Episode · The Tim Ferriss Show · 2025-10-20

Tim Ferriss & Frank Miller: books mentioned on The Tim Ferriss Show #831

#831: Frank Miller, Comic Book Legend — Creative Process, The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, 300, and Much More

8 books · With Frank Miller · Listen · Watch on YouTube

Frank Miller is regarded as one of the most influential and awarded creators. He began his career in comics in the late 1970s, first gaining notoriety as the artist, and later writer, of Daredevil for Marvel Comics.

Tim Ferriss discussed Push the Wall by Frank Miller, Frank Miller's Sin City Volume 1: The Hard Goodbye 3rd Edition by Frank Miller, and Watchmen by Alan Moore and others. Frank Miller recommended Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud, Screenplay by Syd Field, and Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life by George B. Bridgman, and discussed Frank Miller's Ronin by Frank Miller and Swamp Thing by Alan Moore and others.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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  1. Push the Wall

    Frank Miller · at 1:30 · mentioned 2 times

    Discussed
    “And I'm going to go to my phone because I was reading an early copy of Push the Wall, my life, writing, drawing, and the art of storytelling.”
    Where to get it
  2. Frank Miller's Sin City Volume 1: The Hard Goodbye 3rd Edition

    Frank Miller · at 3:47

    Discussed
    “Then this is Frank Miller's Sin City, the hard goodbye.”
    Where to get it
  3. Frank Miller's Ronin

    Frank Miller · at 28:35 · mentioned 2 times

    Discussed
    “and like Ronin was born that day and my storytelling style changed everything and from that I I als I helped bring the title over and helped with the Asian invasion.”
    Where to get it
  4. Watchmen

    Alan Moore; Dave Gibbons · at 39:01

    Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons is a landmark graphic novel set in an alternate history that deconstructs the superhero genre against the backdrop of Cold War tensions.

    Discussed
    “Am I getting the the timeline right that you were working on The Dark Knight Returns at the same time that Alan Moore was working on Watchmen or am I getting that timeline?”
    Where to get it
  5. Swamp Thing

    Alan Moore; John Totleben · at 41:31

    Discussed
    “I mean, he the first time he sat down to write Swamp Thing, he changed the entire precept of the character.”
    Where to get it
  6. Understanding Comics

    Scott McCloud · at 1:00:18

    Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud is a celebrated graphic novel about the theory, history, and formal mechanics of comic books and visual communication.

    Recommended
    “I mean, pick up Scott Mloud's book on understanding comics for and see how he breaks down how comics work.”
    Where to get it
  7. Screenplay

    Syd Field · at 1:00:27

    Screenplay by Syd Field is a foundational instructional guide on the craft of screenwriting that outlines the fundamental principles of structure, plot points, and character arcs necessary for commercial filmmaking.

    Recommended
    “At the same time, pick up Sid Fields book on screenplay.”
    Where to get it
  8. Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life

    George B. Bridgman · at 1:01:17

    Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life by George B. Bridgman is a classic instructional art manual dedicated to mastering the depiction of the human figure through anatomical precision and structural understanding.

    Recommended
    “Uh, George Bridgeman. George Bridgeman. Yeah. There's no E in it in Bridgemond. All right. There is an in George, but no George in Bridgeman. And it's the complete guide to drawing from life. It's only about the figure.”
    Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Plugged Push the Wall
“So, absolutely check out Push the Wall: My Life, Writing, Drawing, and the Art of Storytelling.”
Plugged The Art of Sin City
“So, absolutely check out Push the Wall: My Life, Writing, Drawing, and the Art of Storytelling.”