Distractible
Book Recommendations

Distractible

The Distractible podcast with Mark Fischbach, Wade Barnes, and Bob Muyskens is a space to have thoughtful discussions about funny, out there, or otherwise interesting stories from everyday life. Also an opportunity for three friends to remind each other they are not as smart as they think.

Episodes 423
Books 60

Recently mentioned

Latest Recommendations

Dungeon Crawler Carl cover

Dungeon Crawler Carl

Matt Dinniman

Mentioned 5 months ago

Fortunately, Unfortunately

Mark was on book five of the series and was reading them very quickly, reading four books in about a week and starting the fifth one immediately after. He enjoyed reading the spell and ability descriptions, noting that the AI sections were some of his favorite parts.

I love Dungeon Crawler Carl. What book are you on? I'm on book five.

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The Scarlet Letter: The Original 1850 Edition (Nathaniel Hawthorne Classics) cover

The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Mentioned 5 months ago

How Do You Pan?

One speaker said this book tried to destroy their love of reading, especially letters.

The Scarlet Letter did its best to destroy my love of anything, especially letters.

Buy on Amazon
Project Hail Mary: A Novel cover

Project Hail Mary

Andy Weir

Mentioned 5 months ago

How Do You Pan?

Mark praised this book for covering many concepts simply and keeping him hooked despite the fake science. Wade mentioned he hadn't read it yet but knew he liked Andy Weir's writing.

I would say like Project Hail Mary kind of walked the line because it was a very simply written, but it covered a bunch of concepts and a bunch of it was like, you know, fake science shit. But like, it still was like, OK, I'm trying to keep track of all these terms and science stuff and math stuff. But like, it did a good job of carrying me like I stayed hooked. I love that book. That was a great book.

Buy on Amazon
Artemis: A Novel cover

Artemis

Andy Weir

Mentioned 5 months ago

How Do You Pan?

Mark recommended this sci-fi book, which is set on a moon base and features a heist element, calling it totally worth reading.

You should read Artemis by Andy Weir. It's a sci fi. It's a moon base setting. The main character is awesome. The whole thing. It's very like heisty. It's got like a heist shenanigans aspect to it. Yeah. Awesome. Also totally worth reading. Love that book.

Buy on Amazon
The Martian: A Novel cover

The Martian

Andy Weir

Mentioned 5 months ago

How Do You Pan?

Mark mentioned that if someone liked Project Hail Mary, they should definitely read this book.

if you like Project Hail Mary and if you haven't read The Martian, The Martian is very worth reading.

Buy on Amazon
The Runaway Jury: A Novel cover

The Runaway Jury

John Grisham

Mentioned 5 months ago

How Do You Pan?

One speaker mentioned they needed to finish reading this book before starting Dungeon Crawler Carl.

I've got to finish Runaway Jury first, but then I'm switching over to it.

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The Widow: A Novel cover

The Widow

John Grisham

Mentioned 5 months ago

How Do You Pan?

Wade mentioned reading some of these books after finishing the Animorphs series.

And then last year I read the entire Animorphs series in like a month and then picked up some of the John Grisham books and stuff.

Buy on Amazon
How to Play Video Games (User's Guides to Popular Culture) cover

How to Play Video Games (User's Guides to Popular Culture)

Matthew Thomas Payne

Mentioned 1 year ago

Nah, I'd Win

The speakers discussed "Game Dev Tycoon", a game released in 2012, and its sequel, "Tavern Keeper", released 12 years later by the same studio, Greenheart Games.

Do you guys know the game Game Dev Tycoon?

Buy on Amazon
Bye Bye Butterfly: A book about Grief, Loss and Letting Go cover

Bye Bye Butterfly

J.I. Willett

Mentioned 1 year ago

Get More Stupider

It was mentioned as a favorite childhood book, described as having a beautiful tale.

I remember my favorite childhood book, bye bye butterfly, it was such a beautiful tale.

Buy on Amazon
Clifford the Big Red Dog cover

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Norman Bridwell

Mentioned 1 year ago

Big or Small (Part 2)

One of the podcast hosts expressed their fondness for the book series. They imagined a scenario involving a large or small Clifford and discussed the potential consequences.

I always thought I love those books. I love Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Buy on Amazon
The Da Vinci Code cover

The Da Vinci Code

Dan Brown

Mentioned 1 year ago

Wade's Secret Words (Part 2)

The podcast hosts discussed a novelization of the movie, which was itself based on the book, and a new movie based on that novelization was anticipated. A host expressed excitement for the potential to engage with more Da Vinci Code material through this process.

