Book · 2009 · Juvenile Nonfiction
Pinocchio
- mentions
- 10
- people
- 5
- podcasts
- 4
- episodes
- 7
- critical mentions
- 0
Pinocchio is my go-to book. I've read it a 100 times.
What they say about it
- Discusses the story details“Pinocchio discovers nothing but slavery”2
The best things said about it
I would say read Pinocchio and Frankenstein.
That's why Pinocchio discovers nothing but slavery on Pleasure Island, by the way.
Jordan Peterson The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast · Jun 2025 He starts out as a marionette.
Jordan Peterson The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast · May 2022 Where and when it comes up
Mentions per year
How it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
5 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi is the classic Italian tale of a wooden marionette who must navigate numerous moral tests and trials to become a real boy. On The Ezra Klein Show, musician Patti Smith revealed that the book is her absolute go-to recommendation and a frequent reread, listing it among the fairy tales she devoured as a child and suggesting it to listeners for continuity alongside Frankenstein. Meanwhile, Jordan Peterson frequently discussed the story on The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, using the narrative to analyze human psychology and choice. Peterson pointed out that the character's descent into Pleasure Island illustrates how becoming a slave to hedonic whims destroys true freedom rather than delivering authentic happiness. On StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and guest Joseph Gordon-Levitt also touched on the story, discussing their experiences reading the original text by Carlo Collodi and comparing its deeper, more complex themes to the more sanitized adaptations popular in modern culture. Across multiple platforms, guests and hosts have continually returned to Collodi's work as a profound psychological and moral fable.
Every mention
Patti Smith Um well, my head is swirling so much with a million books, but just for like little continuity, I would say… 3
“but I swiftly started reading books and Uncle Wiggly and the Bobsy Twins and Pinocchio and Alice and Wonderland and all the Elves and Fairy books. I mean, I've read them all.”
“Um well, my head is swirling so much with a million books, but just for like little continuity, I would say read Pinocchio and Frankenstein.”
“But Pinocchio is my go-to book. I've read it a 100 times.”
Jordan Peterson I like the movie Pinocchio a lot. I've talked about it a lot. 4
“I like the movie Pinocchio a lot. I've talked about it a lot.”
“That's why Pinocchio discovers nothing but slavery on Pleasure Island, by the way.”
“That's really what happens to Pinocchio because we're going to watch part of the Pinocchio story. He starts out as a marionette.”
“i'm going to walk you a bit today through pinocchio”
Dave Rubin like you know he talks about Harry Potter a lot or the story of Pinocchio or just different things 1
“like you know he talks about Harry Potter a lot or the story of Pinocchio or just different things”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt So now I got to level with you; I read the original Pinocchio, the original pin, the original pin by...Cod… 1
“So now I got to level with you; I read the original Pinocchio, the original pin, the original pin by...Cod from like a hundred years ago or something, correct?”
Neil deGrasse Tyson so now got a level with you I read the original Pinocchio the original pin the original pin by Cod from lik… 1
“so now got a level with you I read the original Pinocchio the original pin the original pin by Cod from like a hundred years ago or something correct correct and in Italian right”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (6: passing, ad reads, own books)
“It also reminds me of the Peterson lectures I listened to on The Lion King, Peter Pan, and Pinocchio.”
“did you ever read Pinocchio as a kid oh yeah japeta dude yeah yeah”
“Pinocchio like what are what we're saying is is that spontaneity in the moment itself something unique and divine happens”
“Cynthia will hit the screen in early September with Disney's live action retelling of Pinocchio”
“it's like jiminy cricket in in pinocchio that is really annoying”
“As Pinocchio says in the original book hunger makes the best sauce.”