This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
Book Recommendations

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

What happened this past weekend. And sometimes what happened on other days.

Episodes 410
Books 122

Recently mentioned

Latest Recommendations

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art cover

Breath

James Nestor

Mentioned 5 months ago

#641 - Breathing Expert James Nestor

The host highlighted the release of a revised paperback/hardcover edition of Nestor's bestseller, noting its focus on how breathing impacts health, performance, and daily life.

He just published a new edition of his book, Breath, The New Science of a Lost Art.

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The Middle Passage: From Misery to Meaning in Midlife cover

The Middle Passage

James Hollis

Mentioned 5 months ago

#640 - Chris Hemsworth

Theo and Chris discussed the book as a gentler term for a midlife crisis, noting its Jungian perspective on identity and personal growth.

He mentioned a book called The Middle Passage, which he said was a gentler term for a midlife crisis, by James Hollis.

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Tales From The Tiller: TRUE STORIES OF HEROISM, HEARTBREAK, AND HUMOR: THE LUCKIEST GUY ALIVE & HIS JOURNEY IN THE FDNY cover

Tales From The Tiller

Tony Bonfiglio

Mentioned 5 months ago

#637 - FDNY Firefighter

Tony Bonfiglio released his memoir in September, sharing firefighter stories and recipes from his career. The book was praised for its mix of heroism, heartbreak, humor, and food.

This is your book right here, Tales from the Tiller.

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The Bridges of Madison County cover

The Bridges of Madison County

Robert James Waller

Mentioned 5 months ago

#636 - Jason Momoa

He said it was one of his favorite books and that the movie adaptation followed the novel word for word.

One of my favorite books, the book and the movie it's identical. It's like word for word.

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The Grapes of Wrath cover

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck

Mentioned 6 months ago

#633 - Trevor Wallace

The guest referenced a specific scene in this novel where a woman breastfeeds another adult due to starvation, which he connected to feelings of intense hunger.

Yeah. Um, I mean, there are a couple of scenes in, uh, Grapes of Wrath that kind of like. Really?

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The Creative Act: A Way of Being cover

The Creative Act

Rick Rubin

Mentioned 6 months ago

#633 - Trevor Wallace

The host brought up this book by Rick Rubin, which discusses the creative process, and both agreed the author would be a great podcast guest.

That that what what is that book I'm blanking on his name. It's a great book with the circles on it. Rick Rubin. Have you read that book?

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All Quiet on the Western Front cover

All Quiet on the Western Front

Erich Maria Remarque

Mentioned 6 months ago

#633 - Trevor Wallace

The guest mentioned this book while discussing reading material that was not sexually stimulating enough to prevent him from resorting to pornography. He stated it was a good book.

Oh, I'll tell you. Uh, laying there, like reading and then being like, oh, this book isn't enough, you know? Like, and it's just a book. It's like a good book. Is that photos or no? It's like All's Quiet on the Western Front or something.

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The Body cover

The Body

Stephen King

Mentioned 6 months ago

#630 - Stephen Wilson Jr.

They noted it was a Stephen King novella titled The Body, which served as the source material for the film Stand By Me.

the movie ... is also a Stephen King story, that movie is based off a Stephen King novella called The Body.

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Ingram: A Novel cover

Ingram

Louis C.K.

Mentioned 8 months ago

#624 - Sketch

Theo mentioned that he owned a signed copy of Louis C.K.'s book and said he was a collector who wouldn't sell it.

That's a great show. ... I'm a collector, not a seller.

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Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution cover

Soul Boom

Rainn Wilson

Mentioned 8 months ago

#624 - Sketch

Theo talked about having Rainn Wilson's book as a gift and noted it was another collectible he kept.

There's Rainn Wilson's book. Some lady made this real rat.

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Of Mice and Men cover

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

Mentioned 8 months ago

#623 - Gary Sinise

Theo recalled the novel Of Mice and Men in the same breath as The Green Mile.

I remember of mice and men.

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A Dictionary of the English Language: an Anthology (Penguin Classics) cover

A Dictionary of the English Language

Samuel Johnson

Mentioned 10 months ago

#611 - Louis C.K.

The hosts discussed Samuel Johnson's groundbreaking dictionary, noting its historical significance as the first comprehensive English dictionary published in the 18thcentury.

There was a guy named Samuel Johnson back in England in the early 1700s and he was the first person to write a dictionary for English... It was published in April 1775 and is among the most influential dictionaries in the history of the English language.

