Huberman Lab
Book Recommendations

Huberman Lab

The Huberman Lab podcast is hosted by Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. The podcast discusses neuroscience and science-based tools, including how our br...

Episodes 428
Books 372

Recently mentioned

Latest Recommendations

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 3 weeks ago

Movement Practice to Strengthen Your Mind-Body Connection | Ido Portal

The book was highlighted as an outofdate yet influential work in psychology, noted for its catchy title and lasting impact.

the quite pioneering, although I would say somewhat outofdate book, The Body Keeps the Score, I think it was an important book. Best title of any book you could imagine in the psychology space because it's so catchy. And I want to give proper respect to Bessel for doing that book.

Buy on Amazon
Protocols: An Operating Manual for the Human Body cover

Protocols

Andrew D. Huberman Ph.D.

Mentioned 1 month ago

The Mental Frame & Specific Daily Actions to Succeed | Andy Stumpf

The host announced the upcoming release of his first book, describing it as an operating manual covering sleep, nutrition, exercise, learning, neuroplasticity, and stress management.

All right, my book is finally ready for release. Protocols, an operating manual for the human body is coming out in three months. It's my first book and I've been working on it for many years now. ... It covers the science and most effective protocols for sleep, nutrition, exercise, focused learning and neuroplasticity, stress management, and much more.

Buy on Amazon
The Secret Pulse of Time: Making Sense of Life's Scarcest Commodity cover

The Secret Pulse of Time

Stefan Klein

Mentioned 1 month ago

The Mental Frame & Specific Daily Actions to Succeed | Andy Stumpf

The host highlighted another intriguing book, noting it had no audio version and was about time perception.

There's a wonderful book in addition to yours. It turns out there's another great book out there. How dare someone? No audio version, but it's called The Secret Pulse of Time.

Buy on Amazon
The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life cover

The Art of Spending Money

Morgan Housel

Mentioned 1 month ago

The Mental Frame & Specific Daily Actions to Succeed | Andy Stumpf

The host referenced Morgan Housel's second book, describing it as a psychological guide to how people should assess and spend money.

Morgan Housel has a, he has a couple of really good books. I actually liked the second one more. They're both excellent. But the second one is called the art of spending money.

Buy on Amazon
Drownproof: Eight Life Lessons to Keep Your Head Above Water cover

Drownproof

Andy Stumpf

Mentioned 1 month ago

The Mental Frame & Specific Daily Actions to Succeed | Andy Stumpf

The host mentioned having read Andy Stumpf's book, noting it made him nervous but praising its content and practical exercises.

I read your book, Drown Proof, recently. Which makes me nervous, by the way. I tell you that before we start.

Buy on Amazon
Eat Better, Sleep Better: 75 Recipes and A 28-Day Meal Plan That Unlock the Food-Sleep Connection (A Cookbook) cover

Eat Better, Sleep Better

Dr Marie-Pierre St-Onge

Mentioned 1 month ago

Eating for Better Sleep & Foods that Improve Metabolic Health | Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge

The host pointed listeners to Dr. StOnge's book as a resource for tools on eating for sleep and metabolism, noting the link in the show notes.

...to find a link to her book, Eat Better, Sleep Better, please see the links in the show note captions.

Buy on Amazon
Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds cover

Can't Hurt Me

David Goggins

Mentioned 2 months ago

Master Self Control & Overcome Procrastination | Dr. Kentaro Fujita

The host recalled having David Goggins on the show and noted that Goggins is the author of Can't Hurt Me, a memoir about his extreme endurance feats and mental toughness.

We had David Goggins on this podcast, David, author of Can't Hurt Me, and famed for doing hard things all day long. He told a story about running 16 miles to the airport and how he literally ran to the airport with his luggage.

