Hidden Brain
Book Recommendations

Hidden Brain

Why do I feel stuck? How can I become more creative? What can I do to improve my relationships? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. On Hidden Brain, we help you understand your own mind — and the minds of the people around you. (We're routinely rated the #1 science podca...

Episodes 615
Books 396

Most Recommended

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man and Life's Greatest Lesson Cover

Mitch Albom

Tuesdays with Morrie

An Old Man, A Young Man and Life's Greatest Lesson

The hosts referenced Mitch Albom's wellknown book Tuesdays with Morrie while discussing the power of caring relationships.

"

I always come back to the famous book by Mitch Albom Tuesdays with Maury and referring to a former professor as coach and going to see him right through to his final days due to his illness.

— Episode: Do You Feel Invisible?

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Episode: Do You Feel Invisible?

The hosts referenced Mitch Albom's wellknown book Tuesdays with Morrie while discussing the power of caring relationships.

"

I always come back to the famous book by Mitch Albom Tuesdays with Maury and referring to a former professor as coach and going to see him right through to his final days due to his illness.

Mind over Money: Overcoming the Money Disorders That Threaten Our Financial Health Cover

Brad Klontz

Mind over Money

Overcoming the Money Disorders That Threaten Our Financial Health

The book discusses the author's research on money scripts and how they influence financial decisions. It was mentioned in the context of the author's work and expertise on the topic of financial psychology.

"

Brad Clance is a psychologist at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He is the author of the book Mind over Money.

— Episode: Rewrite Your Money Story

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Episode: Rewrite Your Money Story

The book discusses the author's research on money scripts and how they influence financial decisions. It was mentioned in the context of the author's work and expertise on the topic of financial psychology.

"

Brad Clance is a psychologist at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He is the author of the book Mind over Money.

Brad Clance is a psychologist at Creighton University. He's a co-founder of the Financial Psychology Institute, and he's the author of Mind over Money, overcoming the money disorders that threaten our financial health.

Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can't Look Away Cover

Coltan Scrivner PhD

Morbidly Curious

A Scientist Explains Why We Can't Look Away

This book was mentioned as being written by the guest expert, Colton Scrivner, which explains his scientific findings on why people are drawn to morbid curiosity.

"

He's the author of Morbidly Curious, a scientist explains why we can't look away.

— Episode: Murder Mystery

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Episode: Murder Mystery

This book was mentioned as being written by the guest expert, Colton Scrivner, which explains his scientific findings on why people are drawn to morbid curiosity.

"

He's the author of Morbidly Curious, a scientist explains why we can't look away.

The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning Cover

Paul Bloom

The Sweet Spot

The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning

Shankar introduced Paul Bloom as the author of The Sweet Spot, noting it among Bloom's works on pleasure and meaning.

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I'm Shankar Vedantam. Psychologist Paul Bloom is the author of The Sweet Spot, The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning.

— Episode: Ouch! That Feels Great

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Ouch! That Feels Great

Shankar introduced Paul Bloom as the author of The Sweet Spot, noting it among Bloom's works on pleasure and meaning.

"

I'm Shankar Vedantam. Psychologist Paul Bloom is the author of The Sweet Spot, The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning.

Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves Cover

Alison Wood Brooks

Talk

The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves

Alison Wood Brooks was identified as the author of the book "Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves," and the work was referenced as the source of her conversational framework and advice throughout the episode.

"

Alison Wood Brooks is a behavioral scientist at Harvard Business School; she's the author of Talk the science of conversation and the art of being ourselves.

— Episode: You 2.0: The Path to Contentment + Your...

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Episode: You 2.0: The Path to Contentment + Your Questions...

Alison Wood Brooks was identified as the author of the book "Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves," and the work was referenced as the source of her conversational framework and advice throughout the episode.

"

Alison Wood Brooks is a behavioral scientist at Harvard Business School; she's the author of Talk the science of conversation and the art of being ourselves.

There is, I mean, it's my whole book right; it's all of the things in the Talk framework--prep topics before a conversation starts.

The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction--and How to Overcome It Cover

James Kimmel Jr. JD

The Science of Revenge

Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction--and How to Overcome It

The book was presented as James Kimmel Jr.'s work that explores revenge as an addiction, explaining its psychological mechanisms and offering ways to overcome it.

"

James Kimmel Jr. is the author of The Science of Revenge, Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction and How to Overcome It.