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Most Recommended

Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word Cover

Christine Caine

Unshakeable

365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word

Tony Robbins wrote this book to prepare people for what he knew would be a giant market change in 2020, and it was written to help people who are unprepared for their financial future.

"

Then I wrote a book called Unshakeable to Prepare People for 2020. I didn't know it was going to be COVID, but I knew there was going to be a giant market change because you can predi...

— Episode: E477 Tony Robbins

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Episode: E477 Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins wrote this book to prepare people for what he knew would be a giant market change in 2020, and it was written to help people who are unprepared for their financial future.

"

Then I wrote a book called Unshakeable to Prepare People for 2020. I didn't know it was going to be COVID, but I knew there was going to be a giant market change because you can predict that it's going to come.

And then now there's so many people unprepared for their financial future that they're in the hole.

The Holy Grail of Investing: The World's Greatest Investors Reveal Their Ultimate Strategies for Financial Freedom (Tony Robbins Financial Freedom Series) Cover

Tony Robbins

The Holy Grail of Investing

The World's Greatest Investors Reveal Their Ultimate Strategies for Financial Freedom (Tony Robbins Financial Freedom Series)

Tony Robbins' new book, 'The Holy Grail of Investing' is about the most important investment principle, which is to have 8 to 12 investments that are not correlated with one another, and is the final book in his financial trilogy.

"

I've written three financial books. This is the third one of the trilogy. It's the final, final of the trilogy.

— Episode: E477 Tony Robbins

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Episode: E477 Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins' new book, 'The Holy Grail of Investing' is about the most important investment principle, which is to have 8 to 12 investments that are not correlated with one another, and is the final book in his financial trilogy.

"

I've written three financial books. This is the third one of the trilogy. It's the final, final of the trilogy.

He goes, I spent 20 years to figure this out. He goes, I'm gonna tell you the answer. And he said, it's called the Holy Grail, right?

He goes, The Holy Grail of Investing is defined eight to 12 investments that are not correlated.

How to be a WAG Cover

Layla Anne-Lee

How to be a WAG

The wife of a young UFC fighter, Ian Gary Machado, wrote a book about being a WAG (Wife of an Athlete) and how to be a famous woman with an athlete. The book was published around eight years ago.

"

Anyways, his wife wrote a book on How to be a WAG.

— Episode: E476 Sean Strickland

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Episode: E476 Sean Strickland

The wife of a young UFC fighter, Ian Gary Machado, wrote a book about being a WAG (Wife of an Athlete) and how to be a famous woman with an athlete. The book was published around eight years ago.

"

Anyways, his wife wrote a book on How to be a WAG.

She wrote a book on her... I am in our town. She wrote a book on how to...

So she wrote a book on How to be a WAG and how to be a famous woman with an athlete or how to be a woman with an athlete.

This wrote a book about this like eight years, I don't know, eight years ago.

So she go... Yeah, there's a book. How did you wag?

Compton in My Soul: A Life in Pursuit of Racial Equality (Stanford Studies in Comparative Race and Ethnicity) Cover

Albert M. Camarillo

Compton in My Soul

A Life in Pursuit of Racial Equality (Stanford Studies in Comparative Race and Ethnicity)

Kef D, one of the four suspects in the Tupac Shakur murder case, admitted in his 2019 memoir "Compton" that he provided the gun used in the drive by.

"

Davis himself has admitted in interviews and in his 2019 tell all memoir, Compton, can you scroll?

— Episode: E465 Sexyy Red

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Episode: E465 Sexyy Red

Kef D, one of the four suspects in the Tupac Shakur murder case, admitted in his 2019 memoir "Compton" that he provided the gun used in the drive by.

"

Davis himself has admitted in interviews and in his 2019 tell all memoir, Compton, can you scroll?

Compton street legend that he provided the gun used in a drive by.

As a Man Thinketh Cover

James Allen

As a Man Thinketh

Former NFL player Maurice Clarett highly recommended James Allen’s As a Man Thinketh, calling it the most impactful book he had ever read. Clarett shared that he read the short philosophical work 70 times while incarcerated, explaining that it fundamentally changed his life by demonstrating the power of self-control. He highlighted the central theme that thoughts linked with purpose manifest reality, concluding that the book taught him that "thoughts were things."

Highly Recommended
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Episode: Maurice Clarett, Cory Gregory, and John Fosco | Th...

It was highly recommended, especially for its impact on Maurice Clarett's life while he was incarcerated. It helped him realize that his thoughts were directly impacting his life, and that he had a great deal of control over how he lived. It was read 70 times while he was in prison.

