Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Book Recommendations

Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

From UFOs to psychic powers and government cover-ups, history is riddled with unexplained events. You can turn back now or learn the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know ... an audio podcast from iHeartRadio.

Episodes 2,194
Books 761

Recently mentioned

Latest Recommendations

Enemy Aliens: Double Standards and Constitutional Freedoms in the War on Terrorism cover

Enemy Aliens

David Cole

Mentioned 5 months ago

The Subterranean Secrets of Denton, Texas

This book, featuring the photojournalist's work, included many images from the civil rights movement and documented the relocation and stripping of property from Japanese Canadians during World War II. The speaker highly recommended it.

But he was a Canadian, a Japanese Canadian, who went through the exact same thing there in Canada, where Japanese Canadians were also relocated and stripped of property and put in these sort of, you know, siloed areas, these ghettos, kind of. And I had no idea that that was going on there. I didn't know that. Yeah. Really, really interesting. I brought his book. It's a book of his work, which includes a lot of images from that time and also from the civil rights stuff called Enemy Alien. Highly recommend it. Tameo Wakayama.

Buy on Amazon
Encyclopedia of Assassinations: More than 400 Infamous Attacks that Changed the Course of History cover

Encyclopedia of Assassinations

Carl Sifakis

Mentioned 5 months ago

CLASSIC: The Hidden History of Assassins, Chapter One: An Origin Story

This book explored both attempted and successful assassinations throughout human history. It was mentioned as being available at arcane bookstores.

The Encyclopedia of Assassinations. Available at any arcane bookstore near you. Right. By Carl Sifakis.

Buy on Amazon
The Travels of Marco Polo cover

The Travels of Marco Polo

Marco Polo

Mentioned 5 months ago

CLASSIC: The Hidden History of Assassins, Chapter One: An Origin Story

This book was cited as a primary source that popularized exaggerated claims about the Order of Assassins in Western Europe, suggesting they were a drug-crazed cult due to Marco Polo's storytelling.

It gets really popular and mischaracterized in Western Europe thanks to one of the best-selling books of the medieval era, The Travels of Marco Polo.

Buy on Amazon
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine cover

The Big Short

Michael Lewis

Mentioned 5 months ago

The Legacy Program, Chapter Two: How Aliens (Could) Work

This book was mentioned in passing as an example of a work people might recall when considering the concept of an alien reveal. It was brought up alongside other media like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Arrival."

The big short.

Buy on Amazon
The Graduate Survival Guide: 5 Mistakes You Can't Afford To Make In College cover

The Graduate Survival Guide

Anthony ONeal

Mentioned 5 months ago

CLASSIC: Plastics, Microplastics and Conspiracy

The speakers referenced a scene from the movie, which is based on a novel, when discussing how plastics were often viewed as the future.

first shout out to everybody who's already remembering that scene in The Graduate. It's a great scene.

Buy on Amazon
Stuff You Should Know: An Incomplete Compendium of Mostly Interesting Things cover

Stuff You Should Know

Josh Clark

Mentioned 5 months ago

The Legacy Program, Chapter One: Fact and Fiction

The hosts mentioned that the documentary's poster ripped off the layout and color scheme of their book, which features incredible art by Nick Benson.

And yeah, have you seen the poster? It kind of rips off our book.

Buy on Amazon
How to Lose a Dunlap Belly: And See Your Toes Again cover

How to Lose a Dunlap Belly

Dexter Poin

Mentioned 5 months ago

Strange News: Strange News: Spy Nuns, Fart Cures, Cow Tools and More

The book was mentioned in connection with a YouTuber who discovered an infinite money glitch at GameStop involving buying a Switch 2 and returning it with a used game for a small profit.

All right. We'll go to Dexter Toe by Michael William is the writer for this one. This came out. Actually, this was published today as we're recording. A YouTuber has figured out an infinite money glitch. You can buy a Switch 2 and return it to get even more money back.

