Episode · How I Write · 2023-11-06
David Perell & Morgan Housel: books mentioned on How I Write (Nov 2023)
Morgan Housel: How He Sold 4 Million Books
When people ask me what good online writing looks like, I point them to Morgan Housel. Why?
Morgan Housel discussed Boomerang by Michael Lewis. David Perell recommended The Bed of Procrustes by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, and discussed Understanding Media by Marshall McLuhan, Same as Ever by Morgan Housel, and A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Boomerang
Michael Lewis's non-fiction work examines the financial crises in various countries and states, highlighting the severe consequences of irresponsible public spending and government pension mismanagement.
Discussed“And in fact several Michael Lewis books like Boomerang have been based off of Vanity Fair pieces that he wrote.”
Where to get it
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Understanding Media
Understanding Media by Marshall McLuhan is a classic media theory text that examines how various communication channels shape human thought, culture, and society.
Discussed“And like, I remember I read Marshall McLuhan's Understanding Media, and I was like, Oh my goodness, this is an entirely new way to think”
Where to get it
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Same as Ever
Same as Ever by Morgan Housel is a popular finance and self-improvement book that explores timeless lessons about risk, opportunity, and human behavior through a collection of short stories.
Discussed“Now you got same as ever, like. How do you think about how your books play together?”
Where to get it
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The Bed of Procrustes
The Bed of Procrustes by Nassim Nicholas Taleb is a provocative collection of aphorisms that challenges conventional modern wisdom and explores human hubris through a distinct philosophical lens.
Recommended“One of my favorite Nassim Taleb books is his least well known, it's called The Bed of Procrustance. So good. It's a collection of aphorisms.”
Where to get it
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A short history of nearly everything
A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson is an engaging and accessible popular science journey that breaks down the vast mysteries of the universe, evolution, and human discovery into terms anyone can understand.
Discussed“He has what a short history of nearly everything. Yes. We're just talking about the history of the universe.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (3) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“This was one of the lessons for when I started writing Psychology of Money. I wanted to like reinvent myself.”
“I tried it with Psychology of Money. When I set out to write Psychology of Money, I said I'm going to write a new book from scratch.”
“The audiobook version of Psychology of Money outsells the physical version two to one.”