The Backgammon Chronicles
Robert Wachtel
Mentioned 1 month ago
677. Can Backgammon Save Us from Ourselves?
Book Recommendations
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engin...
Episodes
912
Books
635
Recently mentioned
Latest Recommendations
In the Game until the End Volume II
Robert H Wachtel
Mentioned 1 month ago
677. Can Backgammon Save Us from Ourselves?
"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!"
Richard P. Feynman
Mentioned 1 month ago
The Vanishing Mr. Feynman (Update)
Madame Bovary
Gustave Flaubert
Mentioned 1 month ago
The Vanishing Mr. Feynman (Update)
What Do You Care What Other People Think
Richard P. Feynman
Mentioned 1 month ago
The Vanishing Mr. Feynman (Update)
The Grasshopper - Third Edition
Bernard Suits
Mentioned 2 months ago
675. Has the New York Times Become a Games Company?
Rules of Play
Katie Salen Tekinbas
Mentioned 2 months ago
675. Has the New York Times Become a Games Company?
Interaction of Color
Josef Albers
Mentioned 2 months ago
675. Has the New York Times Become a Games Company?
The Wealth of Nations (Modern Library)
Adam Smith
Mentioned 2 months ago
674. How Does a Composer Feel After the World Premiere?
Adam Smith’s America
Glory M. Liu
Mentioned 2 months ago
674. How Does a Composer Feel After the World Premiere?
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte
Mentioned 2 months ago
673. What Is Money?
Hard Times
Charles Dickens
Mentioned 2 months ago
673. What Is Money?
Most Recommended
The Plot
The Secret Story of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion
Ken Burns discussed how Henry Ford promoted this antisemitic hoax through his newspaper and a book, which was influential in Germany.
"
He bought a newspaper and he printed over many editions the protocols of the elders of Zion which is the worst anti-Semitic track a hoax written in Russia. And then he put together all of these proble...
— Episode: Extra: Ken Burns | People I (Mostly) Adm...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Extra: Ken Burns | People I (Mostly) Admire
Ken Burns discussed how Henry Ford promoted this antisemitic hoax through his newspaper and a book, which was influential in Germany.
"
He bought a newspaper and he printed over many editions the protocols of the elders of Zion which is the worst anti-Semitic track a hoax written in Russia. And then he put together all of these problems of international Jewry and published it in a book which got read in German too.
Mindset
The New Psychology of Success
It was mentioned as a book that Satya Nadella's wife introduced him to, potentially shaping his perspective on personal growth and development.
"
But I had to look back and sort of ask myself like, OK, how did this come about? Even the books, like everything, whether it's Nonviolent Communication or Carol Dweck's Mindset, were...
— Episode: 324. Extra: Satya Nadella Full Interview
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: 324. Extra: Satya Nadella Full Interview
It was mentioned as a book that Satya Nadella's wife introduced him to, potentially shaping his perspective on personal growth and development.
"
But I had to look back and sort of ask myself like, OK, how did this come about? Even the books, like everything, whether it's Nonviolent Communication or Carol Dweck's Mindset, were all books my wife introduced me to.
Anna Karenina
The first line of the book, 'Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way', was mentioned as a famous example of how there seems to be more variations for unhappiness.
"
one of the most famous lines in literature is the first sentence of Anna Karenina by Tolstoy. Happy families are all alike. Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
— Episode: Why Is U.S. Media So Negative? (Ep. 477...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Why Is U.S. Media So Negative? (Ep. 477 Replay)
The first line of the book, 'Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way', was mentioned as a famous example of how there seems to be more variations for unhappiness.
"
one of the most famous lines in literature is the first sentence of Anna Karenina by Tolstoy. Happy families are all alike. Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
The Great Gatsby
The Original 1925 Edition (Booklover's Library Classics)
It was mentioned as an example of how Chris Bosh used visualization when reading, which he believes helped improve his performance on the court.
"
I like that image of the green light across the water in The Great Gatsby.
— Episode: “This Didn't End the Way It’s Supposed t...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: “This Didn't End the Way It’s Supposed to End.” (B...
It was mentioned as an example of how Chris Bosh used visualization when reading, which he believes helped improve his performance on the court.
"
I like that image of the green light across the water in The Great Gatsby.
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
It discussed the strengths and limitations of strict Chinese parenting styles, including the emphasis on filial piety and the expectations placed on children towards their parents.