"

I will promote this book to the day I die. A guy dropped off a book, a small 70-page read called 'As a Man Thinketh' by James Allen, the most impactful book I've ever read in my life. Bar none, no comparison, and I'm very simple and ...

Reese, and after reading the book, fucking 70 times in that situation, the book kept on showing me that thoughts were things, until thought is linked with purpose. Nothing intelligent should ever happen until thought is linked with purpose. I kept on thinking to myself like, what the fuck does that mean at first, right? What a man thinks about plants in his brain. Plants his mind, he shall manifest. Whatever you can see, believe, and achieve and speak up over it shall come so true, isn't it bro? So fucking true, so simple, though.

Oliver Twist: The Original 1838 Unabridged and Complete Edition (Charles Dickens Classics) Cover

Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist

The Original 1838 Unabridged and Complete Edition (Charles Dickens Classics)

In the episode, Theo Von recommended the book as a healthier alternative to online pornography, urging listeners to shut down their computers and return to reading classic literature. He highlighted the value of getting back to something real by picking up a classic novel like this one.

Highly Recommended
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Episode: 3-27-17 | This Past Weekend #15

Theo Von suggested listeners should pick up a classic novel like Charles Dickens' 'Oliver Twist' as a healthier alternative to online pornography.

"

Shut that computer down man crack a book Get you some Mark Twain or some Chuckie Dickens, you know Get back to your roots, you know get back to something real

Ozzy Osbourne - Down to Earth Cover

Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne - Down to Earth

Dalton brought up the title while recounting that he had been listening to it on his way to school when a train accident occurred, using it as a detail of the incident. The mention was brief and served only as part of his story rather than a recommendation.

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Episode: E409 Rail Baby

Dalton mentioned listening to this book while walking to school before he was hit by a train, and it was playing when the incident occurred.

"

I was listening to Ozzy Revelation Mother Earth.

Cosmic Trigger I: Final Secret of the Illuminati Cover

Robert Anton Wilson

Cosmic Trigger I

Final Secret of the Illuminati

Dr. Max More brought up the title while talking about his encounter with cryopreservation, noting that the author, known for countercultural works, wrote a nonfiction account about his daughter's murder and her brain being frozen, which made the concept feel real to him. He mentioned it as an illustrative anecdote rather than a recommendation.

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Episode: E404 Dr. Max More

Dr. Max More mentioned reading this non-fiction book by Robert Anton Wilson where he talked about his daughter Luna, who had been murdered at age 14 in San Francisco and had her brain cryopreserved.

"

And then later on, I read a book by Robert Anton Wilson. I don't know if you knew this guy from the 70s. He used to be editor for Penthouse. He wrote the Illuminatus Trilogy. It was a big counterculture book back then. In his nonfiction book, Cosmic Trigger, he wrote about his daughter, Luna, who'd been murdered at the age of 14 in San Francisco. And he had a, you know, terrible. He had a brain cryopreserved. I went, oh, so this is a real thing. So that's when you learned out that the thing you had seen in like a fictional aspect as a child was now real. That was the first time I saw it as real.

The End Of Physics: The Myth Of A Unified Theory Cover

David Lindley

The End Of Physics

The Myth Of A Unified Theory

During a debate, Dr. Max More referenced the title while arguing against a professor's claim that physics had achieved a unified theory of general relativity and quantum mechanics. He dismissed the book's premise as unrealistic and suggested that physics is far from being settled. The discussion highlighted his criticism rather than endorsement of the work.

Critiqued
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Episode: E404 Dr. Max More

Dr. Max More was debating with a professor at UCLA and said that the air in Los Angeles had gotten better over decades, but the professor disagreed. The professor had a book called "The End of Physics" which claimed that the integration of general relativity and quantum mechanics was the final word, but Dr. More disputed this.

"

Even like 20 years ago, there was this guy, what's his name? John Horgan or something. The End Of Physics is his book. Seriously, guy?

That's what we have integrated general relativity and quantum mechanics. They don't, they won't work together. Physics is obviously not correct at all.

Respironics, Inc. Business Background Report Cover

ChoiceLevel Books

Respironics, Inc. Business Background Report

Dr. Max More referenced a book by Robert Frietas about respirocytes, which are nanotechnological devices that could pump in extra oxygen, potentially allowing someone to hold their breath for an hour.

"

Robert Frietas is an expert in this area, designed what he called respirocytes, where you could pump in all this extra oxygen. You could hold your breath for like an hour or something.