Buy on Amazon
Holy Blood, Holy Grail cover

Holy Blood, Holy Grail

Michael Baigent

Mentioned 1 year ago

CLASSIC: The Shugborough Inscription Cipher

Published in 1982, this book speculated that the painter Nicolas Poussin, creator of the painting depicted in the Shepherd's Monument, was a member of the Priory of Sion. The authors suggested the monument's inscription might hold clues to the location of the Holy Grail.

The Da Vinci Code cover

The Da Vinci Code

Dan Brown

Mentioned 1 year ago

CLASSIC: The Shugborough Inscription Cipher

This book was mentioned as leveraging the concept of the Priory of Sion, which is believed by some to be connected to the Shugborough Inscription. The authors of *The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail* felt that Dan Brown plagiarized their work in this novel.

Anson's Gold: and the Secret to Captain Kidd's Charts cover

Anson's Gold

George Edmunds

Mentioned 1 year ago

CLASSIC: The Shugborough Inscription Cipher

This book argues that the Shugborough Inscription is a cipher concealing the latitude and longitude of an island where George Anson buried or discovered Spanish treasure. The author suggests that a secret 18th-century expedition was launched to recover this treasure, but unforeseen circumstances prevented its retrieval.

Media Control, Second Edition: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda (Open Media Series) cover

Media Control, Second Edition

Noam Chomsky

Mentioned 1 year ago

My Momma Told Me, With Langston Kerman and David Gborie

The podcast hosts discussed this book, mentioning its availability online and describing it as a great place to start learning about Edward Bernays, its author, and his work in public relations and advertising. The book was described as relevant to a discussion on capitalism and consumer culture.

The book Propaganda, available online.

Buy on Amazon
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Series) cover

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Series)

Stieg Larsson

Mentioned 1 year ago

Listener Mail: Terrors of Adoption, Black Sludge is Poop, the Dangers of an AI-driven, 'Teacherless' Classroom

The podcast mentioned the book in passing, referencing the character Lisbeth Salander as a ward of the state due to not having parents and committing a crime that led to increased monitoring.

Most Recommended

Harry Potter Hardcover Boxed Set: Books 1-7 (Slipcase) Cover

J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter Hardcover Boxed Set

Books 1-7 (Slipcase)

A Harry Potter trivia notebook was found in a backpack in the tunnels, suggesting that the group of kids were not necessarily serious about their vampire persona.

"

Then the last section was labeled trivia and was a running scoreboard of what looked to be a Harry Potter trivia leak.

— Episode: The Vampire Tunnels of Springfield, Miss...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Vampire Tunnels of Springfield, Missouri

A Harry Potter trivia notebook was found in a backpack in the tunnels, suggesting that the group of kids were not necessarily serious about their vampire persona.

"

Then the last section was labeled trivia and was a running scoreboard of what looked to be a Harry Potter trivia leak.

The Road to Serfdom: Text and Documents--The Definitive Edition (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek, Volume 2) Cover

F. A. Hayek

The Road to Serfdom

Text and Documents--The Definitive Edition (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek, Volume 2)

The book was described as proposing that central planning inevitably erodes individual liberty and enables tyranny. Its philosophy influenced the founder of the Atlas Network.

"

He came across an abridged edition of F.A. Hayek's The Road to Serfdom, which proposes that central planning inevitably erodes individual liberty and enables tyranny.

— Episode: Listener Mail: The Atlas Network, The Ra...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Listener Mail: The Atlas Network, The Rainey Stree...

The book was described as proposing that central planning inevitably erodes individual liberty and enables tyranny. Its philosophy influenced the founder of the Atlas Network.

"

He came across an abridged edition of F.A. Hayek's The Road to Serfdom, which proposes that central planning inevitably erodes individual liberty and enables tyranny.

Frederick Hayek is an old school Austrian economist, or he's thought to be a member, a leading luminary of what we call the Austrian school.

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine Cover

Michael Lewis

The Big Short

Inside the Doomsday Machine

This book was mentioned in passing as an example of a work people might recall when considering the concept of an alien reveal. It was brought up alongside other media like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Arrival."

"

The Big Short.