— Episode: The Price of Revenge

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Price of Revenge

The book was presented as James Kimmel Jr.'s work that explores revenge as an addiction, explaining its psychological mechanisms and offering ways to overcome it.

"

James Kimmel Jr. is the author of The Science of Revenge, Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction and How to Overcome It.

James Kimmel Jr. is a lecturer at Yale University. He is the author of The Science of Revenge, Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction, and How to Overcome It.

Changeable: How Collaborative Problem Solving Changes Lives at Home, at School, and at Work Cover

J. Stuart Ablon

Changeable

How Collaborative Problem Solving Changes Lives at Home, at School, and at Work

The host identified Stuart Ablon as the author of Changeable, highlighting its focus on collaborative problemsolving and how it transforms lives at home.

"

He is the author of Changeable, how collaborative problemsolving changes lives at home

— Episode: Reframing the Battle of Wills

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Reframing the Battle of Wills

The host identified Stuart Ablon as the author of Changeable, highlighting its focus on collaborative problemsolving and how it transforms lives at home.

"

He is the author of Changeable, how collaborative problemsolving changes lives at home

Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing Cover

Leslie John

Revealing

The Underrated Power of Oversharing

The host highlighted Leslie John's book as the source of her expertise on selfdisclosure, noting it explores the underrated power of oversharing.

"

Psychologist Leslie John is the author of Revealing, the Underrated Power of Oversharing.

— Episode: Coming Clean

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Coming Clean

The host highlighted Leslie John's book as the source of her expertise on selfdisclosure, noting it explores the underrated power of oversharing.

"

Psychologist Leslie John is the author of Revealing, the Underrated Power of Oversharing.

Psychologist Leslie John is the author of Revealing, The Underrated Power of Oversharing.

Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less Cover

Leidy Klotz

Subtract

The Untapped Science of Less

Leidy Klotz was identified as the author of Subtract, The Untapped Power of Less during the interview.

"

He's the author of Subtract, The Untapped Power of Less.

— Episode: Innovation 2.0: Do Less

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Innovation 2.0: Do Less

Leidy Klotz was identified as the author of Subtract, The Untapped Power of Less during the interview.

"

He's the author of Subtract, The Untapped Power of Less.

The Elements of Style Cover

William Strunk Jr.

The Elements of Style

The conversation mentioned that Strunk and White's textbook is the most assigned writing guide in schools.

"

Strunk and White, they're the most assigned textbook on college and high school syllabi.

— Episode: Innovation 2.0: Do Less

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Innovation 2.0: Do Less

The conversation mentioned that Strunk and White's textbook is the most assigned writing guide in schools.

"

Strunk and White, they're the most assigned textbook on college and high school syllabi.

We talked about Strunk and White amid needless words.

Thinking, Fast and Slow Cover

Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow

The book was cited as the 2011 work where Kahneman explained many of his insights on judgment and decision making.

"

Danny explained many of these insights in his 2011 book thinking fast and slow.

— Episode: The Transformative Ideas of Daniel Kahne...

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Episode: The Transformative Ideas of Daniel Kahneman

The book was cited as the 2011 work where Kahneman explained many of his insights on judgment and decision making.

"

Danny explained many of these insights in his 2011 book thinking fast and slow.

He mentioned that people have read thinking fast and slow in the hope that it would improve their minds, but it didn't improve his mind.

The Marshmallow Test: Mastering Self-Control Cover

Walter Mischel

The Marshmallow Test

Mastering Self-Control

The psychologist was mentioned as the author of a book about the marshmallow experiments that explore delayed gratification.

"

Well there's a famous psychologist Walter Michel who wrote a book on the marshmallows.

— Episode: The Transformative Ideas of Daniel Kahne...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Transformative Ideas of Daniel Kahneman

The psychologist was mentioned as the author of a book about the marshmallow experiments that explore delayed gratification.

"

Well there's a famous psychologist Walter Michel who wrote a book on the marshmallows.

The Myth of Repressed Memory: False Memories and Allegations of Sexual Abuse Cover

Elizabeth Loftus

The Myth of Repressed Memory

False Memories and Allegations of Sexual Abuse

The book was cited as part of Loftus' credentials, noting she authored it on the topic of repressed memory.

"

She's the author of The Myth of Repressed Memory and witness for the defense, the accused, the eyewitness and the expert who puts memory on trial.

— Episode: Are Your Memories Real?

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Are Your Memories Real?

