Episode · How I Write · 2026-10-28
David Perell & Gillian Flynn: books mentioned on How I Write
Gillian Flynn: How to Write Thrilling Stories | How I Write
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David Perell recommended Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Gillian Flynn recommended The Ruins by Scott Smith and A Simple Plan by Scott Smith, and discussed Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, Fox by Joyce Carol Oates, Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, Mystic river by Dennis Lehane, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, and On Writing by Stephen King.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Gone Girl
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is a dark psychological thriller that unravels the turbulent marriage and sudden disappearance of Amy Dunne through the increasingly suspect perspective of her husband, Nick.
Recommended“Gileian Flynn is the author of one of my favorite books of all time, Gone Girl.”
Where to get it
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Sharp Objects
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn is a psychological thriller about a troubled reporter named Camille Preaker who returns to her hometown to cover the murders of two young girls while battling severe self-destructive habits.
Discussed“You know, in Sharp Objects, Camille is a tortured character. You know, she's self harm. She's, you know, she's back in a bad place. And so she's making these decisions and then trying to undo them as she's trying to solve the mystery.”
Where to get it
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The Ruins
The Ruins is a chilling thriller novel by Scott Smith that follows a group of tourists whose vacation in Mexico takes a horrifying turn when they encounter a malevolent entity in an ancient archaeological site.
Recommended“And you know, a writer like Scott Smith does it better than anyone in the world. You know, if anyone wants to read the the ruins or um A Simple Plan, I cannot recommend it more.”
Where to get it
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A Simple Plan
A Simple Plan is a gripping suspense novel by Scott Smith that tells the story of ordinary men who stumble upon a crashed plane containing millions in hidden cash and make the fateful decision to keep it, leading to a downward spiral of greed and deceit.
Recommended“And you know, a writer like Scott Smith does it better than anyone in the world. You know, if anyone wants to read the the ruins or um A Simple Plan, I cannot recommend it more.”
Where to get it
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Fox
Discussed“Um, you know, Joyce Carol, who's my favorite writer, does that a lot where I mean Fox that came out last year, it has half a chapter, maybe more, written from the point of view of a dog, which you would think would be silly, but in her hands and her brain, it becomes this where you're like, I guess”
Where to get it
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Dark Places
Discussed“In my second book, Dark Places, it was told by three different characters. one is the primary narrator in first person and then the two are in pass and they're in uh not uh first person.”
Where to get it
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Mystic river
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane is a gripping psychological crime thriller that delves into the dark aftermath of childhood trauma, community secrets, and the tragic ties that bind three former friends.
Discussed“And I read my friend Dennis Lehi wasn't my friend at the time but but Dennis Lee's Mystic River I read it through the night is one of the very few few books I literally have can say I've read in one sitting. I just read it all the way through the night.”
Where to get it
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Bird by Bird
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is a well-regarded guide on the writing process that offers practical advice alongside deeper reflections on life.
Discussed“okay I can't start yet because I need to like there's one more book I should probably read to figure out how to write and the the answer is there's no correct way to write there these books are like Stephen King's on writing and lamas bird by bird these are amazing books that helped me be a writer and”
Where to get it
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On Writing
On Writing by Stephen King is a celebrated memoir and masterclass that blends the author's personal experiences with practical, no-nonsense advice for aspiring writers.
Discussed“okay I can't start yet because I need to like there's one more book I should probably read to figure out how to write and the the answer is there's no correct way to write there these books are like Stephen King's on writing and lamas bird by bird these are amazing books that helped me be a writer and”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“I like making up city names like Windgap um for in sharp objects like Kicki Kansas and dark places and for characters names.”
“It's sort of like I always tell people not to chase the trends when they're trying to get published. you know, like don't write about vampires just cuz Twilight was huge, you know, like at the time, you know, you can't uh chase things or try to imitate.”