— Episode: The Legacy Program, Chapter Two: How Ali...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Legacy Program, Chapter Two: How Aliens (Could...

This book was mentioned in passing as an example of a work people might recall when considering the concept of an alien reveal. It was brought up alongside other media like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Arrival."

"

The Big Short.

Flash Boys Cover

Michael Lewis

Flash Boys

It was described as a superb read and offered interesting insights into high-frequency trading. The speaker enjoyed reading it.

"

Just by way of a book recommendation, Flash Boys is a superb read. I really enjoyed it.

— Episode: CLASSIC: Can people purposefully collaps...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: CLASSIC: Can people purposefully collapse the stoc...

It was described as a superb read and offered interesting insights into high-frequency trading. The speaker enjoyed reading it.

"

Just by way of a book recommendation, Flash Boys is a superb read. I really enjoyed it.

Moby Dick (Chartwell Classics) Cover

Herman Melville

Moby Dick (Chartwell Classics)

The hosts briefly discussed Ishmael's letter, and it was mentioned that it may have been a reference to the classic novel Moby Dick, but it wasn't explicitly confirmed.

"

We're going to talk with Ishmael, maybe a Moby Dick reference, maybe not.

— Episode: Listener Mail: The Psychedelic Devil's B...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Listener Mail: The Psychedelic Devil's Bread, Inva...

The hosts briefly discussed Ishmael's letter, and it was mentioned that it may have been a reference to the classic novel Moby Dick, but it wasn't explicitly confirmed.

"

We're going to talk with Ishmael, maybe a Moby Dick reference, maybe not.

The Plot: The Secret Story of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion Cover

Will Eisner

The Plot

The Secret Story of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion

It was discussed as an example of a racist propaganda book alongside Mein Kampf.

"

a very successful racist propaganda like mind comp for the protocols of the elders of zion and uh In the interest of full disclosure just to be absolutely fair We have read copies of both of these wor...

— Episode: Should Any Books Be Banned?

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Should Any Books Be Banned?

It was discussed as an example of a racist propaganda book alongside Mein Kampf.

"

a very successful racist propaganda like mind comp for the protocols of the elders of zion and uh In the interest of full disclosure just to be absolutely fair We have read copies of both of these works And they're not well written they're not even like they're not even well written books I just want to say when ben says we I am excluded from that week because i've not read mind comp But I I will I can't wait to no, i'm just joking.

The Handmaid's Tale Cover

Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid's Tale

A Korean film adaptation of a British novel that the host highly recommended, particularly for its erotic Japanese books plotline and intense same-sex scene.

"

I have been revisiting and also visiting for the first time the films of Park Chan-wook who is an excellent Korean director who did Old Boy directed the film Old Boy, which is a favorite and you know...

— Episode: Speak to Us: Voicemail Edition

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Speak to Us: Voicemail Edition

A Korean film adaptation of a British novel that the host highly recommended, particularly for its erotic Japanese books plotline and intense same-sex scene.

"

I have been revisiting and also visiting for the first time the films of Park Chan-wook who is an excellent Korean director who did Old Boy directed the film Old Boy, which is a favorite and you know did the Vengeance trilogy old boy was the third one. He did Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance then Lady Vengeance and then Old Boy.

He has a film called The Handmaiden that is it's like he's really big into adapting like British kind of period novels and making them Korean and like kind of I don't know folding it into Korean culture and he does it so seamlessly. It's kind of incredible. You'd never know that it was adapted but it's sort of almost this Oliver twist type story where there's like a Fagin type character like a den of thieves that you know, this guy's the leader and he has this really elaborate grift and I'm not going to spoil anything because it has more twists than a than a prancel but there is a plot line in it involving erotic Japanese books, which is a thing.

It's a very very cool empowering, you know, kind of queer positive type message but also a rollicking adventure with baddies galore and absolutely stunning cinematography.

Burn Book: A Tech Love Story Cover

Kara Swisher

Burn Book

A Tech Love Story

The podcast host Audie Cornish had a conversation with Kara Swisher about her memoir, "Burn Book", which is about her tech love story, where she says she loves the technology but not the people, and loves the possibilities of the technology.

