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 4 weeks ago
Short Stuff: Why does it feel good to be scared?
Scream with Me
Eleanor Johnson
Mentioned 4 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
Howl you doin Friendly Person T-Shirt
It was sent in by a fan named Colin as a gift to the hosts of the podcast, and was likely a paperback or hardcover book.
"
We got Howl, Colin, Why Howl We Do Anything Means Everything by Dove Seidman
— Episode: SYSK Selects: How Grief Works
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Episode: SYSK Selects: How Grief Works
It was sent in by a fan named Colin as a gift to the hosts of the podcast, and was likely a paperback or hardcover book.
"
We got Howl, Colin, Why Howl We Do Anything Means Everything by Dove Seidman
Watchmen (2019 Edition)
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The Hunt for MH370
It was mentioned as the source for a conspiracy theory that Captain Zahari parachuted out of the plane to meet a woman on a boat, which was dismissed as unnecessary.
"
That was actually written by a journalist in a book called The Hunt for MH370 by E. Ann Higgins.
— Episode: The Disappearance of Flight MH370, Part...
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Episode: The Disappearance of Flight MH370, Part II
It was mentioned as the source for a conspiracy theory that Captain Zahari parachuted out of the plane to meet a woman on a boat, which was dismissed as unnecessary.
"
That was actually written by a journalist in a book called The Hunt for MH370 by E. Ann Higgins.
The Complete Guide to the Gap Year
The Best Things to Do Between High School and College, Second Edition
It was mentioned as a book that discussed a variety of options, other than just partying, like volunteering and living with families in another culture, for people taking a gap year.
"
There's a book that a woman named Kristen White wrote called The Complete Guide to the Gap Year, where she talks about some of the things you can do that aren't just like partying aro...
— Episode: What's a gap year anyway?
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Episode: What's a gap year anyway?
It was mentioned as a book that discussed a variety of options, other than just partying, like volunteering and living with families in another culture, for people taking a gap year.
"
There's a book that a woman named Kristen White wrote called The Complete Guide to the Gap Year, where she talks about some of the things you can do that aren't just like partying around the world.
Sloan H-541-A 1" Screwdriver Control Stop Repair Kit - For use with Sloan Flushometers (H-700-A and H-600-A Back Check Screwdriver Control Stops), Original OEM Replacement Parts, 3308853
It was mentioned as a memoir written by a 19th-century jockey whose name became synonymous with being alone, due to a line within the book.
"
His book, his memoir was called Todd Sloan by himself which is weird to refer to yourself in third person for your memoir.
— Episode: Cockney Rhyming Slang: Beautiful Gibberi...
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Episode: Cockney Rhyming Slang: Beautiful Gibberish
It was mentioned as a memoir written by a 19th-century jockey whose name became synonymous with being alone, due to a line within the book.
"
His book, his memoir was called Todd Sloan by himself which is weird to refer to yourself in third person for your memoir.
I was left alone by those I never ceased to grieve for.
The Book of Halloween
Origin, Practices & Beliefs (Illustrated Edition)
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The Cellar
It was written by a Christian standup comedian and, although later exposed as fraudulent, it was very popular amongst the Christian community, laying the groundwork for the idea of Satanic cults in the US and the idea of repressed memories.
"
You can trace that back to a book from 1972 by a guy named Mike Warnke. He was a Christian sandup comedian. He also was totally full of it.
— Episode: SYSK Selects: The 'Satanic Panic' of the...
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Episode: SYSK Selects: The 'Satanic Panic' of the 1980s
It was written by a Christian standup comedian and, although later exposed as fraudulent, it was very popular amongst the Christian community, laying the groundwork for the idea of Satanic cults in the US and the idea of repressed memories.
"
You can trace that back to a book from 1972 by a guy named Mike Warnke. He was a Christian sandup comedian. He also was totally full of it.
He wrote a book called The Satan Cellar where he talked about his life as a former satanic cult priest, I believe and drug dealer.
And he was eventually exposed far too late by the Christian magazine Cornerstone as almost entirely fraudulent and made up in just a liar.
But his book just sold like wildfire through the Christian fundamentalist community and basically really established the groundwork for the idea that there were satanic cults operating in the United States, right?
Ghosts of Gettysburg
Spirits, Apparitions and Haunted Places on the Battlefield
It was mentioned as a multi-volume book series written by a former park ranger turned paranormal investigator who worked at Gettysburg, discussing paranormal experiences there.
