Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast
Book Recommendations

Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast

Grab onto this fast moving train and witness two comedians rise to victory and splendor. This is easily the funniest podcast out there. The rest are pretty meh.

Episodes 411
Books 249

Recently mentioned

Latest Recommendations

Submission: A Novel cover

Submission

Michel Houellebecq

Mentioned 5 days ago

Ep 625 - The Big Show (feat. Billy & Spud)

They mentioned a recent novel called Submission, noting its frequent references to Nietzsche and a quirky, irreverent tone.

No, it's called Submission by Michael Hollomir. Dude. It's, I don't know why, but he keeps referencing Nietzsche, but he, anytime he references Nietzsche goes the old queer Nietzsche. He keeps calling Nietzsche a fag.

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Flags, Whistles, and Falling for the Ref: A Flag Football, Faith Based, Romantic Comedy (Cornerstone Field League Book 1) cover

Flags, Whistles, and Falling for the Ref

Jenny Beth Hall

Mentioned 5 days ago

Ep 625 - The Big Show (feat. Billy & Spud)

Spade talked about a book called Jenny Flag, describing its bizarre plot involving Masonic rituals and a deceptive character.

It's called Jenny Flag. It's by Tracy Twyman. She was doing like, she was like invited to these like weird like prime minister like level British Masonic rituals and then I was like, dude, this is fucking nuts.

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Fifty Shades Trilogy Shrinkwrapped Set (Deckle Edge) cover

Fifty Shades Trilogy Shrinkwrapped Set (Deckle Edge)

E L James

Mentioned 5 days ago

Ep 625 - The Big Show (feat. Billy & Spud)

They briefly joked about watching Fifty Shades, describing it as "pretty fun" and saying they might fire it up again.

I might fire up Fifty Shades. I might fire that back up.

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In Defense of Sunlight: The Surprising Science of Sun Exposure cover

In Defense of Sunlight

Rowan Jacobsen

Mentioned 1 month ago

Ep 620 - In Defense of Sunlight (feat. Rowan Jacobsen)

The host praised the book as an engaging, wellresearched look at sunlight's health benefits and recommended it strongly.

I saw the Sunlight book and I was like, I gotta talk to you.

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Train Dreams: A Novella cover

Train Dreams

Denis Johnson

Mentioned 1 month ago

Ep 617 - Irish Good Morning

The hosts mentioned that they had watched Train Dreams and referred to it as a Dennis Johnson book.

I watched, uh, train dreams. Oh, the Dennis Johnson book.

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Lonesome Dove: A Novel (Lonesome Dove, 3) cover

Lonesome Dove

Larry McMurtry

Mentioned 4 months ago

Ep 603 - GEY DOT COM (feat. Tim Butterly & Mike Rainey)

They praised the epic Western novel, noting its massive length (800 pages) and how engrossed they were while reading it.

I'm so sad. Cause I'm 600 pages into this book and the thought of it ending. I'm like motherfucker. Then it turns out... The guy who wrote Lonesome Dove, uh, I think his name's Larry McMurtie, Murtry.

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The Gunslinger(The Dark Tower I) cover

The Gunslinger(The Dark Tower I)

Stephen King

Mentioned 4 months ago

Ep 603 - GEY DOT COM (feat. Tim Butterly & Mike Rainey)

They compared the gunslinger from Stephen King's Dark Tower series to the protagonists of Lonesome Dove, saying the gunslinger might be even better.

There's touches of that in the Dark Tower, the Gunslinger. Really? Yeah. Roland's like the best. He's probably even a better gunslinger than the Lonesome Dove guys.

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Brokeback Mountain cover

Brokeback Mountain

Annie Proulx

Mentioned 4 months ago

Ep 603 - GEY DOT COM (feat. Tim Butterly & Mike Rainey)

They mentioned that the author of Lonesome Dove also cowrote Brokeback Mountain, noting the collaboration as a surprising fact.

He literally cowrote Brokeback Mountain, but I tell myself the lady handled the game. He did all the good cowboy stuff.