"

I'm speaking with Kara Swisher about her memoir Burn Book, a tech love story.

— Episode: CLASSIC: Returning To The Moon

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: CLASSIC: Returning To The Moon

The podcast host Audie Cornish had a conversation with Kara Swisher about her memoir, "Burn Book", which is about her tech love story, where she says she loves the technology but not the people, and loves the possibilities of the technology.

"

I'm speaking with Kara Swisher about her memoir Burn Book, a tech love story.

I love the tech, not the people. I love the possibilities of technology.

Alexander Hamilton Cover

Ron Chernow

Alexander Hamilton

James Madison, a key figure in the book, was said to have used weed for gaining insights to create a new democracy, something that was said humorously.

"

James Madison, famously featured in Hamilton, is on record saying that weed gives him the insights he needed to create a new democracy, which in fairness, that sounds like something someone would say...

— Episode: Presidents and Substance Abuse

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Presidents and Substance Abuse

James Madison, a key figure in the book, was said to have used weed for gaining insights to create a new democracy, something that was said humorously.

"

James Madison, famously featured in Hamilton, is on record saying that weed gives him the insights he needed to create a new democracy, which in fairness, that sounds like something someone would say when they were really high.

The Graduate Survival Guide: 5 Mistakes You Can't Afford To Make In College Cover

Anthony ONeal

The Graduate Survival Guide

5 Mistakes You Can't Afford To Make In College

The speakers referenced a scene from the movie, which is based on a novel, when discussing how plastics were often viewed as the future.

"

first shout out to everybody who's already remembering that scene in The Graduate. It's a great scene.

— Episode: CLASSIC: Plastics, Microplastics and Con...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: CLASSIC: Plastics, Microplastics and Conspiracy

The speakers referenced a scene from the movie, which is based on a novel, when discussing how plastics were often viewed as the future.

"

first shout out to everybody who's already remembering that scene in The Graduate. It's a great scene.

Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of the Book of Leviticus (New Studies in Biblical Theology 37) Cover

L. Michael Morales

Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?

A Biblical Theology of the Book of Leviticus (New Studies in Biblical Theology 37)

It was discussed in the context of the Bible John case, with the idea that if taken too seriously, certain rules and laws mentioned in the book, such as those in Leviticus, could lead to dangerous beliefs.

"

So, yeah, there's a lot of flexibility when you when you get in some of the rules and laws that you can find in books of the Bible, like Leviticus or something.

— Episode: CLASSIC: Serial Killers on the Loose: Pa...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: CLASSIC: Serial Killers on the Loose: Part 2

It was discussed in the context of the Bible John case, with the idea that if taken too seriously, certain rules and laws mentioned in the book, such as those in Leviticus, could lead to dangerous beliefs.

"

So, yeah, there's a lot of flexibility when you when you get in some of the rules and laws that you can find in books of the Bible, like Leviticus or something.

The Age of Reason, the Complete Edition Cover

Thomas Paine

The Age of Reason, the Complete Edition

This book, written by Thomas Paine, was mentioned as a great read and surprising in its readability for a book written in the 18th century. It was recommended for anyone who might be put off by the word 'essay' or 'reason'.

"

The Age of Reason, which is a really great read, actually, and I didn't expect it to be when I cracked that thing open.

— Episode: CLASSIC: Famous Lost Tombs, Part I

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: CLASSIC: Famous Lost Tombs, Part I

This book, written by Thomas Paine, was mentioned as a great read and surprising in its readability for a book written in the 18th century. It was recommended for anyone who might be put off by the word 'essay' or 'reason'.

"

The Age of Reason, which is a really great read, actually, and I didn't expect it to be when I cracked that thing open.

Yeah, it's very readable.

I know these - the idea - there are certain trigger words people hear that make them not want to read things. One of those is essay. The other is, you know, reason or rights.

