Mentioned in Podcasts
Anne Lamott
Zboralski / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Person

Anne Lamott's book recommendations

Key facts

  • Anne Lamott has recommended or discussed 8 books on podcasts, as of April 29, 2026.
  • Anne Lamott has talked about books on 2 podcasts, as of April 29, 2026.
  • Those books came up in 2 episodes, as of April 29, 2026.
  • The 3 books Anne Lamott has mentioned in the most episodes, not counting Anne Lamott's own, as of April 29, 2026: A Confederacy of Dunces, Far Tortuga and Middlemarch.
  • The latest episode with a book mention from Anne Lamott aired on April 29, 2026.

Updated

Guest on How I Write, The Tim Ferriss Show · 8 books · 2 episodes across 2 podcasts

Anne Lamott has also written 20 books: see Books by Anne Lamott.

Across 2 podcasts. Every show Anne Lamott appears on, in one place — not just one.

Anne Lamott is an American novelist and nonfiction writer. Across a dedicated appearance on the How I Write podcast, she frequently discussed her own writing guides and celebrated literary works. Lamott frequently reflected on her seminal book Bird by Bird, citing it during conversations about writer's block, observational habits for writers, dialogue construction, and the three-draft structure of storytelling, while also noting that she regularly uses the text for her writing workshops. Beyond her own bibliography, she examined Peter Matthiessen's novel Far Tortuga, praising it as a brilliant example of a book written almost entirely in dialect and a distinct regional voice. Furthermore, Lamott reflected on her book Help, Thanks, Wow, quoting a memorable line from the text regarding humor and grace while sharing stories about finding resilience and laughter through difficult moments in life and writing.

Books recommended by Anne Lamott

Who said what is determined automatically. In hand-checked samples, at least 6% of mentions were credited to the wrong speaker — sometimes an interviewer’s line recorded as the guest’s, sometimes the reverse. Every entry below quotes the words and links to the episode, so you can check it.

We earn a commission if you buy through the store links below, at no cost to you.

  1. Bird by Bird

    Anne Lamott · Discussed · 2 episodes

    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
    “Well, I wrote a lot about writer's block in Bird by Bird because I think it's a misnomer.”
    How I Write Anne Lamott Teaches Unforgettable Writing | How I Write 2026-04-29
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  2. A Confederacy of Dunces

    John Kennedy Toole · Discussed · 1 episode

    A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole is an absurdist, darkly comedic masterpiece centered on the eccentric and pompous protagonist Ignatius J.

    Discussed
    “Maybe it's um Ignatius J. Riley in a confederacy of Dun Dunes who has nothing nothing in common with me, but I recognize him as a really dear messed up human like the rest of us.”
    How I Write Anne Lamott Teaches Unforgettable Writing | How I Write 2026-04-29
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  3. Far Tortuga

    Peter Matthiessen · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “Peter Mat's brilliant book, Far Tartuga, is in Ptois, you know, most of it.”
    How I Write Anne Lamott Teaches Unforgettable Writing | How I Write 2026-04-29
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  4. Help, Thanks, Wow

    Anne Lamott · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “Well, you know, I said in Help, thanks, Father, that laughter is carbonated holiness.”
    How I Write Anne Lamott Teaches Unforgettable Writing | How I Write 2026-04-29
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  5. Imperfect Birds

    Anne Lamott · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “I've had a couple of books with a with the word bird in them imperfect birds and bird by bird”
    How I Write Anne Lamott Teaches Unforgettable Writing | How I Write 2026-04-29 Listen at 41:07
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  6. Middlemarch

    George Eliot · Discussed · 1 episode

    Middlemarch by George Eliot is widely celebrated as a masterwork of Victorian literature, chronicling the lives and aspirations of provincial society in the fictional town of Middlemarch.

    Discussed
    “like in Middle March, the I think the greatest novel ever written by George Elliot, there are so many moments where a a character has made a decision to do something and you just stop in your traction.”
    How I Write Anne Lamott Teaches Unforgettable Writing | How I Write 2026-04-29
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  7. Operating instructions

    Anne Lamott · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “so all of my books including Bird by bird and operating instructions everything has to do with that coming into radical self-care and becoming my own priority”
    The Tim Ferriss Show #756: Anne Lamott and Josh Waitzkin 2024-07-19 Listen at 16:40
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  8. Still Life at Eighty

    Abigail Thomas · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “Abigail Thomas, who's written a book on memoir and and another book, Still Life at 80, she gave me a few of these great prompts.”
    How I Write Anne Lamott Teaches Unforgettable Writing | How I Write 2026-04-29
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

Books by Anne Lamott

20 books Anne Lamott wrote, best known first. What podcasts say about them →

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
Anne Lamott Teaches Unforgettable Writing | How I WriteHow I Write2026-04-2917
#756: Anne Lamott and Josh WaitzkinThe Tim Ferriss Show2024-07-196