Why people recommend it
It's a Book! by Lane Smith is a humorous children's picture book that contrasts traditional reading with modern technology through a dialogue between a monkey and a jackass. While the exact title appeared in citation metadata, various podcasters discussed broader themes related to writing and reading habits. Arnold Schwarzenegger shared on The Daily Stoic how an instructor encouraged him and others to carry a book under their arm and read daily. Cal Newport spoke on the same podcast about the pivotal moment he decided to become an author and seek advice on navigating the publishing world. Other podcast hosts, including Bill Burr on the Monday Morning Podcast and the team on SmartLess, occasionally reflected on the physical experience of reading books versus gathering information digitally. Although specific plot details of Lane Smith's work were not deeply analyzed, the podcasters frequently touched upon the cultural value of physical books, the discipline of daily reading, and the creative journey of bringing new literary works to life for audiences of all ages.
Who recommended it
- Cal Newport Discussed
- Arnold Schwarzenegger Recommended
Cal Newport — 2 mentions
“Like I always tell people for me, the most important phone call probably in my life is when I decided to write a book. I called a family friend who was an agent and said, 'Explain to me how to sell books, and in particular what would be the very narrow path that like a 20 or 21-year-old could follow”
“I was like, okay, got have my standard advice for writing a book and he had this whole like alternative world built out about how he was going to run around the whole. It involved him spending a lot of money, yeah, on these marketing firms and these marketing firms were going to get a lot of attention to his”
Arnold Schwarzenegger — 1 mention
“He encouraged us to carry a book under our arm and read every day, even if it's just a page.”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 6
“And now he is making the media rounds because he's promoting a book in which he makes clear Trump is terrible Um, that he was aware of it, he was a witness to it, it did happen and he believes there is tape of it Though he doesn't know who has it or doesn't believe it'll actually ever come out”
“In the defense of my cousin Michael Skakel, I did do a book on that and tracked down the people who were actually responsible for the murder, releasing my cousin from prison. I just wanted to mention that again, though questions linger and I want to be fair.”
“I just read a book about Wilmington, North Carolina. What was it about, the port?”
“Yeah, I mean, honestly, for me, I'm like I could read about it in a book and be like great, thanks, I'm good!”
“I can write a book and see my life kind of expand.”
“One good investment in his 30-year career, but he wrote a book about it and tells all the VCs to kiss his rear.”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- A Book about the Film Monty Python's Life of Brian
- Apprentice in Wonderland
- Getting Things Done
- Moneyball
- On Writing
- Tales and Traditions of the Lower Cape Fear, 1661-1896
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“You'd go on a morning show and have only two minutes to explain a book, but on a podcast, you might have three hours.”
“Some might work on a book for seven years, which consists of many pages, but the ability to effectively communicate a big idea concisely is a skill that not enough people have.”
“We’re actually writing a book about this right now—about the artist's life.”