culture.
The Origins of Totalitarianism
Arendt examines antisemitism, imperialism, and the emergence of totalitarian movements. Her study asks how political isolation, ideology, and terror can make systems of domination possible.
Computer Power and Human Reason
A pioneering computer scientist examines the limits of computation and the consequences of treating human judgment as a technical problem. Weizenbaum asks what decisions people should entrust to machines.
An independent reading guide. Not affiliated with The Ezra Klein Show or The New York Times. Recommendations are sourced from the episode’s published show notes.