Revelation - Bible Study Book with Video Access: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom Cover

Jen Wilkin

Revelation - Bible Study Book with Video Access

Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom

It was suggested that the cult in Kenya might be more aligned with themes found in the Book of Revelation, focusing on end-times prophecies and their interpretation.

"

I think this has more to do with Revelation, though, than any other book of the Bible.

— Episode: Strange News: The Kenyan Death Cult. A M...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Strange News: The Kenyan Death Cult. A Mormon Whis...

It was suggested that the cult in Kenya might be more aligned with themes found in the Book of Revelation, focusing on end-times prophecies and their interpretation.

"

I think this has more to do with Revelation, though, than any other book of the Bible.

The Firm: A Novel (The Firm Series) Cover

John Grisham

The Firm

A Novel (The Firm Series)

The Firm is a novel by John Grisham that was mentioned as a book, alongside a movie with Tom Cruise.

"

Yeah. There's also a book, The Firm.

— Episode: CLASSIC: The Mysterious McKinsey Group

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: CLASSIC: The Mysterious McKinsey Group

The Firm is a novel by John Grisham that was mentioned as a book, alongside a movie with Tom Cruise.

"

Yeah. There's also a book, The Firm.

Grisham.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: 50th Anniversary Edition Cover

Ken Kesey

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

50th Anniversary Edition

It was mentioned in the context of the Kennedy curse and Rosemary's lobotomy, with the speaker highlighting it as a good book and movie.

"

Spoiler alert for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest like that time and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

— Episode: CLASSIC: The Kennedy Curse

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: CLASSIC: The Kennedy Curse

It was mentioned in the context of the Kennedy curse and Rosemary's lobotomy, with the speaker highlighting it as a good book and movie.

"

Spoiler alert for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest like that time and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning Cover

A.J. Jacobs

The Year of Living Constitutionally

One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning

The hosts recommend listening to the "Ridiculous History" episode with AJ Jacobs about the Constitution, which references his book, "The Year of Living Constitutionally", and discusses similar themes to the Project 2025 discussion.

"

I think it'd be a good supplement to this conversation.

— Episode: Project 2025: Should we be concerned?

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Project 2025: Should we be concerned?

The hosts recommend listening to the "Ridiculous History" episode with AJ Jacobs about the Constitution, which references his book, "The Year of Living Constitutionally", and discusses similar themes to the Project 2025 discussion.

"

I think it'd be a good supplement to this conversation.

AJ Bahamas Jacobs The Year of Living Constitutionally. He also has a show with us called the puzzler.

Ready Player One Cover

Ernest Cline

Ready Player One

The book was mentioned as a fictional example where the economy is wrapped up in virtual worlds.

"

I don't know, fiction is priming us for to remember rate Ready Player One.

— Episode: The Observer Effect and the Double Slit...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Observer Effect and the Double Slit Experiment...

The book was mentioned as a fictional example where the economy is wrapped up in virtual worlds.

"

I don't know, fiction is priming us for to remember rate Ready Player One.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court Cover

Mark Twain

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

The podcast mentioned this book to illustrate a point about self-delusion, referencing a scene where a time-traveling Yankee meets Merlin and realizes that Merlin believes he's a real magician.

"

That's the Mark Twain book where a Cartoonish stereotype of a Yankee based on Mark Twain's opinions at the time. Somehow time travels back to Camelot and there's without spoiling too much of it becaus...

— Episode: The Strange Story of Jeffrey Alan Lash,...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Strange Story of Jeffrey Alan Lash, Part I

The podcast mentioned this book to illustrate a point about self-delusion, referencing a scene where a time-traveling Yankee meets Merlin and realizes that Merlin believes he's a real magician.

"

That's the Mark Twain book where a Cartoonish stereotype of a Yankee based on Mark Twain's opinions at the time. Somehow time travels back to Camelot and there's without spoiling too much of it because it's brilliantly written. There's this moment where this Yankee guy is in King Arthur's court and he meets Merlin and he has this realization where he says, he says, holy shit. This guy thinks he's a real magician even though he obviously is not

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