Buy on Amazon
The Salt Fix: Why the Experts Got It All Wrong--and How Eating More Might Save Your Life cover

The Salt Fix

Dr. James DiNicolantonio

Mentioned 3 months ago

Essentials: Using Salt to Optimize Mental & Physical Performance

He noted that the book reviewed data showing that increasing salt intake while eating mostly unprocessed foods can dramatically reduce sugar cravings.

and indeed many people find, and it's reviewed a bit and some of the data are reviewed in the book, The Salt Fix, that when people increase their salt intake in a backdrop of relatively unprocessed foods, that sugar cravings can indeed be vastly reduced.

Buy on Amazon
Born to Flourish: How New Science and Ancient Wisdom Reveal a Simple Path to Thriving cover

Born to Flourish

Richard J. Davidson PhD

Mentioned 4 months ago

Science-Based Meditation Tools to Improve Your Brain & Health | Dr. Richard Davidson

The hosts highlighted Davidson's upcoming paperback that explores how scientific insights and ancient wisdom can help people thrive, noting its focus on nurturing innate qualities like kindness.

He has, of course, authored some of the most impactful research papers on these topics, but also popular books, including a new book coming out later this month entitled Born to Flourish, How to Thrive in a Challenging World, which I myself look forward to reading.

Buy on Amazon
Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body cover

Altered Traits

Daniel Goleman

Mentioned 4 months ago

Science-Based Meditation Tools to Improve Your Brain & Health | Dr. Richard Davidson

Davidson mentioned that he coauthored the paperback Altered Traits with Daniel Goleman, a book that originated from a paper they wrote two decades earlier.

There was a paper I wrote many, many years ago with my dear friend and colleague, Daniel Goleman, who I wrote the book Altered Traits with.

Buy on Amazon
The Case against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering cover

The Case against Perfection

Michael J. Sandel

Mentioned 4 months ago

Avoiding, Treating & Curing Cancer With the Immune System | Dr. Alex Marson

Huberman suggested this short book as a meditation on the ethical pitfalls of pursuing genetic perfection, emphasizing the importance of embracing chance in human development. He described it as a thoughtful critique of genetic editing ambitions.

There's another book that I would recommend here that I read years ago and I actually am probably overdue to go back and reread this. This predates CRISPR technology but there's a Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel who years ago wrote a short book called The Case Against Perfection.

Buy on Amazon
Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence cover

Dopamine Nation

Anna Lembke MD

Mentioned 4 months ago

Unlearn Negative Thoughts & Behaviors Patterns | Dr. Alok Kanojia

Huberman praised Anna Lemke's book as amazing work and noted her as a pioneer in the field.

the great Anna Lemke, my colleague at Stanford, right, an MD and psychiatrist like you who wrote Dopamine Nation, has a book. Amazing work. She's an amazing woman at the level of clinician, human being, just all around, and such a pioneer.

Buy on Amazon

Most Recommended

Thermoregulation and Human Performance: Physiological and Biological Aspects (Medicine and Sport Science) Cover

Frank E. Marino

Thermoregulation and Human Performance

Physiological and Biological Aspects (Medicine and Sport Science)

It was mentioned as an excellent text for delving deeper into the science of thermoregulation and its influence on human performance, particularly in exercise and recovery.

"

there's a excellent book I mainly rely on textbooks and special volume books which are collections of papers from experts in a particular area that go beyond standard kind of college level textbooks t...

— Episode: Supercharge Exercise Performance & Recov...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Supercharge Exercise Performance & Recovery with C...

It was mentioned as an excellent text for delving deeper into the science of thermoregulation and its influence on human performance, particularly in exercise and recovery.

"

there's a excellent book I mainly rely on textbooks and special volume books which are collections of papers from experts in a particular area that go beyond standard kind of college level textbooks the one that i've been relying on is called Thermoregulation and Human Performance physiological and biological aspects by fe marino

An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology, Sixth Edition Cover

Randy J. Nelson

An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology, Sixth Edition

The book was mentioned in relation to environmental toxins and their impact on hormones, especially in regards to sexual development.

