Episode · No Stupid Questions · 2023-01-12
Books mentioned on Is Self-Improvement Too Selfish? | No Stupid Questions | Episode 88
Angela Duckworth discussed Candide by Francois Voltaire. Stephen Dubner discussed Grit by Angela Duckworth.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Candide
Candide by Francois Voltaire is a classic philosophical novella that satirizes blind optimism and societal absurdities through the endless misfortunes of its protagonist.
Discussed“You know, when I was in high school, I read 'Candide'. Did you read 'Candide' by Voltaire? Let us go cultivate our garden.”
Where to get it
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Grit
Grit by Angela Duckworth is an insightful exploration of how passion and perseverance drive long-term success.
Discussed“part of my challenge to that argument is is it mostly High status people for instance who read a book like grit in order to help themselves become a little higher status”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Passing On Writing
“In fact, I may be misremembering this, but I think I wrote a piece once about a young guy who was driving on a rural road in Maine and hit Stephen King with his car and almost killed Stephen King. I've read Stephen King's side of it in the book 'On Writing'. Yeah, exactly!”
Passing On Writing
“I've read Stephen King's side of it in the book what is it like on writing”