The Shawn Ryan Show
Book Recommendations

The Shawn Ryan Show

The "Shawn Ryan Show" is hosted by Shawn Ryan, former U.S. Navy SEAL, CIA Contractor, and Founder of Vigilance Elite. We tell REAL stories about REAL people from all walks of life. We discuss the ups and downs, wins and losses, successes and struggles, the good and bad in a respectful but candid way...

Episodes 386
Books 310
The ESP Enigma: The Scientific Case for Psychic Phenomena Cover

Diane Hennacy Powell

The ESP Enigma

The Scientific Case for Psychic Phenomena

It was presented as her bestselling 2009 book that examined the neuroscience, quantum physics, and case studies to explain psychic experiences.

"

Author of The ESP Enigma, the scientific case for psychic phenomena. A book that examines the neuroscience behind ESP and telepathy.

— Episode: #236 Dr. Diane Hennacy - ESP Enigma: The...

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Episode: #236 Dr. Diane Hennacy - ESP Enigma: The Scientifi...

It was presented as her bestselling 2009 book that examined the neuroscience, quantum physics, and case studies to explain psychic experiences.

"

Author of The ESP Enigma, the scientific case for psychic phenomena. A book that examines the neuroscience behind ESP and telepathy.

Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior Cover

David R. Hawkins MD/PHD

Power vs. Force

The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior

During the episode with Dr. Diane Hennacy, the host referenced the book by David Hawkins as a source that explored the difference between power and force. The discussion highlighted that the title examined how these concepts influence human behavior, but no strong endorsement was given. It was mentioned in passing as part of a broader conversation on psychic phenomena.

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Episode: #236 Dr. Diane Hennacy - ESP Enigma: The Scientifi...

It was referenced as a book by David Hawkins that discusses the distinction between power and force.

"

There's a book by someone named David Hawkins called Power Versus Force. And he talks about how, um, ...

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism Cover

Naoki Higashida

The Reason I Jump

The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism

In episode 236, the host noted the book as a Japanese boy's personal account that explains why he jumps, describing his feeling of his soul detaching from his body. The mention highlighted the unique perspective of the author without offering a strong endorsement.

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Episode: #236 Dr. Diane Hennacy - ESP Enigma: The Scientifi...

It was noted as a book written by a Japanese boy that explains why he jumps, reflecting his personal experiences.

"

There was a Japanese boy who wrote the book, The Reason I Jump. And the title comes from his answer to a question about, why do you jump? And he says, because I feel my soul detaching from my body.

The Big Short Cover

Michael Lewis

The Big Short

The book was brought up during a discussion of a movie about the 2008 financial crash, with the hosts noting that the film was based on it and mistakenly naming the author. The comment was brief and informal, serving only as a reference.

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Episode: #236 Dr. Diane Hennacy - ESP Enigma: The Scientifi...

It was mentioned while discussing a film about the 2008 financial crash, implying it was based on that book.

"

You know, you see so many ultrasuccessful people ... have you ever seen that movie, The Big Short? I think his name is Michael Berry.

13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi Cover

Mitchell Zuckoff

13 Hours

The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi

During the episode, host Shawn Ryan highlighted the book as the bestselling insider account of the Benghazi attack, noting its coauthor’s involvement. Guest John "Tig" Tiegen recalled meeting the authors on the book tour, emphasizing its detailed perspective on the security team’s actions. The discussion presented the title as an authoritative source on the events.

Highly Recommended
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Episode: #235 John "Tig" Tiegen - 13th Anniversary of the B...

He coauthored the bestselling account that detailed the 13hour Benghazi attack, providing an insider's perspective on the events and the actions of the security team.

"

Coauthor of the bestselling book, 13 Hours, the inside account of what really happened in Benghazi.

I think it was in the book tour. Met him and Charlie. We went to the Grand Ole Opry, I think it was 2014 when we first did the book tour.

The Scofield Study Bible: King James Version Cover

III Kohlenberger, John R.

The Scofield Study Bible

King James Version

The book was mentioned as a specific edition of the Bible connected to dispensationalist teachings; the speakers discussed its role in endtimes prophecy and its influence on modern Christian thought.

"

Let's talk about the Schofield Bible. This is the last thing I wanted to bring up with you. I don't know much about it. There is a term called dispensationalism. Dispensationalists believe in endtimes...

— Episode: #232 John Rich - Big & Rich Country Star...