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The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition cover

The Diary of a Young Girl

Anne Frank

Mentioned 4 months ago

Ep 603 - GEY DOT COM (feat. Tim Butterly & Mike Rainey)

They joked about reading Anne Frank's diary in sixth grade, saying it gave them a strange excitement.

I think she was in love with her cousin. So it's like being that step stuff is popular. Now I think if you read that now, you might look at it from a different perspective and get a little hot in the striped pajamas. I was like, fuck dude. Reading the Diary of Anne Frank got me charged up.

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The Story of Stories: The Million-Year History of a Uniquely Human Art cover

The Story of Stories

Kevin Ashton

Mentioned 4 months ago

Ep 602 - Future Man (feat. Kevin Ashton)

Kevin Ashton's new book explored the millionyear history of storytelling, tracing how fireside tales evolved into the modern digital age and why stories are core to being human.

so about the book, we got the story of stories.

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Half His Age: A Novel cover

Half His Age

Jennette McCurdy

Mentioned 4 months ago

Ep 601 - Gen Z White Boy (feat. Devan Costa & Conner McNutt)

The hosts said a new novel titled Half His Age had just been released, describing it as a story about a 17yearold who seduces her teacher, and one of them claimed to have read the whole book.

There's a new book that just came out ... she has a book called Half His Age. And it's about a 17yearold seducing her teacher. I read the whole book.

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Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game cover

Moneyball

Michael Lewis

Mentioned 4 months ago

Ep 600 - Hedonic Treadmill (feat. Joe List & Steve Rannazzisi)

The hosts referenced the book to illustrate a motivational speech a father might give, likening it to a line about a dad encouraging his son.

from moneyball like the dad's just like listen son you're the greatest

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Most Recommended

Man of the House Cover

C R Wiley

Man of the House

It was described as entertaining and covering stories of individuals Tip O'Neill served with during his time as Speaker of the House.

"

Tip O'Neill wrote a book called 'Man of the House' that's fucking so entertaining because it covers all these guys that he served with

— Episode: The Presidents - Part Three (feat. Louis...

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Episode: The Presidents - Part Three (feat. Louis C.K.)

It was described as entertaining and covering stories of individuals Tip O'Neill served with during his time as Speaker of the House.

"

Tip O'Neill wrote a book called 'Man of the House' that's fucking so entertaining because it covers all these guys that he served with

Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series Cover

Eliot Asinof

Eight Men Out

The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series

It was mentioned as a movie about the Black Sox scandal, and a discussion about the movie 'Eight Men Out' touched upon the topic of the 1919 World Series.

"

Jersey Madawan It's a great movie by John sales Nobody knows who he is anyone Eight Men Out about the White Sox Black Sox.

— Episode: The Presidents - Part Two (feat. Louis C...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Presidents - Part Two (feat. Louis C.K.)

It was mentioned as a movie about the Black Sox scandal, and a discussion about the movie 'Eight Men Out' touched upon the topic of the 1919 World Series.

"

Jersey Madawan It's a great movie by John sales Nobody knows who he is anyone Eight Men Out about the White Sox Black Sox.

A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East Cover

David Fromkin

A Peace to End All Peace

The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East

It was discussed as a book that explored how World War I's aftermath led to the formation of Middle Eastern countries like Iraq, Iran, and Syria, highlighting the role of British, American, and French influence.

"

Read this book about it was called the peace to end all peace book that everybody should read and it's about how World War one The end of World War one was how all the Middle Eastern countries were dr...

— Episode: The Presidents - Part Two (feat. Louis C...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Presidents - Part Two (feat. Louis C.K.)

It was discussed as a book that explored how World War I's aftermath led to the formation of Middle Eastern countries like Iraq, Iran, and Syria, highlighting the role of British, American, and French influence.

"

Read this book about it was called the peace to end all peace book that everybody should read and it's about how World War one The end of World War one was how all the Middle Eastern countries were drawn Iraq and Iran and Syria and all these places

Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship Cover

Jon Meacham

Franklin and Winston

An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship

It was mentioned as a book about the relationship between Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, including anecdotes of their interactions, including Churchill's visit to Hyde Park and the Yalta Conference.

"

What's his name Churchill's so I read this book Churchill and and it's called Franklin and Winston about their relationship.

