Person
Every book James Smith recommended on podcasts
James Smith is a guest on podcasts such as Modern Wisdom and The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett, where he focuses heavily on personal development, confidence, mental resilience, and overcoming existential crises. Smith frequently shares impactful books that have shaped his worldview and professional trajectory. He recommends Adam Grant's Think Again as part of his reading habits, and cites Jeff Olson's The Slight Edge as a favorite book that underscores the power of small, daily disciplines in achieving long-term success. Smith also recounts how a chance encounter led him to read Timothy Ferriss's The 4-Hour Workweek, which served as a catalyst for his move to Australia. In addition to these recommendations, Smith discusses Jordan B. Peterson's 12 Rules for Life, using its lessons to advise individuals facing existential dread to confront and work through their personal insecurities. He references Carol S. Dweck's Mindset to contrast fixed and growth mindsets in business and relationships, and mentions Neil Strauss's The Game while exploring the history and eventual self-reflection within the manosphere. Finally, he touches upon Ryan Holiday's The Obstacle Is the Way to emphasize finding meaning within struggle.
Books recommended by James Smith
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The Game
The Game by Neil Strauss is an investigative memoir and exploration into the secretive underworld of pickup artists and social dynamics.
Discussed“so first wave was Pick A Part history in the 2000s it was Neil Strauss it was the game”
Where to get it
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The 4-Hour Workweek
The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss is a popular self-help guide that redefines traditional career paths and advocates for lifestyle design, outsourcing, and building automated online businesses.
Recommended“and he goes can i recommend a book and he recommended the book four hour by week and i got home and i read through it”
Where to get it
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The Obstacle Is the Way
The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday is a popular book that introduces readers to stoic philosophy as a practical framework for overcoming difficult challenges in life and work.
Recommended“that is the meaning that struggle is the meaning the obstacle is the way you know like that's that's what that's how it works”
Where to get it
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The Slight Edge
The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson is a self-help and personal development book that illustrates how small, seemingly insignificant daily disciplines compound over time to create massive success or failure.
Recommended“as one of my favorite books the slight edge um describes what is driving those small disciplines on a day-to-day basis”
Where to get it
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Think Again
Think Again by Adam Grant is a nonfiction exploration of the cognitive science behind mental flexibility, urging readers to question their assumptions, rethink entrenched beliefs, and master the art of intellectual humility.
Recommended“so I bought three books um I've got Adam Grant think again you read that”
Where to get it
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12 Rules for Life
12 Rules for Life by Jordan B.
Discussed“this is one of the main lessons of Jordan Peterson where if you're on an existential crisis you're not sure what to do with your life take stock of your insecurities and work on them”
Where to get it
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Mindset
Mindset by Carol S.
Discussed“but i think it's just been one of those things where carol dweck in her book mindset talks about a fixed mindset um and an open mindset”
Where to get it
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Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a classic novella following two displaced migrant ranch workers, George and Lennie, as they chase dreams of land ownership during the Great Depression.
Critiqued“getting my teachers to expect me to [ __ ] enjoy reading of mice and men for instance that's the worst [ __ ] book i've ever read maybe why the why the [ __ ] is that in school curriculum you can feel me getting annoyed about this”
Where to get it
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The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a dystopian young adult novel set in a ruined nation where youths are forced to participate in a televised death match for the entertainment of a decadent ruling capital.
Discussed“give me the hunger games give me something that is i'm gonna actually from a start there we cannot rely on the educative system”
Where to get it
Books James Smith wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| How Do You Develop Real Confidence? - James Smith - #535 | Modern Wisdom | 2022-10-06 | 3 |
| James Smith: Become Confident In 100 Minutes | The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett | 2022-09-01 | 4 |
| How To Design A Life You Love - James Smith - #205 | Modern Wisdom | 2020-08-03 | 5 |
Other mentions (8: passing, ad reads, own books)
“there's one that's about the current mating crisis and there's one that would be lessons that I've learned like a Broly 12 rules for life type thing”
“so first wave was Pick A Part history in the 2000s it was Neil Strauss it was the game”
“so the first book not a diet book i went through years of fitness industry [ __ ]”
“a lot of the things we spoke about in that last podcast were based off not a life coach”
“which is why i ended up going down the first huge 10 years of my life with not a diet book i was overweight as a kid”
“kind of the knowledge to do that is is one thing i suppose the second book uh not a life coach gave me”
“i was like [ __ ] out when i released this book there are probably some videos flurry flurry of dick pics that are just strewn around the internet”
“not a life coach it's uh out later on this year but you can pre-order it now”