I'm excited for the movie to come out of the novelization of the movie of the original novel of The Da Vinci Code.

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Everyone Poops (Taro Gomi) cover

Everyone Poops (Taro Gomi)

Taro Gomi

Mentioned 2 years ago

Uplifting Children's Stories

It was mentioned as a good read and a great book.

you know the book everybody poops yes great book good read

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Most Recommended

The 5 Love Languages Hardcover Special Edition: The Secret to Love That Lasts Cover

Gary Chapman

The 5 Love Languages Hardcover Special Edition

The Secret to Love That Lasts

One of the hosts mentioned "The 5 Love Languages" as a book that discusses love languages, including acts of service, which was relevant to a story they shared about their relationship.

"

I don't know that's a book and I don't know the language of the book, but my love language is about doing things for the people that I really care about as much as I can.

— Episode: Thank You

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Episode: Thank You

One of the hosts mentioned "The 5 Love Languages" as a book that discusses love languages, including acts of service, which was relevant to a story they shared about their relationship.

"

I don't know that's a book and I don't know the language of the book, but my love language is about doing things for the people that I really care about as much as I can.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, Book 4) (4) Cover

J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, Book 4) (4)

Mark recounted sneaking out of his house at 15 to attend the midnight release of this book's movie adaptation with a date, but ended up watching most of the film alone after failing to locate them in the theater.

"

I think it was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was having their midnight Release premiere thing the following week.

— Episode: Perfect Crime

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Episode: Perfect Crime

Mark recounted sneaking out of his house at 15 to attend the midnight release of this book's movie adaptation with a date, but ended up watching most of the film alone after failing to locate them in the theater.

"

I think it was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was having their midnight Release premiere thing the following week.

Yeah, yeah, so did I kind of was that the one that came up before order the Phoenix? Yeah, that's the fourth one. Okay. Yeah, it's fourth one. Okay. Got it.

So Smithers wanted to go out to the To the midnight premiere of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and invited me

So I just sat down there and just watch two-thirds. I don't I still to this day Don't think I've seen the beginning of Goblet of Fire.

All The King's Men Cover

Robert Penn Warren

All The King's Men

This book was mentioned as a good read.

"

All The King's Men was a good one.

— Episode: Reading

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Episode: Reading

This book was mentioned as a good read.

"

All The King's Men was a good one.

Goodnight Moon Cover

Margaret Wise Brown

Goodnight Moon

It was mentioned as a source of inspiration for another children's book, similar in style and feel.

"

it's kind of like Good Night Moon

— Episode: Uplifting Children's Stories

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Episode: Uplifting Children's Stories

It was mentioned as a source of inspiration for another children's book, similar in style and feel.

"

it's kind of like Good Night Moon

Project Hail Mary: A Novel Cover

Andy Weir

Project Hail Mary

A Novel

Mark praised this book for covering many concepts simply and keeping him hooked despite the fake science. Wade mentioned he hadn't read it yet but knew he liked Andy Weir's writing.

"

I would say like Project Hail Mary kind of walked the line because it was a very simply written, but it covered a bunch of concepts and a bunch of it was like, you know, fake science...

— Episode: How Do You Pan?

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How Do You Pan?

Mark praised this book for covering many concepts simply and keeping him hooked despite the fake science. Wade mentioned he hadn't read it yet but knew he liked Andy Weir's writing.

"

I would say like Project Hail Mary kind of walked the line because it was a very simply written, but it covered a bunch of concepts and a bunch of it was like, you know, fake science shit. But like, it still was like, OK, I'm trying to keep track of all these terms and science stuff and math stuff. But like, it did a good job of carrying me like I stayed hooked. I love that book. That was a great book.

I actually haven't read Project Hail Mary yet, but I know that I like Andy Weir.

Stranger in a Strange Land (Penguin Galaxy) Cover

Robert A. Heinlein

Stranger in a Strange Land (Penguin Galaxy)

It was mentioned as part of a larger collection of science fiction books that belonged to the speaker's father; a book about fourth-dimensional aliens was read by the speaker as a child, inspiring a recurring nightmare.

"

My dad had a big like classic sci-fi book collection. He liked sci-fi he had a lot of like Heinlein and all the Ayn Rand books and you know just like a collection of books from like when he was in col...