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Episode: #232 John Rich - Big & Rich Country Star Performs...

The book was mentioned as a specific edition of the Bible connected to dispensationalist teachings; the speakers discussed its role in endtimes prophecy and its influence on modern Christian thought.

"

Let's talk about the Schofield Bible. This is the last thing I wanted to bring up with you. I don't know much about it. There is a term called dispensationalism. Dispensationalists believe in endtimes prophecy and the rapture.

The Schofield Bible backed up Darby's angle on the rapture and the endtimes. It helped popularize ideas that led to mass revivals and a surge of interest in prophetic scripture.

The Montauk Project - Experiments in Time: Silver Anniversary Edition Cover

Preston B Nichols

The Montauk Project - Experiments in Time

Silver Anniversary Edition

AJ said he based an episode on Preston Nichols' Montauk Project books, read them while researching, but later stopped the episode after learning about Nichols' alleged misconduct.

"

It was all based on a book in a series of books by Preston Nichols. I read Preston Nichols books when they came out, did the episode, then found out Preston Nichols was maybe inappropriate with a lot...

— Episode: #229 AJ Gentile - Creator & Host of The...

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Episode: #229 AJ Gentile - Creator & Host of The Why Files

AJ said he based an episode on Preston Nichols' Montauk Project books, read them while researching, but later stopped the episode after learning about Nichols' alleged misconduct.

"

It was all based on a book in a series of books by Preston Nichols. I read Preston Nichols books when they came out, did the episode, then found out Preston Nichols was maybe inappropriate with a lot of young men, so I stopped the episode and warned viewers with families to send their kids away and told the truth about what I learned about Preston Nichols.

The Book of Giants: The Secret History in the Dead Sea Scrolls about Fallen Angels and Their Offspring. Exploring the Nephilim, Manichean, and Aramaic ... and Gnostic Gospels Bible Collection) Cover

Jeremy Payton

The Book of Giants

The Secret History in the Dead Sea Scrolls about Fallen Angels and Their Offspring. Exploring the Nephilim, Manichean, and Aramaic ... and Gnostic Gospels Bible Collection)

AJ referred to the Book of Giants alongside the Book of Enoch while discussing mythic giant beings in ancient texts.

"

The book of Enoch was discovered and The Book of Giants... it's part of the ancient traditions that talk about the giants and the watchers that became the nephilim.

— Episode: #229 AJ Gentile - Creator & Host of The...

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Episode: #229 AJ Gentile - Creator & Host of The Why Files

AJ referred to the Book of Giants alongside the Book of Enoch while discussing mythic giant beings in ancient texts.

"

The book of Enoch was discovered and The Book of Giants... it's part of the ancient traditions that talk about the giants and the watchers that became the nephilim.

The Adam And Eve Story The History Of Cataclysms Uncensored Digital Version - Magnetic Pole Shift Cover

Chan Thomas

The Adam And Eve Story The History Of Cataclysms Uncensored Digital Version - Magnetic Pole Shift

In the episode, AJ Gentile described a 1966 manuscript that was allegedly classified and heavily redacted by the CIA, noting its controversial claims about pole shifts and global catastrophes. He highlighted the manuscript's alleged suppression due to its potential to cause panic, but did not endorse its content.

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Episode: #229 AJ Gentile - Creator & Host of The Why Files

AJ described a 1966 manuscript titled The Story of Adam and Eve that was allegedly censored by the CIA, noting its controversial content about pole shifts and global catastrophe.

"

The story of Adam and Eve is a 278page manuscript from 1966 by Dr. Chan Thomas, classified by the CIA and heavily redacted; it describes pole shifts, catastrophic waterfilled worlds, and was said to be suppressed because it would cause panic.

The Dark Forest (The Three-Body Problem Series, 2) Cover

Cixin Liu

The Dark Forest (The Three-Body Problem Series, 2)

The host explained that the dark forest hypothesis, which they were discussing in relation to alien contact, originated from the book. Guest Alex Wang expanded on the idea by describing the game‑theoretic reasoning that intelligent life would stay hidden to avoid being eliminated. The episode referenced the novel as the source of the concept rather than endorsing it as a must‑read.

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Episode: #208 Alex Wang - CEO of Scale AI

The host explained that the dark forest hypothesis, which they discussed for alien contact, originated from the scifi novel "The Dark Forest".

