Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Book Recommendations

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Hi, I’m Dax Shepard, and I love talking to people. I am endlessly fascinated by the messiness of being human, and I find people who are vulnerable and honest about their struggles and shortcomings to be incredibly sexy. I invite you to join me as I explore other people’s stories. We will celebrate,...

Episodes 846
Books 630

Recently mentioned

Latest Recommendations

The Intimate Animal: The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die for Love cover

The Intimate Animal

Justin R. Garcia PhD

Mentioned 5 months ago

Justin Garcia (on the science of sex)

Dax praised it as a phenomenal and eyeopening read that explores the science of sex, fidelity, and why we live and die for love.

he has a book out now called The Intimate Animal, The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die for Love, which is a phenomenal read and very eyeopening.

Buy on Amazon
Sexual Behavior in the Human Female by Alfred C Kinsey (1998-05-01) cover

Sexual Behavior in the Human Female by Alfred C Kinsey (1998-05-01)

Alfred C. Kinsey

Mentioned 5 months ago

Justin Garcia (on the science of sex)

The hosts noted it was the first Kinsey volume, a huge bestseller that revealed unprecedented data on male sexuality.

the first book comes out, Sexual Behavior of the Human Male, Huge bestseller.

Buy on Amazon
Sexual Behavior in the Human Female cover

Sexual Behavior in the Human Female

Alfred C. Kinsey

Mentioned 5 months ago

Justin Garcia (on the science of sex)

They mentioned it followed the male volume, also becoming a bestseller despite controversy and book burnings.

five years later, Sexual Behavior of the Human Female came out.

Buy on Amazon
The Spider and the Fly: A Reporter, a Serial Killer, and the Meaning of Murder cover

The Spider and the Fly

Claudia Rowe

Mentioned 5 months ago

Claudia Rowe (on the foster care system)

Claudia Rowe released the truecrime memoir in 2017, detailing her fiveyear correspondence with a confessed serial killer and the unsettling investigation that followed.

Her previous book, which is super interesting, we actually learned a bit about her previous book, The Spider and the Fly, with her intertwinement.

Buy on Amazon
Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult cover

Empire of Orgasm

Ellen Huet

Mentioned 5 months ago

Ellen Huet (on wellness cults)

The hosts highlighted Ellen Huet's new investigative book about the OneTaste wellness cult, praising its compelling narrative and urging listeners to read it.

She's got a new book out now called Empire of Orgasm, Sex, Power and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult.

Buy on Amazon
The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman cover

The 4-Hour Body

Timothy Ferriss

Mentioned 5 months ago

Ellen Huet (on wellness cults)

The conversation noted that Tim Ferriss mentioned OneTaste in his bestselling health book, highlighting its cultural relevance.

Tim wrote about One Taste in the four hour body.

Buy on Amazon
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma cover

The Body Keeps the Score

Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

Mentioned 5 months ago

Marcello Hernández

The book was cited as a great work on trauma, noting its relevance to a doctor's early experiences at the VA hospital.

There's a great book The Body Keeps the Score maybe you've heard about that book but this doctor's work starts because he's working when he's young in the VA hospital and he's watching these vets come in and they're getting confronted with something that's just a little difficult like it's paperwork and he's watching people have this insane flight or fight reaction full 180 heartbeat per minute unraveling.

Buy on Amazon
Maeve and Charlie Meet the Neighbors cover

Maeve and Charlie Meet the Neighbors

Joseph Lopez

Mentioned 6 months ago

Elizabeth Smart

He shared that Groot received a fanmail book titled Maeve and Charlie Meet the Neighbors, which was dedicated to the dog.

He got a book ... it's called Maeve and Charlie Meet the Neighbors, and it's about a dog.

Buy on Amazon
The Neverending Story cover

The Neverending Story

Michael Ende

Mentioned 6 months ago

Elizabeth Smart

The book was mentioned as the childhood movie that scared Elizabeth, and she recalled it being a beautiful story about a boy on an adventure.

The movie that scared me most as a kid was The NeverEnding Story. Oh yeah, sure. Oh, it scared you. Oh, I hated it. You hated a tray with a huge dog or? I mean, honestly, I haven't watched it since then. So I couldn't even tell you what it's about. Oh, wow. It's a beautiful story about a little boy on an adventure.