"

I'm gonna talk about some of the work from Tyrone Hayes from UC Berkeley about environmental toxins and their impacts on some of these things like testosterone and estrogen.

— Episode: The Science of Sexual Development

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Science of Sexual Development

The book was mentioned in relation to environmental toxins and their impact on hormones, especially in regards to sexual development.

"

I'm gonna talk about some of the work from Tyrone Hayes from UC Berkeley about environmental toxins and their impacts on some of these things like testosterone and estrogen.

In particular today I'm guiding a lot of the conversation on work that on behavioral endocrinology was a book by Randy Nelson in Lance Creekfield true experts in the field.

The Dream Drugstore: Chemically Altered States of Consciousness Cover

J. Allan Hobson

The Dream Drugstore

Chemically Altered States of Consciousness

It was mentioned as a great book that explores the fascinating connection between hallucinations and dreaming, specifically during REM sleep.

"

I looked into hallucinations and dreaming...there's some great books on this if you're interested in exploring the relationship between hallucinations and dreaming...The most famous of which are from...

— Episode: Understanding and Using Dreams to Learn...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Understanding and Using Dreams to Learn and to For...

It was mentioned as a great book that explores the fascinating connection between hallucinations and dreaming, specifically during REM sleep.

"

I looked into hallucinations and dreaming...there's some great books on this if you're interested in exploring the relationship between hallucinations and dreaming...The most famous of which are from a guy, researcher at Harvard, Alan Hobbson...wrote a book called Dream Drug Store and talked all about the similarities between drugs that induce hallucinations and dreaming in REM.

Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness Cover

Jamil Zaki

Hope for Cynics

The Surprising Science of Human Goodness

The book explores cynicism and its alternative, healthy skepticism, arguing that embracing skepticism can enhance both emotional and physical health. It also discusses how cynicism affects individuals and relationships, causing negative outcomes like lower happiness and reduced creativity.

"

I've read this book, and it is spectacular.

— Episode: Dr. Jamil Zaki: How to Cultivate a Posit...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Dr. Jamil Zaki: How to Cultivate a Positive, Growt...

The book explores cynicism and its alternative, healthy skepticism, arguing that embracing skepticism can enhance both emotional and physical health. It also discusses how cynicism affects individuals and relationships, causing negative outcomes like lower happiness and reduced creativity.

"

I've read this book, and it is spectacular.

we are who we pretend to be, so we need to be careful who we pretend to be.

we need a restrictive government because left to our own devices, human life is nasty, brutish and short.

I love this. It's the funniest, the back and forth is the best. I'd recommend it.

we are all wearing a pair of suit colored glasses all the time and actually the best way to make people more hopeful is to ask them to look more carefully. Not to look away, but look towards in a more accurate and open fashion.

Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life's Work Cover

Steven Pressfield

Turning Pro

Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life's Work

Steven explained that his book Turning Pro describes how to flip a mental switch from amateur to professional habits, a costfree mindset shift that helped him overcome resistance.

"

my book, Turning Pro, is about that.

— Episode: How to Overcome Inner Resistance | Steve...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How to Overcome Inner Resistance | Steven Pressfie...

Steven explained that his book Turning Pro describes how to flip a mental switch from amateur to professional habits, a costfree mindset shift that helped him overcome resistance.

"

my book, Turning Pro, is about that.

DMT: The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor's Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences Cover

Rick Strassman

DMT

The Spirit Molecule

Dorian Yates recalled reading the book while living in Amsterdam, noting it introduced him to the psychedelic DMT.

"

I read this book when I was living in Amsterdam for a couple of years there was no internet so I read this book DMT the spirit molecule.

— Episode: Build Muscle & Strength & Forge Your Lif...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Build Muscle & Strength & Forge Your Life Path | D...

Dorian Yates recalled reading the book while living in Amsterdam, noting it introduced him to the psychedelic DMT.