"
So there was a woman back when Mark Nesbit, that the Gettysburg Park Ranger turned paranormal investigator who also he wrote like a multi volume book series called The Ghosts of Gettysburg
— Episode: Short Stuff: The Devil's Den
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Episode: Short Stuff: The Devil's Den
It was mentioned as a multi-volume book series written by a former park ranger turned paranormal investigator who worked at Gettysburg, discussing paranormal experiences there.
"
So there was a woman back when Mark Nesbit, that the Gettysburg Park Ranger turned paranormal investigator who also he wrote like a multi volume book series called The Ghosts of Gettysburg.
Well, sure. He collected a multi volume series called the Ghosts of Gettysburg.
Mark, Mark Nezbit being the author of a multi volume series called The Ghosts of Gettysburg says, I got it.
Environmental Psychology
An Introduction (BPS Textbooks in Psychology Book 1)
It was the first book on environmental psychology, published in 1970, and focused on the relationship between humans and their physical surroundings.
"
He wrote the book on it. The first one that is, I'm sure they're a gazillion now in 1970, Environmental Psychology colon manned and his physical setting and by man, he means person.
— Episode: How Environmental Psychology Works
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Episode: How Environmental Psychology Works
It was the first book on environmental psychology, published in 1970, and focused on the relationship between humans and their physical surroundings.
"
He wrote the book on it. The first one that is, I'm sure they're a gazillion now in 1970, Environmental Psychology colon manned and his physical setting and by man, he means person.
![Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles, Jerome Lagarrigue [Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001] Hardcover [Hardcover] Cover](https://media.podcastbookpicks.com/books/16163.jpg)
Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles, Jerome Lagarrigue [Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001] Hardcover [Hardcover]
It was mentioned as a book about Freedom Summer and Freedom Schools, and it was used as a source for the podcast episode, specifically helping a writer with the content.
"
John Hale wrote a book on Freedom Summer and Freedom Schools which you're going to talk about and he actually helped Dave out with this article.
— Episode: What were the Freedom Schools?
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Episode: What were the Freedom Schools?
It was mentioned as a book about Freedom Summer and Freedom Schools, and it was used as a source for the podcast episode, specifically helping a writer with the content.
"
John Hale wrote a book on Freedom Summer and Freedom Schools which you're going to talk about and he actually helped Dave out with this article.
Ice Island
It was mentioned in passing as a book that the speaker had read to learn about icebergs. An excerpt from the book described an iceberg that destabilised and exploded into a debris field.
"
His quote is, and this Iceberg basically became destabilized and it sounds like it exploded. Yes. It was one of its face. He said that there was an ice debris field across two miles.
— Episode: SYSK Selects: How Icebergs Work
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Episode: SYSK Selects: How Icebergs Work
It was mentioned in passing as a book that the speaker had read to learn about icebergs. An excerpt from the book described an iceberg that destabilised and exploded into a debris field.
"
His quote is, and this Iceberg basically became destabilized and it sounds like it exploded. Yes. It was one of its face. He said that there was an ice debris field across two miles.
and he said it was like shards of crystal shattering.
Twelve Angry Men (Classic Editions)
It was discussed in a listener's email, which highlighted its themes of prejudice and morality within a courtroom drama and how it challenged the viewer's perception of reality vs memory in the context of eyewitness testimony.
"
I just finished the eyewitness testimony episode and finally have something to write in about the movie 12 Angry Men.
— Episode: How Ventriloquism Works
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Episode: How Ventriloquism Works
It was discussed in a listener's email, which highlighted its themes of prejudice and morality within a courtroom drama and how it challenged the viewer's perception of reality vs memory in the context of eyewitness testimony.
"
I just finished the eyewitness testimony episode and finally have something to write in about the movie 12 Angry Men.
That's a good one.
It was made in the 1950s about a jury comprised of 12 Angry Men.
The movie covers a lot about prejudice, morality and everything else that goes along with courtroom dramas.
But one of the penultimate scenes regarding eyewitness testimony, don't want to give it anything away, but it really shows how someone can be completely confident in something they've seen but what might not be really what happened when you look at the details without knowing it.
The Neon Bible
A Novel
It was mentioned as the second book by John Kennedy Toole, but it wasn't as commercially successful as his first novel and was considered a 'one-hit wonder' by the podcast hosts.
"
And then his second book was published The Neon Bible I think in 1986 and that was made into a movie.
— Episode: SYSK Selects: What Makes a One-hit Wonde...
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Episode: SYSK Selects: What Makes a One-hit Wonder?
It was mentioned as the second book by John Kennedy Toole, but it wasn't as commercially successful as his first novel and was considered a 'one-hit wonder' by the podcast hosts.
"
And then his second book was published The Neon Bible I think in 1986 and that was made into a movie.
Well, The Neon Bible wasn't a huge hit but.
