Person
Every book Jason Bateman recommended on podcasts
Jason Bateman’s most recommended books
- Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
- Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
- Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
- Moneyball by Michael Lewis
- Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household
- Save the cat! by Blake Snyder
- The adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
- The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs
- The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
- The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Jason Bateman appeared on podcasts to discuss various books and screenplays connected to his career and personal interests. He recommended Jonathan Franzen's novel Freedom, describing it as a really good read. Bateman also brought up Jon Krakauer's book Under the Banner of Heaven, noting that he had optioned and produced it and calling it a great read for anyone who had never encountered it. In discussions about other works, Bateman talked about Jo Leigh's documentary Truth or Dare during a conversation concerning backstage etiquette for famous visitors. He and Jonah Hill discussed Michael Lewis's book Moneyball alongside its film adaptation, while Nick Kroll mentioned reading Blake Snyder's screenwriting book Save the Cat. Bateman and Will Arnett briefly discussed Rufi Thorpe's book Margot's Got Money Troubles. Additionally, Bateman mentioned Geoffrey Household's 1939 novel Rogue Male, praising it as a game-changing fugitive novel and a major inspiration for Ian Fleming's James Bond, and he mentioned reading Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer when asked about his recent reading.
Books recommended by Jason Bateman
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Freedom
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen is a critically acclaimed contemporary novel that explores the complexities, disillusionments, and domestic struggles of a modern American family.
Recommended“And then I read Freedom by Jonathan Fronen. That was really good.”
Where to get it
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Under the Banner of Heaven
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer is a compelling non-fiction investigation into fundamentalist Mormonism, religious extremism, and a brutal double murder rooted in the history of the Latter-day Saint movement.
Recommended“there's that that runs through that great Jon Krakauer book that that I I optioned and produced that Under the Banner of Heaven? Under the Banner of Heaven. Thank you. read. If you've If you've never read it, it's a great read.”
Where to get it
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Margo's Got Money Troubles
Discussed“And and I can't wait to see Mark as Got Money Troubles. I know that that book was really good. I love that you forgot Oh, I think I read that book. I don't How What do you read a book in an hour or something like that? No, no, I It's I read like three or four in my”
Where to get it
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Moneyball
Moneyball by Michael Lewis is a groundbreaking non-fiction book that explores how the Oakland Athletics baseball team leveraged advanced statistical analytics to compete against wealthier franchises with larger payrolls.
Discussed“Oh dude, Moneyball. First of all, the really hard film to make from that book is a great book and you I remember thinking like they'll never do it.”
Where to get it
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Rogue Male
Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household is a classic 1939 thriller that follows an English hunter who attempts to assassinate an unnamed dictator, only to be captured, tortured, and forced to go on the run.
Discussed“Rogue Mail. Oh, dude, it's a winner, isn't it? It It's so cool. It is such a game changer of a novel. Rogue Male written in 1939. Yeah. It's I mean it's the original fugitive novel. It's the original and you know the huge inspiration for Ian Fleming for Bond and Yeah. And it's um and it's so precient to”
Where to get it
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Save the cat!
Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder is a foundational screenwriting guide that breaks down storytelling into clear structural frameworks, beats, and specific page-number milestones.
Where to get it
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The adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is a classic American novel depicting the mischievous exploits of a young boy growing up along the Mississippi River.
Where to get it
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The House with a Clock in Its Walls
The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs is a classic dark fantasy novel that follows a young orphan who goes to live with his uncle, only to discover a world of magic, mystery, and malevolent forces.
Discussed“did you guys ever see that movie a house with a clock in its walls a few years ago i did not but i know of it so that that whole series i was such a fan of as a kid”
Where to get it
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The Splendid and the Vile
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson is a gripping historical non-fiction account of Winston Churchill and London during the Blitz.
Discussed“i'm now reading this splendid in the vile which a lot of people have read”
Where to get it
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The Sympathizer
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that explores the Vietnam War and its aftermath through the eyes of a communist spy of mixed French and Vietnamese descent living as a refugee in America.
Discussed“and then i read the the sympathizer have you guys read that”
Where to get it
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Truth or Dare
Discussed“There's that There's that famous clip from the Madonna documentary Truth or Dare when Kevin Costner comes backstage. Did you see that? And she And he she go he goes, "Yeah, I thought" And she just spent 3 hours, you know, she's drenched in sweat, you know, performing for 5,000 people.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Mumford | SmartLess | 2026-07-27 | 1 |
| Nick Jonas | SmartLess | 2026-05-25 | 1 |
| Jonah Hill LIVE | SmartLess | SmartLess | 2026-05-08 | 1 |
| Nick Kroll | SmartLess | 2026-04-27 | 1 |
| Elle Fanning | SmartLess | 2026-03-30 | 1 |
| Benedict Cumberbatch | SmartLess | 2025-11-24 | 1 |
| Kate McKinnon | SmartLess | 2025-09-15 | 1 |
| Ronan Farrow | SmartLess | 2023-12-04 | 1 |
| Kerry Washington | SmartLess | 2022-08-01 | 2 |
| 12/27/21: An Interview with Barry Sonnenfeld | SmartLess w/ Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett | SmartLess | 2022-03-11 | 1 |
Other mentions (5: passing, ad reads, own books)
“well it's not in a movie it's in Splinter of the Mind's Eye it's a novel by Harry Dean Fox so they they play the games they read the books and they know way more about it”
“You have a book called 'Imminent,' which I'm getting. It's Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs, it's called 'Imminent', and I haven't read it, but I want to; I can't wait to read it. And you wrote it.”
“Is there a hobby that you just can't live without or a little pastime, even if it's just watching TV or maybe even reading? Will likes to read about World War II—a lot of people don't know that.”
“It's like I'm doing it's like I'm living in Bradley's movie the what was the movie Limitless”
“Audible offers an incredible selection of audiobooks across every genre, from bestsellers and new releases to celebrity memoirs, mysteries, thrillers, motivation, wellness, business, and more.”