"

I read this book when I was living in Amsterdam for a couple of years there was no internet so I read this book DMT the spirit molecule.

Where Should We Camp Next?: A 50-State Guide to Amazing Campgrounds and Other Unique Outdoor Accommodations (Perfect Christmas Gift for Campers and Outdoorsy People) Cover

Stephanie Puglisi

Where Should We Camp Next?

A 50-State Guide to Amazing Campgrounds and Other Unique Outdoor Accommodations (Perfect Christmas Gift for Campers and Outdoorsy People)

This book is mentioned as a podcast hosted by Esther Perel where couples discuss how they met and how they constantly fight.

"

I have a segment of my podcast, Where Should We Begin?, That opens the tour where basically they talk about how they met and then they fight about everything all the time.

— Episode: Esther Perel: How to Find, Build & Maint...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Esther Perel: How to Find, Build & Maintain Health...

This book is mentioned as a podcast hosted by Esther Perel where couples discuss how they met and how they constantly fight.

"

I have a segment of my podcast, Where Should We Begin?, That opens the tour where basically they talk about how they met and then they fight about everything all the time.

Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity Cover

Andrew Solomon

Far From the Tree

Parents, Children and the Search for Identity

This book was mentioned as an example of discussing children who are very different from their parents, covering topics like savants and the Columbine shooter's mother, and introducing the concept of horizontal versus vertical identities.

"

That writer Andrew Solomon says that we should never use the word reproduce. Reproduce is something that lulls parents into thinking that they're copying themselves, but that every child is produced....

— Episode: How Genes Shape Your Risk Taking & Moral...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How Genes Shape Your Risk Taking & Morals | Dr. Ka...

This book was mentioned as an example of discussing children who are very different from their parents, covering topics like savants and the Columbine shooter's mother, and introducing the concept of horizontal versus vertical identities.

"

That writer Andrew Solomon says that we should never use the word reproduce. Reproduce is something that lulls parents into thinking that they're copying themselves, but that every child is produced. Every child is a new product and it's unpredictable what that product is going to be.

He wrote Far From the Tree, which is about children who are very different from their parents in some way.

On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen Cover

Harold McGee

On Food and Cooking

The Science and Lore of the Kitchen

The host described how McGee began writing his book about the chemistry of cooking, noting it was his first foray into the subject and that he learned many lessons while preparing it.

"

When I started writing my book about the chemistry of cooking, I didn't know that much about cooking or about chemistry.

— Episode: The Chemistry of Food & Taste | Dr. Haro...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Chemistry of Food & Taste | Dr. Harold McGee

The host described how McGee began writing his book about the chemistry of cooking, noting it was his first foray into the subject and that he learned many lessons while preparing it.

"

When I started writing my book about the chemistry of cooking, I didn't know that much about cooking or about chemistry.

Our New World of Adult Bullies: How to Spot Them — How to Stop Them Cover

Bill Eddy

Our New World of Adult Bullies

How to Spot Them — How to Stop Them

Eddy referenced his own book on adult bullies while discussing polarization and the crisis caused by bullying behavior.

"

And as I mentioned in the Bullies book, there is a terrible crisis.

— Episode: How to Deal With High Conflict People |...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How to Deal With High Conflict People | Bill Eddy

Eddy referenced his own book on adult bullies while discussing polarization and the crisis caused by bullying behavior.

"

And as I mentioned in the Bullies book, there is a terrible crisis.

Do the Work: Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way Cover

Steven Pressfield

Do the Work

Overcome Resistance and Get Out of Your Own Way

Andrew introduced the title as another of Steven's books, noting it focuses on concrete steps to overcome resistance and get things done.

"

including the now iconic War of Art and also the book Do the Work

— Episode: How to Overcome Inner Resistance | Steve...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How to Overcome Inner Resistance | Steven Pressfie...