"

there's the, uh, what's called The Dark Forest hypothesis, which originally came out of a scifi novel actually.

if you play the game theory out, uh, if you're an intelligent life, you don't actually want to be like blaring to every other intelligent life that you exist, because if you do that they'll just come and take you out.

The Quiet Professional: Major Richard J. Meadows of the U.S. Army Special Forces (American Warrior Series) Cover

Alan Hoe

The Quiet Professional

Major Richard J. Meadows of the U.S. Army Special Forces (American Warrior Series)

The host mentioned a book titled Quiet Professional that details the life and achievements of Dick Meadows, a MACVSOG legend.

"

there's a fantastic book written about him called Quiet Professional.

— Episode: #204 Larry Vickers - Delta Force: Operat...

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Episode: #204 Larry Vickers - Delta Force: Operation Acid G...

The host mentioned a book titled Quiet Professional that details the life and achievements of Dick Meadows, a MACVSOG legend.

"

there's a fantastic book written about him called Quiet Professional.

Delta Force Cover

Charlie A. Beckwith

Delta Force

Larry Vickers referred to Charlie Beckwith's book Delta Force when describing the 40mile rucksack march and the time limits imposed on the operation.

"

according to the book, according to Charlie Beckwith's book, Delta Force, you had 20 hours to do the 40miler.

— Episode: #204 Larry Vickers - Delta Force: Operat...

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Episode: #204 Larry Vickers - Delta Force: Operation Acid G...

Larry Vickers referred to Charlie Beckwith's book Delta Force when describing the 40mile rucksack march and the time limits imposed on the operation.

"

according to the book, according to Charlie Beckwith's book, Delta Force, you had 20 hours to do the 40miler.

Small Arms of the World Cover

Edward Clinton Ezell

Small Arms of the World

Larry Vickers mentioned using the books Combat Arms and Small Arms of the World to study firearm designs and parts while preparing for his special forces training.

"

I got these books, Combat Arms and Small Arms of the World, and I would just absorb them.

— Episode: #204 Larry Vickers - Delta Force: Operat...

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Episode: #204 Larry Vickers - Delta Force: Operation Acid G...

Larry Vickers mentioned using the books Combat Arms and Small Arms of the World to study firearm designs and parts while preparing for his special forces training.

"

I got these books, Combat Arms and Small Arms of the World, and I would just absorb them.

WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR: A Book That Changes Lives Cover

Dan Millman

WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR

A Book That Changes Lives

Dave cited The Way of the Peaceful Warrior as another book he had read repeatedly for inspiration.

"

I also read The WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR a lot.

— Episode: #203 Dave Mustaine - Megadeth Co-Founder...

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Episode: #203 Dave Mustaine - Megadeth Co-Founder & Frontma...

Dave cited The Way of the Peaceful Warrior as another book he had read repeatedly for inspiration.

"

I also read The WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR a lot.

Fast Tanks and Heavy Bombers: Innovation in the U.S. Army, 1917–1945 (Cornell Studies in Security Affairs) Cover

David E. Johnson

Fast Tanks and Heavy Bombers

Innovation in the U.S. Army, 1917–1945 (Cornell Studies in Security Affairs)

In the episode with Steve Kwast, the book was referenced as the source of an engaging story about historic debates over military technology, with the title noted for its oxymoronic flair. The mention highlighted the book's narrative value rather than serving as a formal recommendation.

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Episode: #202 Steve Kwast – Lt. Gen., USAF (Ret.) / CEO of...

The speaker referenced the book as a source of a compelling story about historical military technology debates.

"

It was a great story in a book called Fast Tanks and Heavy Bombers, which is the oxymoron title.

Defend the Border and Save Lives: Solving Our Most Important Humanitarian and Security Crisis Cover

Tom Homan

Defend the Border and Save Lives

Solving Our Most Important Humanitarian and Security Crisis

The book was listed as Tom Homan's publication on the episode description, highlighting his perspective on solving the humanitarian and security crisis at the border.

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Book by Tom Homan - As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases (paid links): Defend the Border and Save Lives: Solving Our Most Important Humanitarian and Security Crisi...

— Episode: #200 Tom Homan - The White House Border...

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Episode: #200 Tom Homan - The White House Border Czar

The book was listed as Tom Homan's publication on the episode description, highlighting his perspective on solving the humanitarian and security crisis at the border.

"

Book by Tom Homan - As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases (paid links): Defend the Border and Save Lives: Solving Our Most Important Humanitarian and Security Crisis

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