— Episode: The Presidents - Part Two (feat. Louis C...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Presidents - Part Two (feat. Louis C.K.)

It was mentioned as a book about the relationship between Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, including anecdotes of their interactions, including Churchill's visit to Hyde Park and the Yalta Conference.

"

What's his name Churchill's so I read this book Churchill and and it's called Franklin and Winston about their relationship.

Stalking the Wild Pendulum: On the Mechanics of Consciousness Cover

Itzhak Bentov

Stalking the Wild Pendulum

On the Mechanics of Consciousness

It was described as a book about a man who became a patent-holding scientist despite only having an eighth-grade education, and his claims that he received information from deep space. The book also explored consciousness and its different levels.

"

The book I'm reading is nasty as fuck though. What is it? It's called "Stalking the Wild Pendulum". It's pretty tight about just about this dude from like the 1920s who was like you l...

— Episode: Ep 391 - Supa Gremlin

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Episode: Ep 391 - Supa Gremlin

It was described as a book about a man who became a patent-holding scientist despite only having an eighth-grade education, and his claims that he received information from deep space. The book also explored consciousness and its different levels.

"

The book I'm reading is nasty as fuck though. What is it? It's called "Stalking the Wild Pendulum". It's pretty tight about just about this dude from like the 1920s who was like you like dropped out of what's his name? It's like Isaac bent over something.

He dropped out of like eighth grade and came went on to become like a patent-holding scientist. Nice dude, all of his information is just from the Asheville row.

He claims just from fucking deep space deep space came and delivered him. Yeah, he's just like oh, yeah, I just meditated on him like dude this dude is it's the wildest shit.

The point of the book is just to let people know that like I'm not all the way done but it's basically there's more than meets the eye to this thing and he comes at it from like a scientific yes as scientific as he can get although he knows he has haters the whole time.

He goes into the Big Bang Theory and how it's basically the universe is expanding but it's just a mushroom cloud and it'll reach a point where then it'll just start falling back down on itself.

Confessions of a D.C. Madam: The Politics of Sex, Lies, and Blackmail Cover

Henry W. Vinson

Confessions of a D.C. Madam

The Politics of Sex, Lies, and Blackmail

It was mentioned as another book by the guest, covering a related topic of political sex scandals, including details about Craig Spence's activities.

"

And I also get into it in the Franklin scandal, but a little more in Confessions of a DC Madam.

— Episode: Ep 389 - The Franklin Scandal (feat. Nic...

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Episode: Ep 389 - The Franklin Scandal (feat. Nick Bryant)

It was mentioned as another book by the guest, covering a related topic of political sex scandals, including details about Craig Spence's activities.

"

And I also get into it in the Franklin scandal, but a little more in Confessions of a DC Madam.

In Confessions of a DC Madam, I picked out some politicians who had been obviously compromised.

The Truth About Watergate: A Tale of Extraordinary Lies & Liars Cover

Nick Bryant

The Truth About Watergate

A Tale of Extraordinary Lies & Liars

It was mentioned as an upcoming book by the guest, focusing on his perspective on the Watergate scandal, challenging the conventional narrative.

"

I've got a book coming out in July.

— Episode: Ep 389 - The Franklin Scandal (feat. Nic...

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Episode: Ep 389 - The Franklin Scandal (feat. Nick Bryant)

It was mentioned as an upcoming book by the guest, focusing on his perspective on the Watergate scandal, challenging the conventional narrative.

"

I've got a book coming out in July.

It's called the, uh, The Truth About Watergate, a tale of extraordinary lies and liars.

The Guns Of August Cover

Barbara W. Tuchman

The Guns Of August

It was described as the best book about the Pacific Theater in World War II, with a focus on the dark and gritty aspects of war. The book's candidness about the horrors of war, particularly the brutality faced by soldiers, was mentioned.

"

Everybody wants to do it wants to give sledge all the credit for the best Pacific book nah William Manchester

— Episode: Ep 384 - Justin From Canada

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Episode: Ep 384 - Justin From Canada

It was described as the best book about the Pacific Theater in World War II, with a focus on the dark and gritty aspects of war. The book's candidness about the horrors of war, particularly the brutality faced by soldiers, was mentioned.