Buy on Amazon
Guinness World Records 2026 cover

Guinness World Records 2026

Guinness World Records

Mentioned 6 months ago

Elizabeth Smart

The book was referenced when Elizabeth's sister was looking at a page about an extremely muscular woman, illustrating the family's casual reference to the famous records compendium.

My sister is looking at the Guinness Book of World Records.

Buy on Amazon
The Wright Brothers cover

The Wright Brothers

David McCullough

Mentioned 6 months ago

David McWilliams (on the history of money)

The hosts mentioned the book as a great read, highlighting its quality and relevance when discussing early air travel history. It was cited as an example of a wellwritten historical biography.

Great book, by the way, David McCullough, the Wright brothers book.

Buy on Amazon
The History of Money: A Story of Humanity cover

The History of Money

David McWilliams

Mentioned 6 months ago

David McWilliams (on the history of money)

The hosts described the book as absolutely fascinating, noting it blends history and economics and moves quickly with many characters and stories. They praised it as a fun ride that teaches the history of money while being entertaining.

Alas, David McWilliams' book is called The History of Money, and it's absolutely fascinating.

Buy on Amazon

Most Recommended

Little Black Boy: Oh, the Things You Will Do! Cover

Kirby Howell-Baptiste

Little Black Boy

Oh, the Things You Will Do!

Kirby coauthored this book with Larry.

"

you wrote two books, Little Black Girl, The Things You Can Do, which you wrote by yourself, and then Little Black Boy Things You Will Do, you wrote with Larry.

— Episode: Kirby

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Kirby

Kirby coauthored this book with Larry.

"

you wrote two books, Little Black Girl, The Things You Can Do, which you wrote by yourself, and then Little Black Boy Things You Will Do, you wrote with Larry.

Episode: Kirby

Kirby also authored another book referred to as *Little Black Boy*.

"

What you wrote by yourself and then Little Black Boy things.

Eruption: A Thriller Cover

James Patterson

Eruption

A Thriller

It was announced as a new collaborative novel about a volcanic disaster in Hawaii, finished after Crichton's death.

"

It's called Eruption and it's a very criting us story about a huge volcano on the big island of Hawaii and a military secret that this will expose

— Episode: James Patterson

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Episode: James Patterson

It was announced as a new collaborative novel about a volcanic disaster in Hawaii, finished after Crichton's death.

"

It's called Eruption and it's a very criting us story about a huge volcano on the big island of Hawaii and a military secret that this will expose

It's called Eruption

Episode: James Patterson

Patterson described it as a posthumous collaboration with MichaelCrichton about a massive Hawaiian volcano and a military secret.

"

He has a new book out right now, which is super interesting because in a way it is coauthored with Michael Crichton. It's called Eruption and it's a very Crichtonesque story about a huge volcano on the big island of Hawaii

Eruption comes out soon

Unsheltered: A Novel Cover

Barbara Kingsolver

Unsheltered

A Novel

Unsheltered was mentioned alongside Kingsolver's other acclaimed titles.

"

The Poisonwood Bible, Unsheltered, The Bean Trees, Flight Behavior.

— Episode: Barbara Kingsolver (author of Demon Copp...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Barbara Kingsolver (author of Demon Copperhead)

Unsheltered was mentioned alongside Kingsolver's other acclaimed titles.

"

The Poisonwood Bible, Unsheltered, The Bean Trees, Flight Behavior.

Episode: Barbara Kingsolver (author of Demon Copperhead)

Unsheltered was mentioned as part of Kingsolver's bibliography and referenced humorously as an "Unsheltered expert."

"

The Poisonwood Bible, Unsheltered, The Bean Trees, Flight Behavior. And I encourage everyone to go get Demon Copperhead.

She's an Unsheltered expert.

The Bean Trees Anniversary Edition: A Novel Cover

Barbara Kingsolver

The Bean Trees Anniversary Edition

A Novel

The Bean Trees was highlighted as a wellknown novel by Kingsolver.

"

The Poisonwood Bible, Unsheltered, The Bean Trees, Flight Behavior.

— Episode: Barbara Kingsolver (author of Demon Copp...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Barbara Kingsolver (author of Demon Copperhead)

The Bean Trees was highlighted as a wellknown novel by Kingsolver.

"

The Poisonwood Bible, Unsheltered, The Bean Trees, Flight Behavior.

