Episode · Acquired · 2022-02-22
Brian Koppelman & Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Acquired: books mentioned
Super Pumped (with Brian Koppelman and Joseph Gordon-Levitt)
We sit down with two of the most talented and respected people in Hollywood — Brian Koppelman and Joseph Gordon-Levitt — to talk about the process of adapting Mike Issac’s story of Uber, “Super Pumped”, into their new Showtime series. To say this was a thrill for us is a MASSIVE understatement.
Ben Gilbert discussed Super Pumped by Mike Isaac. David Rosenthal discussed Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis. Joseph Gordon-Levitt recommended Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke. Brian Koppelman recommended Unrequited Infatuations by Stevie Van Zandt.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Super Pumped
Super Pumped by Mike Isaac is a journalistic account detailing the meteoric rise and chaotic implosion of Uber.
Discussed“Well, for listeners who don't know the events of, you know, Uber leading all the way up through their IPO and the implosion around that and the just insane story that all of that was is coming out as a Showtime series on February 27th called Super Pumped.”
Where to get it
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Liar's Poker
Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis is a semi-autobiographical breakout book detailing the chaotic culture of 1980s Wall Street through the author's experiences at Salomon Brothers.
Discussed“Like, you know, there's Michael Lewis's Liar's Poker, there's The Social Network which we've talked about, were maybe written or created intending one thing and then get received, Joe, you know, they're responding to confidence and your thought that like people will like Travis more than you might think.”
Where to get it
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Letters to a Young Poet
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke is a collection of intimate correspondence offering profound guidance on art, solitude, and the creative life.
Recommended“Rian sent me a copy of uh the book Letters to a Young Poet by Rilke, which is a wonderful book that I highly recommend. And one of the things it talks about in the right towards the beginning of the book, it's sort of a mentor poet speaking to writing a letter to a young poet.”
Where to get it
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Unrequited Infatuations
Unrequited Infatuations by Stevie Van Zandt is a memoir by the legendary musician and actor best known for his work with Bruce Springsteen and his role in The Sopranos.
Recommended“And second, for this conversation we're having, there's a book I just read called Unrequited Infatuations by Little Steven Van Zandt, who you know as either Bruce Springsteen's right hand or as James Gandolfini's right hand in The Sopranos... And it's an amazing book about art and commerce, and about uh all these questions, unrequited infatuations. I highly recommend it.”
Where to get it