Andrew introduced the title as another of Steven's books, noting it focuses on concrete steps to overcome resistance and get things done.

"

including the now iconic War of Art and also the book Do the Work

A Man at Arms: A Novel Cover

Steven Pressfield

A Man at Arms

A Novel

Steven recalled that he had written A Man at Arms a few years earlier, a historical fiction about a oneman killing machine in ancient times.

"

I had a book a few years ago called A Man at Arms, which was about a recurring character that I call the oneman killing machine of the ancient world, kind of the Clint Eastwood of the...

— Episode: How to Overcome Inner Resistance | Steve...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How to Overcome Inner Resistance | Steven Pressfie...

Steven recalled that he had written A Man at Arms a few years earlier, a historical fiction about a oneman killing machine in ancient times.

"

I had a book a few years ago called A Man at Arms, which was about a recurring character that I call the oneman killing machine of the ancient world, kind of the Clint Eastwood of the ancient world.

The Psychology of Habit Cover

Verplanken

The Psychology of Habit

This review article was mentioned as an excellent source that detailed the various ways habits form in the nervous system, specifically noting that small changes occur in cognitive and neural mechanisms with each repetition of a habit.

"

I should mention that I learned about this from an excellent review article that's available online. It's called Psychology of Habit. The authors are Wendy Wood and Dennis Runger. This is published in...

— Episode: Essentials: The Science of Making & Brea...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Essentials: The Science of Making & Breaking Habit...

This review article was mentioned as an excellent source that detailed the various ways habits form in the nervous system, specifically noting that small changes occur in cognitive and neural mechanisms with each repetition of a habit.

"

I should mention that I learned about this from an excellent review article that's available online. It's called Psychology of Habit. The authors are Wendy Wood and Dennis Runger. This is published in Annual Review of Psychology.

"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman": Adventures of a Curious Character Cover

Richard P. Feynman

"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman"

Adventures of a Curious Character

These were described as wonderful short stories about Richard Feynman, showcasing his mischievous and playful spirit.

"

If you read any of the books about Feynman or by Feynman, surely you're joking Mr. Feynman, or what do you care what other people think? These are wonderful short stories, mostly about Feynman doing t...

— Episode: Essentials: Using Play to Rewire & Impro...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Essentials: Using Play to Rewire & Improve Your Br...

These were described as wonderful short stories about Richard Feynman, showcasing his mischievous and playful spirit.

"

If you read any of the books about Feynman or by Feynman, surely you're joking Mr. Feynman, or what do you care what other people think? These are wonderful short stories, mostly about Feynman doing things like picking all the locks at the Los Alamos laboratory and putting all the top secret documents out on the floor of the office so that when people came in in the morning, they were all out there.

What Do You Care What Other People Think: Further Adventures of a Curious Character Cover

Richard P. Feynman

What Do You Care What Other People Think

Further Adventures of a Curious Character

This book, along with another by the author, was mentioned as containing wonderful short stories about the physicist's playful side.

"

If you read any of the books about Feynman or by Feynman, surely you're joking Mr. Feynman, or What Do You Care What Other People Think?

— Episode: Essentials: Using Play to Rewire & Impro...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Essentials: Using Play to Rewire & Improve Your Br...

This book, along with another by the author, was mentioned as containing wonderful short stories about the physicist's playful side.

"

If you read any of the books about Feynman or by Feynman, surely you're joking Mr. Feynman, or What Do You Care What Other People Think?

Original Sin: On the Genetics of Vice, the Problem of Blame, and the Future of Forgiveness Cover

Kathryn Paige Harden

Original Sin

On the Genetics of Vice, the Problem of Blame, and the Future of Forgiveness

This was Dr. Harden's new book that was coming out soon and available for presale at the time of the recording. She discussed how the themes of the book related to her scientific work on genes, vice, and morality.