Episode: Barbara Kingsolver (author of Demon Copperhead)

The Bean Trees was listed among Kingsolver's celebrated titles and highlighted as part of her early literary success.

"

The Poisonology Bible, Unsheltered, The Bean Trees, Flight Behavior. And I encourage everyone to go get Demon Copperhead.

Flight Behavior: A Novel Cover

Barbara Kingsolver

Flight Behavior

A Novel

Flight Behavior was included in the list of Kingsolver's celebrated books.

"

The Poisonwood Bible, Unsheltered, The Bean Trees, Flight Behavior.

— Episode: Barbara Kingsolver (author of Demon Copp...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Barbara Kingsolver (author of Demon Copperhead)

Flight Behavior was included in the list of Kingsolver's celebrated books.

"

The Poisonwood Bible, Unsheltered, The Bean Trees, Flight Behavior.

Episode: Barbara Kingsolver (author of Demon Copperhead)

Flight Behavior was cited alongside other Kingsolver novels as part of her acclaimed body of work.

"

The Poisonwood Bible, Unsheltered, The Bean Trees, Flight Behavior. And I encourage everyone to go get Demon Copperhead.

The Upside of Irrationality: The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home Cover

Dan Ariely

The Upside of Irrationality

The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home

Ariely mentioned The Upside of Irrationality as another of his published titles that explores how irrationality can be beneficial.

"

He's written a ton of wonderful books, Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, dollars and cents, payoff, and the honest truth about dishonesty.

— Episode: Dan Ariely (on behavioral economics)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Dan Ariely (on behavioral economics)

Ariely mentioned The Upside of Irrationality as another of his published titles that explores how irrationality can be beneficial.

"

He's written a ton of wonderful books, Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, dollars and cents, payoff, and the honest truth about dishonesty.

Episode: Dan Ariely (on behavioral economics)

The book was listed among Ariely's previous publications, highlighting his extensive catalog on irrational behavior.

"

He's written a ton of wonderful books, Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, Dollars and Cents, Payoff, and The Honest Truth About Dishonesty.

Source Code: My Beginnings Cover

Bill Gates

Source Code

My Beginnings

Dax praised Bill Gates's memoir, calling it the best of its kind and noting it begins a trilogy.

"

Source Code, which is Bill Gates's first of, I think, a trilogy of memoirs, that is as good as it gets when it comes to memoirs.

— Episode: Walter Isaacson Returns (biographer & hi...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Walter Isaacson Returns (biographer & historian)

Dax praised Bill Gates's memoir, calling it the best of its kind and noting it begins a trilogy.

"

Source Code, which is Bill Gates's first of, I think, a trilogy of memoirs, that is as good as it gets when it comes to memoirs.

Episode: Walter Isaacson Returns (biographer & historian)

It was mentioned as the first volume of Bill Gates's memoir trilogy, praised as a very good memoir.

"

Source Code, which is Bill Gates's first of, I think, a trilogy of memoirs, that is as good as it gets when it comes to memoirs.

Voice Lessons for Parents: What to Say, How to Say it, and When to Listen Cover

Wendy Mogel Ph.D.

Voice Lessons for Parents

What to Say, How to Say it, and When to Listen

The host said her books were wildly popular and mentioned the title as one of her works.

"

Her books are wildly popular and wonderful Voice Lessons for Parents, the blessing of a skinned knee, and the blessing of a B minus.

— Episode: Wendy Mogel

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Wendy Mogel

The host said her books were wildly popular and mentioned the title as one of her works.

"

Her books are wildly popular and wonderful Voice Lessons for Parents, the blessing of a skinned knee, and the blessing of a B minus.

Episode: Wendy Mogel

The hosts highlighted that the book was one of Wendy Mogel's bestselling titles and described it as wildly popular and wonderful.

"

Her books are wildly popular and wonderful. Voice Lessons for Parents, The Blessing of a Skin Knee, and The Blessing of a B-.

The Blessing Of A Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children Cover

Wendy Mogel

The Blessing Of A Skinned Knee

Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children

The host listed this title among the bestselling books of the guest.

"

Her books are wildly popular and wonderful voice lessons for parents, The Blessing Of A Skinned Knee, and the blessing of a B minus.

— Episode: Wendy Mogel

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Wendy Mogel

The host listed this title among the bestselling books of the guest.