The book was cited as part of Loftus' credentials, noting she authored it on the topic of repressed memory.

"

She's the author of The Myth of Repressed Memory and witness for the defense, the accused, the eyewitness and the expert who puts memory on trial.

THE ICE DRAGON Cover

George R. R. Martin; illustrated by Luis Royo

THE ICE DRAGON

The upcoming sixth volume of the *A Song of Ice and Fire* series was described as unfinished, with fans angry that it had not yet been released.

"

He said in 2018 that many people were angry with him that Winds of Winter, the sixth volume out of seven, wasn't finished.

— Episode: You 2.0: How to Break Out of a Rut

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: You 2.0: How to Break Out of a Rut

The upcoming sixth volume of the *A Song of Ice and Fire* series was described as unfinished, with fans angry that it had not yet been released.

"

He said in 2018 that many people were angry with him that Winds of Winter, the sixth volume out of seven, wasn't finished.

Fifty Shades Trilogy Shrinkwrapped Set (Deckle Edge) Cover

E L James

Fifty Shades Trilogy Shrinkwrapped Set (Deckle Edge)

Anna Lembke described how she became obsessed with the novel, reading it late at night for the sex scenes and realizing it had shifted from entertainment to a potent addiction.

"

At one point, she found herself swept up in the novel Fifty Shades of Grey. The story, later made into a movie, revolves around a sadomasochistic relationship between a college student and a business...

— Episode: The Path to Enough

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Episode: The Path to Enough

Anna Lembke described how she became obsessed with the novel, reading it late at night for the sex scenes and realizing it had shifted from entertainment to a potent addiction.

"

At one point, she found herself swept up in the novel Fifty Shades of Grey. The story, later made into a movie, revolves around a sadomasochistic relationship between a college student and a business tycoon.

When did you have this realization as you were reading Fifty Shades of Grey? I remember it vividly. It was about three in the morning on a weeknight, well past the hour I should have been sleeping so that I could be prepared for the next day to come.

I was reading it for the sex scenes. You know, embarrassing to admit that, but it's true. But I remember rationalizing it to myself as a modernday Pride and Prejudice.

The Human Element: Overcoming the Resistance That Awaits New Ideas Cover

Loran Nordgren

The Human Element

Overcoming the Resistance That Awaits New Ideas

The book examined how hidden frictions impede the adoption of new ideas and offered strategies for overcoming that resistance.

"

In their book, The Human Element, Overcoming the Resistance that Awaits New Ideas, Lauren Nordgren and David Schoenthal, both professors at the Kellogg School of Management, explained...

— Episode: Success 2.0: The Obstacles You Don't See

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Episode: Success 2.0: The Obstacles You Don't See

The book examined how hidden frictions impede the adoption of new ideas and offered strategies for overcoming that resistance.

"

In their book, The Human Element, Overcoming the Resistance that Awaits New Ideas, Lauren Nordgren and David Schoenthal, both professors at the Kellogg School of Management, explained how friction can derail innovation.

Lauren Nordgren is a psychologist at Northwestern University. Along with David Schoenthal, he's the author of the book The Human Element, Overcoming the Resistance That Awaits New Ideas.

Mixed Signals (Lovelight Book 3) Cover

B.K. Borison

Mixed Signals (Lovelight Book 3)

The book was presented as Uri Gneezy's work on how incentives actually function, emphasizing the complexity behind carrots and sticks.

"

Uri Gneezy is the author of Mixed Signals How Incentives Really Work. He studies the science of how we use carrots and sticks to get others to behave the way we want.

— Episode: Success 2.0: Getting What You Want

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Success 2.0: Getting What You Want

The book was presented as Uri Gneezy's work on how incentives actually function, emphasizing the complexity behind carrots and sticks.

"

Uri Gneezy is the author of Mixed Signals How Incentives Really Work. He studies the science of how we use carrots and sticks to get others to behave the way we want.

The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century Cover

Ian Mortimer

The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England

A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century

Sarah Feldman recalled receiving this book from a librarian, describing it as a nice medieval text that helped revive her love of reading after a flood.

"

I got a really nice book called the medieval book by barbara a shaler.

— Episode: Success 2.0: Getting What You Want

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Success 2.0: Getting What You Want

Sarah Feldman recalled receiving this book from a librarian, describing it as a nice medieval text that helped revive her love of reading after a flood.

"

I got a really nice book called the medieval book by barbara a shaler.

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