Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir
Mentioned 1 week ago
Selects: The First Road Trip
Book Recommendations
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Episodes
4,641
Books
1,074
Recently mentioned
Latest Recommendations
The Body
Stephen King
Mentioned 1 week ago
Selects: The First Road Trip
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
Mentioned 2 weeks ago
Kola: The World’s Deepest Hole
The Pearl
STEINBECK JOHN
Mentioned 2 weeks ago
Kola: The World’s Deepest Hole
Smartest Guys in the Room
Bethany McLean
Mentioned 3 weeks ago
Selects: How Enron Fooled the World
Crime and Punishment (Vintage Classics)
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Mentioned 3 weeks ago
Short Stuff: Why does it feel good to be scared?
Scream with Me
Eleanor Johnson
Mentioned 3 weeks ago
Short Stuff: Why does it feel good to be scared?
A Confederacy of Dunces
John Kennedy Toole
Mentioned 4 weeks ago
Some Interesting Curses
The Incomparable Atuk
Mordecai RICHLER
Mentioned 4 weeks ago
Some Interesting Curses
Jurassic Park
Michael Crichton
Mentioned 1 month ago
The Stuff You Should Know Doin’ Science Playlist: How Chaos Theory Changed the Universe
Merchants of Doubt
Naomi Oreskes
Mentioned 1 month ago
How Global Warming Works
Mash
Richard Hooker
Mentioned 1 month ago
M*A*S*H: The Story of the 4077th
Most Recommended
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Full Color Edition (Classic Seuss)
This was published the same year as The Cat in the Hat, and is still beloved today, even including a famous TV adaptation.
"
And then that same year how the Grinch stole Christmas.
— Episode: Dr. Seuss: The Good, the Bad and the Ugl...
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Episode: Dr. Seuss: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
This was published the same year as The Cat in the Hat, and is still beloved today, even including a famous TV adaptation.
"
And then that same year how the Grinch stole Christmas.
That's a big year man. Very big year.
So cat in the hat and the Grinch the same year right? Yeah.
And he ended up being so successful that they gave him his own imprint at Random House
Strangers on a Train
The book's author, Patricia Highsmith, was mentioned as a snail enthusiast who reportedly carried snails in her purse as companions, demonstrating her unique personality.
"
The author Patricia Highsmith, who was a very interesting person in her own right. She wrote the Strangers on a Train and the Talented Mr. Ripley novels.
— Episode: How Snails Work
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Episode: How Snails Work
The book's author, Patricia Highsmith, was mentioned as a snail enthusiast who reportedly carried snails in her purse as companions, demonstrating her unique personality.
"
The author Patricia Highsmith, who was a very interesting person in her own right. She wrote the Strangers on a Train and the Talented Mr. Ripley novels.
The Executioner's Song
Gary Gilmore's case was discussed, particularly his decision to not appeal his death sentence and his request for a firing squad execution, as featured in the book and movie based on it.
"
What about Gary Gilmore famously from the book The Executioner's Song and movie?
— Episode: The Last Meal Ritual
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Episode: The Last Meal Ritual
Gary Gilmore's case was discussed, particularly his decision to not appeal his death sentence and his request for a firing squad execution, as featured in the book and movie based on it.
"
What about Gary Gilmore famously from the book The Executioner's Song and movie?
Touching the Void (New Windmills) by Joe Simpson (2009-10-01)
Climber Joe Simpson wrote this book detailing his experience in the Peruvian Andes where he broke his leg and obeyed a guiding voice during his ordeal.
"
And he wrote a book called Touching the Void where he talked about obeying this voice, like guiding him.
— Episode: Short Stuff: Third Man Syndrome
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Episode: Short Stuff: Third Man Syndrome
Climber Joe Simpson wrote this book detailing his experience in the Peruvian Andes where he broke his leg and obeyed a guiding voice during his ordeal.
"
And he wrote a book called Touching the Void where he talked about obeying this voice, like guiding him.
The Flowers in the Attic Saga (Boxed Set)
Flowers in the Attic/Petals on the Wind; If There Be Thorns/Seeds of Yesterday; Garden of Shadows (Dollanganger)
During a discussion about Andrew Carnegie, a host said his favorite book was Flowers in the Attic.
"
His favorite one was Flowers in the Attic.
— Episode: Robber Barons!
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Episode: Robber Barons!
During a discussion about Andrew Carnegie, a host said his favorite book was Flowers in the Attic.
"
His favorite one was Flowers in the Attic.
Wisconsin Death Trip
It was compared to the Voyager Golden Record's images, as the book's text was described as jarring and unsettling, much like the random assemblage of pictures and diagrams in the record.
"
It's almost like jarring in the way of like that book, Wisconsin Death Trip that I'm always talking about is.
— Episode: How the Voyager Golden Records Work
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Episode: How the Voyager Golden Records Work
It was compared to the Voyager Golden Record's images, as the book's text was described as jarring and unsettling, much like the random assemblage of pictures and diagrams in the record.
"
It's almost like jarring in the way of like that book, Wisconsin Death Trip that I'm always talking about is.
The Good Lie
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Gorilla Tough & Clear Double Sided Adhesive Mounting Tape, Extra Large, 1" x 150", Clear, (Pack of 1)
It was mentioned that the senior Daniel O'Keefe was inspired by this Samuel Beckett play when creating the Festivus tradition, where the main character records himself speaking at different points in his life, similar to how the O'Keefes recorded their Festivus celebrations on tape.