"

Everybody wants to do it wants to give sledge all the credit for the best Pacific book nah William Manchester

That was it's the best one so good man

He's got a huge dong too.

He talks about It's crazy, yeah, he drops in like I guess I was cursed with this huge penis that I got a cool

He's a master. He's a master wordsmith. He really is he's a great writer

No Gods No Masters: An Anthology of Anarchism Cover

Daniel Guerin

No Gods No Masters

An Anthology of Anarchism

It was mentioned that Mark Passio had been feuding with his fanbase, particularly regarding their lack of technological understanding, and had been removed from Patreon for calling the pandemic a 'plandemic'.

"

Spud sent me a clip. Apparently he's been beefing with every like he's beefing with his fan base.

— Episode: Ep 383 - The Lone Pieman

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Episode: Ep 383 - The Lone Pieman

It was mentioned that Mark Passio had been feuding with his fanbase, particularly regarding their lack of technological understanding, and had been removed from Patreon for calling the pandemic a 'plandemic'.

"

Spud sent me a clip. Apparently he's been beefing with every like he's beefing with his fan base.

He's going he's just like, dude, there was a thing where he gets kicked off of Patreon. He addresses Patreon and then he addresses how dumb his fan base is because they don't know technology.

He got kicked off Patreon. He got kicked off Patreon.

Uh, Mark Passio. He's like, I didn't even get it. I didn't even get into this whole thing. I just said it was a plandemic and they fucking what?

I mean, he's also like, you know, I'm sure he said more than that. Yeah, but yeah, he called he called it like a sigh. I think he called it a sigh up.

Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution Cover

Mike Duncan

Hero of Two Worlds

The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution

It was mentioned briefly, with Matt stating that he kept falling asleep while listening to it, though he described it as a great book about the Marquis de Lafayette.

"

I've been trying to listen to a Hero of Two Worlds. I just keep falling asleep.

— Episode: Ep 382 - The Easter Ham (feat. Brian Six...

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Episode: Ep 382 - The Easter Ham (feat. Brian Six)

It was mentioned briefly, with Matt stating that he kept falling asleep while listening to it, though he described it as a great book about the Marquis de Lafayette.

"

I've been trying to listen to a Hero of Two Worlds. I just keep falling asleep.

Matt, he's got a great book. It's called Hero of Two Worlds. It's about the Marquis de Lafayette.

Living Buddha, Living Christ Cover

Thich Nhat Hanh

Living Buddha, Living Christ

Shane gifted his mother a copy of this book as a present, despite his father's belief that she would not be interested in its Buddhist themes.

"

I bought my mom a book, Living Buddha, Living Christ.

— Episode: Ep 375 - Puss-Fluenza (feat. Lemaire Lee...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Ep 375 - Puss-Fluenza (feat. Lemaire Lee)

Shane gifted his mother a copy of this book as a present, despite his father's belief that she would not be interested in its Buddhist themes.

"

I bought my mom a book, Living Buddha, Living Christ.

I'm like, it'll be good for her. Always give self gifts.

Indian Boyhood Cover

Charles A Eastman

Indian Boyhood

It was mentioned that the speaker was reading this book at the time of the podcast recording, and was talking about some of the events and names mentioned in the book, in particular the dangers the tribes faced.

"

Oh, that's right. I didn't get too far into it, but it's about a dude who grew up as like as they were being it was a Sue as they were being like chased.

— Episode: Ep 374 - Willard Smith

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Episode: Ep 374 - Willard Smith

It was mentioned that the speaker was reading this book at the time of the podcast recording, and was talking about some of the events and names mentioned in the book, in particular the dangers the tribes faced.

"

Oh, that's right. I didn't get too far into it, but it's about a dude who grew up as like as they were being it was a Sue as they were being like chased.

The guy we got some buffaloes and dudes come through and start murdering them.

So then they would just get attacked and they'd have to get out of there. And then there would be like inter Indian beef.

Like what? Like they're just like at one point they were like trying to get they dedicated like a few months just like hacking up trees and making maple syrup.