— Episode: E404 Dr. Max More

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Episode: E404 Dr. Max More

Dr. Max More referenced a book by Robert Frietas about respirocytes, which are nanotechnological devices that could pump in extra oxygen, potentially allowing someone to hold their breath for an hour.

"

Robert Frietas is an expert in this area, designed what he called respirocytes, where you could pump in all this extra oxygen. You could hold your breath for like an hour or something.

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption Cover

Stephen King

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption

The title was brought up during Sal Vulcano's Morgan Freeman impression, where he jokingly quoted the famous prison escape line. The hosts treated it as a humorous reference rather than a recommendation. Overall, the mention was light‑hearted and casual.

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Episode: E395 Sal Vulcano

It was mentioned during an impression of Morgan Freeman, who played Red in the movie adaptation of Stephen King's book.

"

They said it would take a man 600 years to get out of the sea of prison But Annie Dufresne did it in less than 20

Yeah That's a little week today. But no, that's that's that's Morgan Freeman.

The Count (Sesame Street Friends) Cover

Andrea Posner-Sanchez

The Count (Sesame Street Friends)

It was described as a good book, detailing Bisping's life, growing up, winning the title, and other aspects of his career.

"

He's fascinating man. He used to be a DJ too. Many came on the podcast once, we were talking about when he was a DJ at like a night club and shit.

— Episode: E386 Sean O'Malley & Tim Welch

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Episode: E386 Sean O'Malley & Tim Welch

It was described as a good book, detailing Bisping's life, growing up, winning the title, and other aspects of his career.

"

He's fascinating man. He used to be a DJ too. Many came on the podcast once, we were talking about when he was a DJ at like a night club and shit.

Very good, very good book. Really, really enjoyed that book.

Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection Cover

John E. Sarno

Healing Back Pain

The Mind-Body Connection

Guest Nikki Glaser enthusiastically recommended Dr. John E. Sarno's influential work, often referred to as 'The Back Pain Book.' She detailed the book's controversial core premise, explaining that chronic back pain is psychosomatic and stems from unresolved stress and emotional tension. Glaser noted that the book suggests true healing comes from acknowledging this mind-body connection, potentially rendering surgery unnecessary.

Highly Recommended
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Episode: E339 Nikki Glaser

Nikki Glaser mentioned the book 'The Back Pain Book' which claims that back pain is psychosomatic and stems from stress. This can be treated by acknowledging the stress, not the physical element, and that surgery is unnecessary.

"

You read the back pain book Sarno.

What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO Cover

Mike Lindell

What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO

Host Theo Von casually mentioned in Episode E299 that he was currently reading Mike Lindell’s memoir, "What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO." The book was brought up primarily to highlight the host's astonishment at the author's intense life story. Von noted the incredible juxtaposition of Lindell allegedly smoking crack while actively building the MyPillow business.

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Episode: E299 Adult Asthma

It was mentioned in passing that the author of this book was allegedly smoking crack and still making pillows.

"

I'm reading the my pillow guys book right now that dude smoking crack and making pillows

The Widow’s Son: A Novel of the Weird West (Zarahemla Two Crows Book 1) Cover

Ryan Williamson

The Widow’s Son

A Novel of the Weird West (Zarahemla Two Crows Book 1)

The book was briefly brought up during a discussion of a bizarre, hypothetical 'no-id' incident. It was not discussed for its literary merit, but was humorously referenced as the strange price demanded in exchange for a hostage's release, providing a moment of levity in the episode.

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Episode: Up to Nothing | This Past Weekend #274

It was mentioned briefly during a discussion about the 'no-id' incident, where a hostage was offered a copy of this book in exchange for their release.

"

After offering to exchange one hostage for a copy of the widow's son

The Dichotomy of Leadership: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win Cover

Jocko Willink

The Dichotomy of Leadership

Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win

The book was directly promoted by its author, Jocko Willink, during his guest appearance on the podcast. Willink explained that The Dichotomy of Leadership centers on the crucial concept of balance, arguing that effective leaders must navigate and harmonize opposing forces. He emphasized the importance of finding a middle ground in both professional and personal life, such as balancing communication and aggression, to achieve success.

Highly Recommended
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Episode: Jocko Willink 2 | This Past Weekend #236

Jocko discussed the concept of balance in leadership and life, explaining the importance of finding a middle ground in various aspects, including communication and aggression, and how it relates to personal and professional life.

"

I wrote that book right there called the dichotomy leadership there you you have to balance all these different things in your life

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