— Episode: Dreams & Nightmares

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Episode: Dreams & Nightmares

It was mentioned as part of a larger collection of science fiction books that belonged to the speaker's father; a book about fourth-dimensional aliens was read by the speaker as a child, inspiring a recurring nightmare.

"

My dad had a big like classic sci-fi book collection. He liked sci-fi he had a lot of like Heinlein and all the Ayn Rand books and you know just like a collection of books from like when he was in college all yellowed and old and musty smelling.

And when I was a kid I went through phases where I would just like go into the bookcase and grab up some of these books and I don't remember what the book was called but one of them was about fourth dimensional aliens that could go in and out of like our dimension.

Essentially were invisible they could travel around in this other dimension and we couldn't perceive them but then they could come into our dimension and do stuff to us and they were like abducting people and doing things.

These Truths: A History of the United States Cover

Jill Lepore

These Truths

A History of the United States

An overdue book, returned almost 100 years late to a California library. Its age made it quite outdated.

"

Quote, A History of the United States.

— Episode: Whimsical Headlines

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Episode: Whimsical Headlines

An overdue book, returned almost 100 years late to a California library. Its age made it quite outdated.

"

Quote, A History of the United States.

A Series of Unfortunate Events New Cover Collection - 13 books, RRP 90.87 (T... Cover

A Series of Unfortunate Events New Cover Collection - 13 books, RRP 90.87 (T...

The book's characters were referenced in relation to a discussion about conspiracy theories, specifically Count Olaf.

"

Oh, the let it go, dude. The little snowman. Count Olaf, that guy who was in Star Wars who was like do it.

— Episode: Conspiracy Theories

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Episode: Conspiracy Theories

The book's characters were referenced in relation to a discussion about conspiracy theories, specifically Count Olaf.

"

Oh, the let it go, dude. The little snowman. Count Olaf, that guy who was in Star Wars who was like do it.

Oh, that's who that's from. Sure. Gotcha. Lemony Snicket.

The Boxcar Children Mysteries Boxed Set 1-4: The Boxcar Children; Surprise Island; The Yellow House; Mystery Ranch Cover

Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Boxcar Children Mysteries Boxed Set 1-4

The Boxcar Children; Surprise Island; The Yellow House; Mystery Ranch

One of the hosts fondly remembered reading this series and buying new books from the school book fair.

"

I will say I was a boxcar children kid. I read those too. Yeah, I like those too. I love the boxcar.

— Episode: Reading

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Reading

One of the hosts fondly remembered reading this series and buying new books from the school book fair.

"

I will say I was a boxcar children kid. I read those too. Yeah, I like those too. I love the boxcar.

they were they were like orphan kids who lived in an abandoned boxcar from like a train car type thing.

A Prayer for Owen Meany Cover

John Irving

A Prayer for Owen Meany

This book was described as an enjoyable read, in contrast to "The Scarlet Letter."

"

A Prayer for Owen Meany was like a Thick book. The scarlet letter was like a hundred pages decent-sized words.

— Episode: Reading

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Episode: Reading

This book was described as an enjoyable read, in contrast to "The Scarlet Letter."

"

A Prayer for Owen Meany was like a Thick book. The scarlet letter was like a hundred pages decent-sized words.

I was like, okay, this sounds like has some kind of religious context. I'm not a big religion guy. I'm going to hate this book. I was like, this was enjoyable. I'd read that again. That was fine.

Stellaluna 25th Anniversary Edition Cover

Janell Cannon

Stellaluna 25th Anniversary Edition

The host recalled the title from their childhood and expressed a general love for large picture books, but did not provide any details or evaluation of the book. It was mentioned only as a nostalgic reference.

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Episode: You Member?

The podcast host mentioned remembering a book called Stellaluna from their childhood, although they couldn't recall specific details.

"

I remember something with like a brown bear and a snake that eats itself. I don't know. I just love the library of children's books. Pull out one of those big cardboard picture books like something about a brown bear and a snake that eats itself.

On Bullshit Cover

Harry G. Frankfurt

On Bullshit

The podcasters discussed Harry Frankfurt's essay, "On Bullshit," which argues that bullshitting is more dangerous to society than lying or truth-telling. They mentioned it as an excellent read and a philosophy document.

"

There is a document called On Bullshit in philosophy.

