Episode · How I Write · 2026-06-17
Books mentioned on Michael Pollan's Best Writing Advice | How I Write
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Michael Pollan recommended Paper Lion by George Plimpton, and discussed The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James and Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Varieties of Religious Experience
William James's The Varieties of Religious Experience is a foundational exploration of human spirituality, religious sentiment, and psychological states of consciousness.
Discussed“And I read Henry William James, and he talks about mystical experiences in Varieties of Religious Experience.”
Where to get it
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Paper Lion
Paper Lion by George Plimpton is a classic work of participatory journalism that chronicles the author's daring attempt to join the Detroit Lions football team as a rookie quarterback.
Recommended“And that goes to, um, my parents, when I was like 13, gave me a copy of a book by George Plimpton called Paper Lion.”
Where to get it
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Fast Food Nation
Discussed“This is before I wrote Omnivore's Dilemma, but there was a sense beginning in 2002, and I can date this to uh when Eric Schlosser uh published Fast Food Nation, which uh was a a surprise bestseller.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (3) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Plugged The Botany of Desire
“I wrote about it in uh Botany of Desire when I was writing about cannabis.”
Plugged Second Nature
“Oh, my my writing, my professional magazine writing really began with uh some pieces I wrote for my first book, Second Nature, that uh are about the garden.”
Plugged The Omnivore's Dilemma
“It's certainly after Un Vogue's Dilemma, which is 2006.”