Person
Every book Matt Haig recommended on podcasts
Matt Haig appears on the podcast How I Write as a prominent author and literary guest who discusses the realities of the writing process, mental health struggles, and the creation of popular fiction. Throughout his appearance, he offers candid reflections on his professional trajectory, spanning devastating editorial cuts, literary rejections, and the immense global success of his works. While Haig mostly discusses his own extensive bibliography—including novels like The Humans, The Midnight Library, and his early, deeply pessimistic work The Possession of Mr. Cave—he also singles out profound literary influences from his life. He expressed a deep admiration for A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, describing it as a book that brought him immense comfort during a severe breakdown at age twenty-four and labeling it the ultimate self-help book ever written. Additionally, Haig touched upon children's literature, specifically citing Chris Van Allsburg's The Polar Express as a magical railway-themed story that inspired structural elements in his own writing. Through these reflections, Haig illuminates the intersection between personal vulnerability, childhood literature, and the complex mechanics of writing bestselling novels.
Books recommended by Matt Haig
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Winnie the Pooh (Winnie-the-Pooh)
Winnie the Pooh by A.
Recommended“Winnie the Pooh is a book I loved as a child and then I loved again when I was 24 years old having a breakdown at my parents house... I think it's the ultimate self-help book that's ever been written.”
Where to get it
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The Humans
Discussed“I mean, with a novel I write called The Humans, I think I deleted 40, it was a small novel to start with. It was about 80,000 words.”
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The Midnight Library
Discussed“Midnight Library was definitely one where I thought that is a very simple idea, but I had that idea for a long time.”
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The Polar Express
Discussed“You've got Polar Express. Yeah. You've got a lot of magic trains in children's books. So, that was one of the things that led me towards the train. Cuz that's the way things happen in the Polar Express. I love that book.”
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The Possession of Mr. Cave
Discussed“I mean I wrote a book my third book which you won't have read no one has read. It's called the possession of Mr. Cave. It's like the most depressing book I think anyone's ever written. Everyone dies in it. There's literally no hope. I would recommend no one to read this book.”
Where to get it
Books Matt Haig wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Haig: How to Write a Book Millions of People Read | How I Write | How I Write | 2026-08-26 | 8 |