"

I should also mention that I learned during today's episode that Dr. Kathryn Paige Harden has a new book coming out soon. It is entitled Original Sin on the Genetics of Vice, The Prob...

— Episode: How Genes Shape Your Risk Taking & Moral...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How Genes Shape Your Risk Taking & Morals | Dr. Ka...

This was Dr. Harden's new book that was coming out soon and available for presale at the time of the recording. She discussed how the themes of the book related to her scientific work on genes, vice, and morality.

"

I should also mention that I learned during today's episode that Dr. Kathryn Paige Harden has a new book coming out soon. It is entitled Original Sin on the Genetics of Vice, The Problems with Blame, and The Future of Forgiveness. And you can find that anywhere books are sold. It's now available for presale.

I write in my new book about this letter that I got from a man who is in prison.

I titled my new book, Original Sin, to, to really spotlight this exact thing.

The book is called Original Sin on the Genetics of Vice, The Problem of Blame and the Future of Forgiveness. And it's out in early March.

Protocols: An Operating Manual for the Human Body Cover

Andrew D. Huberman Ph.D.

Protocols

An Operating Manual for the Human Body

This was Andrew Huberman's very first book, based on years of research, covering protocols for sleep, exercise, stress control, focus, and motivation, complete with scientific substantiation.

"

For those of you that haven't heard, I have a new book coming out. It's my very first book. It's entitled Protocols, an Operating Manual for the Human Body.

— Episode: How Genes Shape Your Risk Taking & Moral...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How Genes Shape Your Risk Taking & Morals | Dr. Ka...

This was Andrew Huberman's very first book, based on years of research, covering protocols for sleep, exercise, stress control, focus, and motivation, complete with scientific substantiation.

"

For those of you that haven't heard, I have a new book coming out. It's my very first book. It's entitled Protocols, an Operating Manual for the Human Body.

Shift: Managing Your Emotions--So They Don't Manage You Cover

Ethan Kross

Shift

Managing Your Emotions--So They Don't Manage You

The upcoming book was announced as a new title that will teach readers how to manage emotions so they don't manage you, with the host expressing excitement and planning to read it upon release.

"

I'm also excited to tell you that Dr. Ethan Kross soon has another book coming out entitled, Shift, Managing Your Emotions So They Don't Manage You.

— Episode: How to Control Your Inner Voice & Increa...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How to Control Your Inner Voice & Increase Your Re...

The upcoming book was announced as a new title that will teach readers how to manage emotions so they don't manage you, with the host expressing excitement and planning to read it upon release.

"

I'm also excited to tell you that Dr. Ethan Kross soon has another book coming out entitled, Shift, Managing Your Emotions So They Don't Manage You.

when I wrote Chatter, when I got into Shift, the broader terrain of regulating your emotions, there are even more tools out there.

It's called Shift, Managing Your Emotions So They Don't Manage You.

And presumably it's available for presale now or soon?

The Double Helix (Scientific American Modern Classics) Cover

James D. Watson

The Double Helix (Scientific American Modern Classics)

He read Watson's The Double Helix and found it so compelling that he could not sleep after finishing it.

"

I read the famous book by Watson, you know, the double helix, and I couldn't sleep.

— Episode: How to Use Curiosity & Focus to Create a...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How to Use Curiosity & Focus to Create a Joyful &...

He read Watson's The Double Helix and found it so compelling that he could not sleep after finishing it.

"

I read the famous book by Watson, you know, the double helix, and I couldn't sleep.

I read it one night and say it's incredible what this guy did.

The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human Cover

Siddhartha Mukherjee

The Song of the Cell

An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human

He added that Siddhartha Mukherjee authored The Cell, discussing cellular biology.

"

He wrote a book called The Cell.

— Episode: How to Improve Your Vitality & Heal From...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: How to Improve Your Vitality & Heal From Disease |...

He added that Siddhartha Mukherjee authored The Cell, discussing cellular biology.

"

He wrote a book called The Cell.

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