Episode · No Stupid Questions · 2024-12-08
Books mentioned on 222. What Makes an Idea Interesting?
What do Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, and Malcolm Gladwell have in common? Are interesting theories more significant than true ones?
Angela Duckworth discussed Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, and Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs. Also mentioned: The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin and The Variations of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume 1 by Charles Darwin.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
Outliers
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell is a fascinating exploration of the external factors, cultural legacies, and hidden advantages that enable certain individuals to achieve extraordinary success.
Discussed“Adam Grant writes about Malcolm Gladwell, who's the well-known author of many New York Times bestsellers like 'David and Goliath,' 'Tipping Point,' and 'Outliers.'”
Where to get it
-
David and Goliath
David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell is a popular non-fiction book that examines how perceived disadvantages can often be converted into powerful advantages.
Discussed“Adam Grant writes about Malcolm Gladwell, who's the well-known author of many New York Times bestsellers like 'David and Goliath,' 'Tipping Point,' and 'Outliers.'”
Where to get it
-
The Tipping Point
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell is a famous non-fiction book that explores how little things can make a big difference, examining the social epidemics and psychological moments that cause ideas and behaviors to spread like wildfire.
Discussed“Adam Grant writes about Malcolm Gladwell, who's the well-known author of many New York Times bestsellers like 'David and Goliath,' 'Tipping Point,' and 'Outliers.'”
Where to get it
-
Small Fry
Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs is a poignant and evocative memoir written by the daughter of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, detailing her complicated childhood, her relationship with her famous father, and her search for identity.
Discussed“or I'm reading like Steve Jobs daughter's Memoir small fry oh my gosh I'm just leaning into every detail and it's not because she's saying things that have upended my idea of who Steve Jobs was it's just itself new to me like novelty and I'm really learning like I didn't know that I had no idea she saw her”
Where to get it
-
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin is a foundational 1872 scientific work exploring how humans and other species communicate feelings through physical behavior.
Discussed“while it's true that this subject has only become a focus of modern emotion psychology in recent years we should note that in 1872 Charles Darwin described emotions related to learning and thinking in his book the expression of the emotions in man and animals”
Where to get it
-
The Variations of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume 1
The Variations of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume 1 by Charles Darwin examines the biological changes and traits observed in domesticated species, serving as a foundational text for evolutionary biology.
Discussed“while it's true that this subject has only become a focus of modern emotion psychology in recent years we should note that in 1872 Charles Darwin described emotions related to learning and thinking in his book the expression of the emotions in man and animals”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (5) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“I was going to say I always say sometimes, I don't want to make a declarative that all things, but my immediate reaction went back to the book Freakonomics.”
“I mean I don't know if I should confess to this but it was very clear to me when I wrote grit that what made the idea interesting is that we had a view that what makes somebody great at what they do is talent that is the accepted wisdom right but in fact it's not it's sustained effort and”
“I mean I don't know if I should confess to this but it was very clear to me when I wrote grit that what made the idea interesting is that we had a view that what makes somebody great at what they do is talent that is the accepted wisdom right but in fact it's not it's sustained effort and”
“I mean, I don't know if I should confess to this, but it was very clear to me when I wrote 'Grit' that what made the idea interesting is that we had a view that what makes somebody great at what they do is talent.”
“While it's true that this subject has only become a focus of modern emotion psychology in recent years, we should note that in 1872, Charles Darwin described emotions related to learning and thinking in his book 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals.'”