But yeah, I would say he's a one hit wonder.
The Emigrants Guide to Oregon & California
It was mentioned that the Donner Party had a copy of this book in their wagon, which contained a brief description of the Hastings Cut-Off, a supposed shortcut that ended up causing their demise.
"
The immigrant's guide to Oregon and California which Donner had on the seat of his wagon.
— Episode: SYSK Selects: How the Donner Party Worke...
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Episode: SYSK Selects: How the Donner Party Worked
It was mentioned that the Donner Party had a copy of this book in their wagon, which contained a brief description of the Hastings Cut-Off, a supposed shortcut that ended up causing their demise.
"
The immigrant's guide to Oregon and California which Donner had on the seat of his wagon.
Who's Afraid of AI?
Fear and Promise in the Age of Thinking Machines
Josh expressed excitement about reading it, suggesting it would be relevant to his interests.
"
There's a guy named Thomas Ramji...He wrote a book called Who's Afraid of AI?
— Episode: How the Hygiene Hypothesis Works
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Episode: How the Hygiene Hypothesis Works
Josh expressed excitement about reading it, suggesting it would be relevant to his interests.
"
There's a guy named Thomas Ramji...He wrote a book called Who's Afraid of AI?
Right up your alley.
The Illuminatus! Trilogy
The Eye in the Pyramid, The Golden Apple, Leviathan
It was described as a fascinating, hilarious, and engrossing book that incorporates the number 23 as a core element.
"
And Robert Anton Wilson went on to co-write the very famous Illuminatus trilogy. Have you ever read any of those? I haven't but that's Josh's main interest. Okay they're fascinating books. They're won...
— Episode: Short Stuff: The Number 23
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Episode: Short Stuff: The Number 23
It was described as a fascinating, hilarious, and engrossing book that incorporates the number 23 as a core element.
"
And Robert Anton Wilson went on to co-write the very famous Illuminatus trilogy. Have you ever read any of those? I haven't but that's Josh's main interest. Okay they're fascinating books. They're wonderfully written. They're hilarious, they're engrossing, they're really interesting.
But he was friends with Burroughs and so the number 23 is a major foundation of the Illuminatus trilogy, which also draws from another kind of underground school of thought I guess in the 60s and 70s which is called discordianism.
The Book of Numbers
Analyzing the ROI on the Pursuit of Women
The title of the book, 'Rodgerson's Book of Numbers', was mentioned in passing with emphasis on its rather unique subtitle.
"
Yeah, and this book title is just out of hand. Rodgerson's book of numbers, colon, the culture of numbers hyphen from 1001 nights to the seven wonders of the world. That's the end of the title. It has...
— Episode: Short Stuff: The Number 23
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Episode: Short Stuff: The Number 23
The title of the book, 'Rodgerson's Book of Numbers', was mentioned in passing with emphasis on its rather unique subtitle.
"
Yeah, and this book title is just out of hand. Rodgerson's book of numbers, colon, the culture of numbers hyphen from 1001 nights to the seven wonders of the world. That's the end of the title. It has a colon and a hyphen.
Self-Love Workbook for Women
Release Self-Doubt, Build Self-Compassion, and Embrace Who You Are
It was written by Michael Dillon while working as a fire watcher during World War II, and discussed endocrinology and psychological aspects of trans identity, which was considered groundbreaking at the time.
"
And he took this time to write a book called self and self was a really interesting tone from what I can tell where there was kind of a scientific treatise on endocrinology psychological treatise on b...
— Episode: Michael Dillon: Trans Pioneer
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Episode: Michael Dillon: Trans Pioneer
It was written by Michael Dillon while working as a fire watcher during World War II, and discussed endocrinology and psychological aspects of trans identity, which was considered groundbreaking at the time.
"
And he took this time to write a book called self and self was a really interesting tone from what I can tell where there was kind of a scientific treatise on endocrinology psychological treatise on basically what would come so later be known as trans identity.
it got published in 1946 it was obviously not some huge bestseller because it was 1946.
now looked upon as a landmark piece of work
Out of the Ordinary
Prayers, Poems, and Reflections for Every Season
It is Michael Dillon's autobiography which was written before his death but not published until 2017, giving the world a better understanding of his life and contribution.
"
and had written an autobiography called Out of the Ordinary which did not get published until two years ago.
— Episode: Michael Dillon: Trans Pioneer
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Episode: Michael Dillon: Trans Pioneer
It is Michael Dillon's autobiography which was written before his death but not published until 2017, giving the world a better understanding of his life and contribution.
"
and had written an autobiography called Out of the Ordinary which did not get published until two years ago.
Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.