Mein Kampf: A Translation Controversy Cover

Michael Ford

Mein Kampf

A Translation Controversy

It was mentioned as an example of a book where one might not initially know the author's horrific actions, and the importance of separating art from the artist.

"

I read fucking this book. It's called Mein Kampf. And then I Googled the guy who wrote it.

— Episode: Ep 373 - Strictly Business (feat. Chris...

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Episode: Ep 373 - Strictly Business (feat. Chris O'Connor)

It was mentioned as an example of a book where one might not initially know the author's horrific actions, and the importance of separating art from the artist.

"

I read fucking this book. It's called Mein Kampf. And then I Googled the guy who wrote it.

Turns out that Hitler, he's a real jerk.

If anyone came across that book without coming across what he did, there has to be somebody who was like, there's definitely somebody who didn't know Hitler wrote Mein Kampf.

The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, and Chants (Complete Book Series) Cover

Jackie Silberg

The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays, and Chants (Complete Book Series)

It was mentioned as a part of Tim's book club that he's starting, described as having super complex ideas and being confusing to read.

"

I started a I had the idea I was doing a solo cast like I should do a book club And like a fit of just glee and I'm still gonna do it I signed myself up to do a book club the first book 700 pages.

— Episode: Ep 368 - Island Boiz (feat. Mike Rainey...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Ep 368 - Island Boiz (feat. Mike Rainey & Tim Butt...

It was mentioned as a part of Tim's book club that he's starting, described as having super complex ideas and being confusing to read.

"

I started a I had the idea I was doing a solo cast like I should do a book club And like a fit of just glee and I'm still gonna do it I signed myself up to do a book club the first book 700 pages.

I'm like, I'm a fucking I woke up three days later. I'm such a dumbass And it's like it's like super complex like ideas.

I've read the intro like four times, dude It's confusing me, but I think I'm gonna start my solo cab

The Summer House: The Classic Blockbuster from the Author of Lion & Lamb Cover

James Patterson

The Summer House

The Classic Blockbuster from the Author of Lion & Lamb

It was mentioned as a type of book that Matt's wife reads, with the implication that the books include plots of infidelity, murder, and a high chance of being murdered.

"

She'll be reading these fucking James Patterson books and when I catch a read one of those like, all right Well the next week I'm gonna be accused of cheating having multiple affairs and I'm the high...

— Episode: Ep 368 - Island Boiz (feat. Mike Rainey...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Ep 368 - Island Boiz (feat. Mike Rainey & Tim Butt...

It was mentioned as a type of book that Matt's wife reads, with the implication that the books include plots of infidelity, murder, and a high chance of being murdered.

"

She'll be reading these fucking James Patterson books and when I catch a read one of those like, all right Well the next week I'm gonna be accused of cheating having multiple affairs and I'm the high chance of being murdered, right?

Cabal Cover

Clive Barker

Cabal

It was mentioned that someone hadn't finished reading this book, it was referenced a few times.

"

Can I have some more like already cuz you didn't finish the Cabal a legal USI YouTube you legal USI.

— Episode: Ep 362 - McCusker Fambly Podcast

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Episode: Ep 362 - McCusker Fambly Podcast

It was mentioned that someone hadn't finished reading this book, it was referenced a few times.

"

Can I have some more like already cuz you didn't finish the Cabal a legal USI YouTube you legal USI.

Masks of God 4 Volume Boxed Set Inscribed Cover

Joseph Campbell

Masks of God 4 Volume Boxed Set Inscribed

It was discussed in the context of comparative mythology, focusing on the differences in myths between hunter-gatherer and agricultural societies, and how they relate to major religions.

"

It's the crazy uh Masks of God. It's the primitive it starts a primitive mythology then goes to oriental and then it goes Occidental which is like European I guess and then like the modern stuff.

— Episode: Ep 355 - What do you Mean by That? (feat...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Ep 355 - What do you Mean by That? (feat. Chris O'...

It was discussed in the context of comparative mythology, focusing on the differences in myths between hunter-gatherer and agricultural societies, and how they relate to major religions.

"

It's the crazy uh Masks of God. It's the primitive it starts a primitive mythology then goes to oriental and then it goes Occidental which is like European I guess and then like the modern stuff.

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