"

Her books are wildly popular and wonderful voice lessons for parents, The Blessing Of A Skinned Knee, and the blessing of a B minus.

Episode: Wendy Mogel

The book was mentioned alongside Mogel's other titles as part of her popular catalog of parenting guides.

"

Her books are wildly popular and wonderful. Voice lessons for parents, The Blessing of a Skin Knee, and The Blessing of a B-.

Maeve and Charlie Meet the Neighbors Cover

Joseph Lopez

Maeve and Charlie Meet the Neighbors

The children's picture book was highlighted as a fanmail gift dedicated to Groot, describing a dog's interactions with other animals.

"

He got his first bit of fan mail was there like a letter there and now Groot is he's famous oh my god Groot and he hasn't acted the least bit different but this book has been dedicated to Groot it say...

— Episode: Elizabeth Smart

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Elizabeth Smart

The children's picture book was highlighted as a fanmail gift dedicated to Groot, describing a dog's interactions with other animals.

"

He got his first bit of fan mail was there like a letter there and now Groot is he's famous oh my god Groot and he hasn't acted the least bit different but this book has been dedicated to Groot it says for Groot and signed by the author much love that is so cute Joseph Lopez thank you that's so cute this made everyone's day now this is so sweet I am a little I'm concerned I already predicted this in my head what's your concern he's a kid he's handling it so well he doesn't act entitled at all not yet he's completely humble okay he's humbled by the gesture he's more humble post fan mail than pre fan mail okay I just you know it's like child stars is a tricky thing it is a tricky thing but if you've got great parents who have been through this that's true that's helpful you mean great grandparents grandparents I'm his grandpa yeah exactly yeah his grandpa who he lives with though right but you're his grandpa okay I'm his only male in his life and he really looks up to me because he's a boy in a tree I mean I guess since you did drugs maybe you could talk to him yeah but like I just about what ones are good see that's my worry no he's not as you know he has a lot of different challenges because his cardiovascular system is half tree half boy yeah he breathes carbon dioxide and oxygen yeah so I don't think he should inhale anything yeah I don't want him to do anything I wouldn't mind that he does mushrooms and expands his mind as a kid no when he's an adult I know so you need to talk to him about that because he's going to have the opportunity young because he's famous yes and drugs are going to come to him but he's not Drew Barrymore he's not going to nightclubs he just is here at the house I'm just worried he'll start sneaking out hanging out with other celebrity kids ...

Episode: Elizabeth Smart

He shared that Groot received a fanmail book titled Maeve and Charlie Meet the Neighbors, which was dedicated to the dog.

"

He got a book ... it's called Maeve and Charlie Meet the Neighbors, and it's about a dog.

Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult Cover

Ellen Huet

Empire of Orgasm

Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult

The host introduced Ellen Huet's new investigative book on the OneTaste wellness cult and praised its compelling, fastpaced narrative.

"

She's got a new book out now called Empire of Orgasm, Sex, Power and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult.

— Episode: Ellen Huet (on wellness cults)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Ellen Huet (on wellness cults)

The host introduced Ellen Huet's new investigative book on the OneTaste wellness cult and praised its compelling, fastpaced narrative.

"

She's got a new book out now called Empire of Orgasm, Sex, Power and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult.

the book is called Empire of Orgasm, Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. I love when journalists who write mostly in short form write books because the pace is so fucking good. It's like reading just a super compelling article.

Episode: Ellen Huet (on wellness cults)

The hosts highlighted Ellen Huet's new investigative book about the OneTaste wellness cult, praising its compelling narrative and urging listeners to read it.

"

She's got a new book out now called Empire of Orgasm, Sex, Power and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult.

The book is called Empire of Orgasm, Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. I love when journalists who write mostly in short form write books because the pace is so fucking good. It's a great book. I hope everyone checks out Empire of Orgasm.

Niagara Falls, or Does It? (Hank Zipzer, the World's Greatest Underachiever, 1) Cover

Henry Winkler

Niagara Falls, or Does It? (Hank Zipzer, the World's Greatest Underachiever, 1)

It was described as a book about evolution being driven by the female sex.

"

Weirdly, yesterday we interviewed this woman who wrote a book called Eve, and it's all about evolution being driven by the female sex.

— Episode: Halle Berry

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Episode: Halle Berry

It was described as a book about evolution being driven by the female sex.