"
She wrote a book called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother about the strengths and limits of strict Chinese parenting.
— Episode: 223. Should Kids Pay Back Their Parents...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: 223. Should Kids Pay Back Their Parents for Raisin...
It discussed the strengths and limitations of strict Chinese parenting styles, including the emphasis on filial piety and the expectations placed on children towards their parents.
"
She wrote a book called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother about the strengths and limits of strict Chinese parenting.
Dopamine Nation
Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence
It was mentioned as a recent book by a Stanford psychiatry professor discussing addictions to activities like video games and gambling, with parallels drawn to the addictive nature of political media consumption.
"
There's a really great psychiatry professor at Stanford Medical School named Anna Lemke, who has a big new book out about dopamine.
— Episode: 478. How Can We Break Our Addiction to C...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: 478. How Can We Break Our Addiction to Contempt?
It was mentioned as a recent book by a Stanford psychiatry professor discussing addictions to activities like video games and gambling, with parallels drawn to the addictive nature of political media consumption.
"
There's a really great psychiatry professor at Stanford Medical School named Anna Lemke, who has a big new book out about dopamine.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (1)
It was mentioned as an example of how Chris Bosh used visualization when reading, which he believes helped improve his performance on the court.
"
I could see Harry Potter and his friends going to Hogwarts for another semester to learn magic.
— Episode: “This Didn't End the Way It’s Supposed t...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: “This Didn't End the Way It’s Supposed to End.” (B...
It was mentioned as an example of how Chris Bosh used visualization when reading, which he believes helped improve his performance on the court.
"
I could see Harry Potter and his friends going to Hogwarts for another semester to learn magic.
Influence, New and Expanded
The Psychology of Persuasion
It was originally published in 1984 and discussed the six levers of influence, which was expanded upon in a later edition with a seventh lever, unity. It became a New York Times bestseller after three years and has sold roughly five million copies.
"
It was called Influence, the Psychology of Persuasion.
— Episode: 463. How to Get Anyone to Do Anything
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: 463. How to Get Anyone to Do Anything
It was originally published in 1984 and discussed the six levers of influence, which was expanded upon in a later edition with a seventh lever, unity. It became a New York Times bestseller after three years and has sold roughly five million copies.
"
It was called Influence, the Psychology of Persuasion.
It was published in 1984. It sold only a few thousand copies. But word of mouth grew. After three years, it became a New York Times bestseller. And then it kept selling and kept selling and kept selling compound influence.
As of today, it sold roughly five million copies in 44 languages.
Just last year, Cialdini says, the book sold nearly 300,000 copies.
Now he has released a new and aggressively expanded edition of his book.
Life of Pi
It was the basis of a film that won four Oscars, including Best Director and Best Visual Effects, which was discussed at length in the podcast.
"
One of the big winners at the 2013 Academy Awards was Life of Pi.
— Episode: 276. No Hollywood Ending for the Visual-...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: 276. No Hollywood Ending for the Visual-Effects In...
It was the basis of a film that won four Oscars, including Best Director and Best Visual Effects, which was discussed at length in the podcast.
"
One of the big winners at the 2013 Academy Awards was Life of Pi.
The film was based on a novel by Jan Martel.
It won four Oscars that night, including Best Director for Ang Lee.
Life of Pi. It had been nominated for 11 Oscars, including Best Visual Effects.
The Oscar goes to Life of Pi.
Common Sense
The Unabridged and Complete Edition (Thomas Paine Classics)
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
The Communist Manifesto
1888 Translated Edition (The Political Classic of Karl Marx And Friedrich Engels)
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Jane Eyre
The novel was referenced alongside other classic works as possible textual material for the composition.
"
I thought there was Dickens' Hard Times and Trollope and Jane Eyre and I'm a huge Zola fan.
— Episode: 673. What Is Money?
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: 673. What Is Money?
The novel was referenced alongside other classic works as possible textual material for the composition.
"
I thought there was Dickens' Hard Times and Trollope and Jane Eyre and I'm a huge Zola fan.
The Iliad
It was mentioned as an example of something that might be difficult to do while multitasking, along with driving and balancing a checkbook.
"
when you kind of like to be able to recite The Iliad and Greek and drive a car and you know balance some modern version of a checkbook at the same time, wouldn't it be kind of cool?
— Episode: 601. Multitasking Doesn’t Work. So Why D...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: 601. Multitasking Doesn’t Work. So Why Do We Keep...
