Little Brother Allusions & Cultural References

When authors refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.

Literary and Philosophical References

  • The Beat Poets (5.12, 14.29)
  • The Declaration of Independence (11.135, 13.133, 15.30)
  • Allen Ginsberg, Howl (14.30-31)
  • Jack Kerouac, On the Road (14.32-41)

Media Agencies

  • The San Francisco Chronicle (5.32, 8.86, 12.169)
  • KQED (9.45, 14.114)
  • Al­Jazeera (13.67-68, 13.73, 14.102)
  • NPR (13.66-73)
  • BBC (14.102)
  • The Bay Guardian (16.61-62, 16.135, 20.10-21)

Historical References

  • Cesar Chavez (1.1, 14.29)
  • Alan Turing (6.67-70)
  • Thomas Bayes (7.75-77)
  • Emma Goldman (11.88, 11.101)
  • the Yippies (12.114-124)
  • Wavy Gravy (not the ice cream) (12.116)
  • Dan Bernstein (a crypto-writing mathematician) (17.5)
  • John Postel (he used to run key internet servers) (17.88)
  • Sodom and Gomorrah (17.102, epilogue.29)
  • Rosa Luxembourg (19.91)

San Francisco References

  • BART and MUNI
  • San Francisco neighborhoods
  • Goat Hill Pizza (4.39, 5.62, 5.78-79)
  • Dolores Park (12.33, 12.82-150)

Pop Culture References

  • Benetton's ads (4.10)
  • Castle Wolfenstein (6.68)
  • Britney Spears (13.53)