"

Weirdly, yesterday we interviewed this woman who wrote a book called Eve, and it's all about evolution being driven by the female sex.

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood Cover

Trevor Noah

Born a Crime

Stories from a South African Childhood

It was noted as the seventh title in the same bestseller roundup.

"

Seven is Born a Crime. Yes. That makes sense.

— Episode: Jedidiah Jenkins (author and memoirist)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Jedidiah Jenkins (author and memoirist)

It was noted as the seventh title in the same bestseller roundup.

"

Seven is Born a Crime. Yes. That makes sense.

Thinking, Fast and Slow Cover

Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow

They alluded to the classic psychology work Thinking, Fast and Slow when discussing a colleague's writing.

"

He wrote this book thinking fast and slow.

— Episode: Angela Duckworth Returns

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Angela Duckworth Returns

They alluded to the classic psychology work Thinking, Fast and Slow when discussing a colleague's writing.

"

He wrote this book thinking fast and slow.

1984 Cover

George Orwell

1984

Orwell's novel was mentioned while correcting a timeline error, noting that it was published in 1949.

"

Orwell's 1984 did come out in 1949.

— Episode: Reid Hoffman Returns (on an optimistic A...

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Episode: Reid Hoffman Returns (on an optimistic AI)

Orwell's novel was mentioned while correcting a timeline error, noting that it was published in 1949.

"

Orwell's 1984 did come out in 1949.

It did not come out until 49.

Suicide of the West: How the Rebirth of Tribalism, Populism, Nationalism, and Identity Politics is Destroying American Democracy Cover

Jonah Goldberg

Suicide of the West

How the Rebirth of Tribalism, Populism, Nationalism, and Identity Politics is Destroying American Democracy

He praised Tribal as a very good book that discusses tribalism and its three components.

"

We just had this week a professor from Columbia who wrote a book called Tribal, which is really, really good.

— Episode: Malcolm Gladwell Returns Again

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Episode: Malcolm Gladwell Returns Again

He praised Tribal as a very good book that discusses tribalism and its three components.

"

We just had this week a professor from Columbia who wrote a book called Tribal, which is really, really good.

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany Cover

William L. Shirer

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

A History of Nazi Germany

Tom and Dax noted that Tom had read the dense historical volume and could recount its contents from memory years later.

"

I had read The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, which is like one of the most dense books on the planet.

— Episode: Tom Hansen

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Tom Hansen

Tom and Dax noted that Tom had read the dense historical volume and could recount its contents from memory years later.

"

I had read The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, which is like one of the most dense books on the planet.

The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure Cover

Greg Lukianoff

The Coddling of the American Mind

How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure

A listener said they were finishing the book, noting it was blowing their mind.

"

I am finishing up Jonathan Heights coddling of the American mind.

— Episode: We are supported by... Kim Kardashian We...

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Episode: We are supported by... Kim Kardashian West

A listener said they were finishing the book, noting it was blowing their mind.

"

I am finishing up Jonathan Heights coddling of the American mind.

The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts Cover

Mary Claire Haver MD

The New Menopause

Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts

The host noted that the book was hugely successful and that many listeners benefited from reading it.

"

Two of her books, The New Menopause, which is hugely successful, and The Galveston Diet.

— Episode: Mary Claire Haver (on menopause)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Mary Claire Haver (on menopause)

The host noted that the book was hugely successful and that many listeners benefited from reading it.

"

Two of her books, The New Menopause, which is hugely successful, and The Galveston Diet.

I think a lot of people get a ton out of your book. It's wonderful. The New Menopause book.

The Galveston Diet: The Doctor-Developed, Patient-Proven Plan to Burn Fat and Tame Your Hormonal Symptoms Cover

Mary Claire Haver MD

The Galveston Diet

The Doctor-Developed, Patient-Proven Plan to Burn Fat and Tame Your Hormonal Symptoms

The host mentioned it as one of Dr. Haver's two books alongside The New Menopause.

"

Two of her books, The New Menopause, which is hugely successful, and The Galveston Diet.

— Episode: Mary Claire Haver (on menopause)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Mary Claire Haver (on menopause)

The host mentioned it as one of Dr. Haver's two books alongside The New Menopause.

"

Two of her books, The New Menopause, which is hugely successful, and The Galveston Diet.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.