It was mentioned as an example of something that might be difficult to do while multitasking, along with driving and balancing a checkbook.
"
when you kind of like to be able to recite The Iliad and Greek and drive a car and you know balance some modern version of a checkbook at the same time, wouldn't it be kind of cool?
How to Change Your Mind
What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
It was mentioned as a best-selling book, discussing the new science of psychedelics and their potential uses for consciousness, death, addiction, depression, and transcendence.
"
One example being Michael Pollan's bestselling book, How to Change Your Mind, What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Tra...
— Episode: 433. How Are Psychedelics and Other Part...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: 433. How Are Psychedelics and Other Party Drugs Ch...
It was mentioned as a best-selling book, discussing the new science of psychedelics and their potential uses for consciousness, death, addiction, depression, and transcendence.
"
One example being Michael Pollan's bestselling book, How to Change Your Mind, What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence.
The Better Angels of Our Nature
Why Violence Has Declined
It was argued that the commonly held belief that history was violent was incorrect. It was suggested that violence has decreased over time, with figures and examples provided.
"
He argues that our rosy view of history is pretty much entirely wrong In tribal societies, hunter-gatherers and hunter-quarter culturalists
— Episode: 43. The Decline and Fall of Violence
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: 43. The Decline and Fall of Violence
It was argued that the commonly held belief that history was violent was incorrect. It was suggested that violence has decreased over time, with figures and examples provided.
"
He argues that our rosy view of history is pretty much entirely wrong In tribal societies, hunter-gatherers and hunter-quarter culturalists
An average of about 15% of people met their ends through violence In the 20th century, if you try to come up with the highest estimate you can Combining all the wars, all the genocides, all the man-made famines You get to about 3%
1 Kings 1 to 11, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes
The Rise and Fall of Solomon (MacArthur Bible Studies)
It was mentioned that King Solomon is thought to have written several books, including this one, and that Pete Seeger used it as lyrics for a song that later became a number one hit.
"
King Solomon, meanwhile, is thought to have written several biblical books, including Ecclesiastes, which the folk singer Pete Seeger used as lyrics to his song Turn, Turn, Turn, which when recorded b...
— Episode: 174. What Do King Solomon and David Lee...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: 174. What Do King Solomon and David Lee Roth Have...
It was mentioned that King Solomon is thought to have written several books, including this one, and that Pete Seeger used it as lyrics for a song that later became a number one hit.
"
King Solomon, meanwhile, is thought to have written several biblical books, including Ecclesiastes, which the folk singer Pete Seeger used as lyrics to his song Turn, Turn, Turn, which when recorded by the Byrds in 1965 was a number one hit.
Marvel - I'm Ready to Read with Spider-Man - Interactive Read-Along Sound Book - Great for Early Readers - PI Kids
It was mentioned in the context of Brian Singer meeting Stan Lee, who created it, along with other famous characters, and discussing the possibility of bringing a comic book universe to life.
"
And it was during that meeting I started thinking, wow, this is Stan Lee. This is the man who created Spider-Man and Fantastic Four and the Hulk and all these characters, and he's an icon, and he love...
— Episode: 276. No Hollywood Ending for the Visual-...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: 276. No Hollywood Ending for the Visual-Effects In...
It was mentioned in the context of Brian Singer meeting Stan Lee, who created it, along with other famous characters, and discussing the possibility of bringing a comic book universe to life.
"
And it was during that meeting I started thinking, wow, this is Stan Lee. This is the man who created Spider-Man and Fantastic Four and the Hulk and all these characters, and he's an icon, and he loved The Usual Suspects and went off on it and treated me so nicely.
Say What You Mean
A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication
It was mentioned as a book that Satya Nadella's wife introduced him to, providing insights and potentially influencing his development of empathy.
"
But I had to look back and sort of ask myself like, OK, how did this come about? Even the books, like everything, whether it's Nonviolent Communication or Carol Dweck's Mindset, were all books my wife...
— Episode: 324. Extra: Satya Nadella Full Interview
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: 324. Extra: Satya Nadella Full Interview
It was mentioned as a book that Satya Nadella's wife introduced him to, providing insights and potentially influencing his development of empathy.
"
But I had to look back and sort of ask myself like, OK, how did this come about? Even the books, like everything, whether it's Nonviolent Communication or Carol Dweck's Mindset, were all books my wife introduced me to.
Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.