— Episode: The Bait Debate

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Episode: The Bait Debate

The podcasters discussed Harry Frankfurt's essay, "On Bullshit," which argues that bullshitting is more dangerous to society than lying or truth-telling. They mentioned it as an excellent read and a philosophy document.

"

There is a document called On Bullshit in philosophy.

It argues that bullshitting is more dangerous to our society than lying or truth telling.

It's an excellent read.

It's a book.

What's the other name? It's a paper. I want to say his name was like William Frankfurter, but I might be wrong. Frankfurt, Harry Frankfurt.

Artemis: A Novel Cover

Andy Weir

Artemis

A Novel

Mark recommended this sci-fi book, which is set on a moon base and features a heist element, calling it totally worth reading.

"

You should read Artemis by Andy Weir. It's a sci fi. It's a moon base setting. The main character is awesome. The whole thing. It's very like heisty. It's got like a heist shenanigans...

— Episode: How Do You Pan?

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How Do You Pan?

Mark recommended this sci-fi book, which is set on a moon base and features a heist element, calling it totally worth reading.

"

You should read Artemis by Andy Weir. It's a sci fi. It's a moon base setting. The main character is awesome. The whole thing. It's very like heisty. It's got like a heist shenanigans aspect to it. Yeah. Awesome. Also totally worth reading. Love that book.

The Martian: A Novel Cover

Andy Weir

The Martian

A Novel

Mark mentioned that if someone liked Project Hail Mary, they should definitely read this book.

"

if you like Project Hail Mary and if you haven't read The Martian, The Martian is very worth reading.

— Episode: How Do You Pan?

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How Do You Pan?

Mark mentioned that if someone liked Project Hail Mary, they should definitely read this book.

"

if you like Project Hail Mary and if you haven't read The Martian, The Martian is very worth reading.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS OMNIBUS VOL. 1 [NEW PRINTING] (Guardians of the Galaxy Omnibus) Cover

Brian Michael Bendis

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS OMNIBUS VOL. 1 [NEW PRINTING] (Guardians of the Galaxy Omnibus)

In the episode, the host expressed a dislike for the Guardians of the Galaxy series, attributing the sentiment to Chris Pratt rather than any comic adaptation. The title was mentioned only in passing and received no endorsement. The overall tone was critical of the franchise rather than a recommendation of the book.

Critiqued
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How to Play Video Games (User's Guides to Popular Culture) Cover

Matthew Thomas Payne

How to Play Video Games (User's Guides to Popular Culture)

The speakers discussed "Game Dev Tycoon", a game released in 2012, and its sequel, "Tavern Keeper", released 12 years later by the same studio, Greenheart Games.

"

Do you guys know the game Game Dev Tycoon?

— Episode: Nah, I'd Win

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Nah, I'd Win

The speakers discussed "Game Dev Tycoon", a game released in 2012, and its sequel, "Tavern Keeper", released 12 years later by the same studio, Greenheart Games.

"

Do you guys know the game Game Dev Tycoon?

It came out in 2012 originally, and it's been kind of re-released on different platforms. The studio that made that, I love that game, and there were also a lot of copycats of that game called Game Dev Story and things, but it was a very fun game.

Greenheart Games, the company that made that game, finally 12 years later has released another game, and it's called Tavern Keeper.

Bye Bye Butterfly: A book about Grief, Loss and Letting Go Cover

J.I. Willett

Bye Bye Butterfly

A book about Grief, Loss and Letting Go

Bob recalled the title as his favorite childhood read and praised it as a beautiful tale, highlighting its emotional resonance. The discussion centered on the book's poignant storytelling about grief and letting go, which he remembered fondly from his youth.

Highly Recommended
Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Get More Stupider

It was mentioned as a favorite childhood book, described as having a beautiful tale.

"

I remember my favorite childhood book, Bye Bye Butterfly, it was such a beautiful tale.

Clifford the Big Red Dog Cover

Norman Bridwell

Clifford the Big Red Dog

In the episode, one of the hosts shared that they loved the book series, imagining scenarios with a large or small Clifford and discussing the possible outcomes. The discussion highlighted their personal affection for the title without a detailed analysis, conveying a lighthearted appreciation.

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Big or Small (Part 2)

One of the podcast hosts expressed their fondness for the book series. They imagined a scenario involving a large or small Clifford and discussed the potential consequences.

"

I always thought I love those books. I love Clifford the Big Red Dog.

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