"
They apparently were inspired or the Sr. Daniel was inspired by a Samuel Beckett play called Crap's Last Tape where the protagonist in the movie or I'm sorry in the play tapes himself speaking at diff...
— Episode: SYSK’s 2021 Glad Tidings Bonanza Holiday...
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Episode: SYSK’s 2021 Glad Tidings Bonanza Holiday Special
It was mentioned that the senior Daniel O'Keefe was inspired by this Samuel Beckett play when creating the Festivus tradition, where the main character records himself speaking at different points in his life, similar to how the O'Keefes recorded their Festivus celebrations on tape.
"
They apparently were inspired or the Sr. Daniel was inspired by a Samuel Beckett play called Crap's Last Tape where the protagonist in the movie or I'm sorry in the play tapes himself speaking at different points in his life and so the O'Keefe family used a tape recorder to record their Festivus and some of these tapes still exist apparently from little Dan's life which is great.
Dainty Desserts for Dainty People
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The New 8-Week Cholesterol Cure
The Ultimate Program for Preventing Heart Disease
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The Neoplatonists
A Reader
It was mentioned as one of the books in Mr. Abney's library, which was said to be a collection of books on mysteries and religious beliefs of the later pagans.
"
Certainly his library contained all the then-available books bearing on the mysteries, the Orphic poems, the worship of Mithras, and The Neoplatonists.
— Episode: 2021 Halloween Spooktacular!
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Episode: 2021 Halloween Spooktacular!
It was mentioned as one of the books in Mr. Abney's library, which was said to be a collection of books on mysteries and religious beliefs of the later pagans.
"
Certainly his library contained all the then-available books bearing on the mysteries, the Orphic poems, the worship of Mithras, and The Neoplatonists.
The Faber Report
CNBC's "The Brain" Tells You How Wall Street Really Works and How You Can Make It Work for You
It was mentioned in passing as a book or paper where information about the physiology of the brain was discussed, particularly the function of certain nerve cells in the brain.
"
You may look in Brown-Faber's book if you like, and you will find that to the present day men of science are unable to account for the presence or to specify the functions of certain group of nerve ce...
— Episode: 2021 Halloween Spooktacular!
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Episode: 2021 Halloween Spooktacular!
It was mentioned in passing as a book or paper where information about the physiology of the brain was discussed, particularly the function of certain nerve cells in the brain.
"
You may look in Brown-Faber's book if you like, and you will find that to the present day men of science are unable to account for the presence or to specify the functions of certain group of nerve cells in the brain.
Down The Rathole
The True Story of the CIA and the Assassination Bureau
It was mentioned as a book or manuscript which contained the words, 'In every grain of wheat there lies hidden the soul of a star'.
"
You see that parchment, Oswald Corleas? He was one of the first to show me the way, though I don't think he ever found it himself. That is a strange saying of his. In every grain of wheat there lies h...
— Episode: 2021 Halloween Spooktacular!
Listen on Audible
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Episode: 2021 Halloween Spooktacular!
It was mentioned as a book or manuscript which contained the words, 'In every grain of wheat there lies hidden the soul of a star'.
"
You see that parchment, Oswald Corleas? He was one of the first to show me the way, though I don't think he ever found it himself. That is a strange saying of his. In every grain of wheat there lies hidden the soul of a star.
The Edward Bernays Reader
From Propaganda to the Engineering of Consent
It was mentioned as a 1932 publication that advocated for the creation of less durable goods to boost consumer spending, laying a foundation for the consumer economy.
"
And they wrote a book that wasn't too far off that pamphlet called Consumer Engineering, colon, or at least of a colon and a title, a new technique for prosperity. And they called it creative waste an...
— Episode: Selects: Planned Obsolescence: Engine of...
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Episode: Selects: Planned Obsolescence: Engine of the Consu...
It was mentioned as a 1932 publication that advocated for the creation of less durable goods to boost consumer spending, laying a foundation for the consumer economy.
"
And they wrote a book that wasn't too far off that pamphlet called Consumer Engineering, colon, or at least of a colon and a title, a new technique for prosperity. And they called it creative waste and just basically flat out said, we should make things that are less durable because, you know, people are going to buy more stuff.
Bloody Brain
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Forces at the Amusement Park (Amusement Park Science)
It was the first time the Humpty Dumpty rhyme appeared in a book, in 1797, and it featured a different third line than the version we know today.
"
I think the first time the rhyme itself was in a book, it was in 1797 in Juvenile Amusement by Samuel Arnold and the third line instead of all the king's horses and all the king's men, it said four sc...
— Episode: Short Stuff: Humpty Dumpty
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Episode: Short Stuff: Humpty Dumpty
It was the first time the Humpty Dumpty rhyme appeared in a book, in 1797, and it featured a different third line than the version we know today.
"
I think the first time the rhyme itself was in a book, it was in 1797 in Juvenile Amusement by Samuel Arnold and the third line instead of all the king's horses and all the king's men, it said four score men and four score more.
The Worst Mistake of a Human Being
It was mentioned as relevant reading related to the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agriculture and the rise of power structures, suggesting that the former may have been preferable.
"
And if you're interested in that kind of thing, also go back and read Dr. Jared Diamond's The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race, which talks a lot about this transition and basically argu...
— Episode: Selects: How Royalty Works
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Episode: Selects: How Royalty Works
It was mentioned as relevant reading related to the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agriculture and the rise of power structures, suggesting that the former may have been preferable.
"
And if you're interested in that kind of thing, also go back and read Dr. Jared Diamond's The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race, which talks a lot about this transition and basically argues that we were all better off as hunter-gatherers.
Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.