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Every book Michael Shellenberger recommended on podcasts
Michael Shellenberger appears on podcast episodes focused on deep social critiques, political commentary, and wide-ranging cultural observations. During his discussions on The Joe Rogan Experience, he frequently references and analyzes influential books that examine societal changes and contemporary phenomena. Shellenberger discussed Abigail Shrier's Irreversible Damage, noting its exploration of transgenderism as a social contagion, and mentioned reading John McWhorter's Woke Racism to understand its argument that wokeism functions as a religion. Additionally, he referenced Martin Gurri's The Revolt of the Public, highlighting its perspective on how elites react to the rise of the internet, and noted Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs while discussing personal conduct. Shellenberger also drew on literary archetypes, referencing John Steinbeck's classic novel The Grapes of Wrath when discussing migration and people coming to California to live in tents, alongside brief mentions of Frank Herbert's Dune. Through these varied references, Shellenberger engages with texts that explore authority, modern cultural shifts, technology, and historical human migration patterns.
Books recommended by Michael Shellenberger
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Dune
Dune by Frank Herbert is a classic science fiction epic set on the desert planet Arrakis, exploring complex political, ecological, and religious themes.
Discussed“I mean do you remember you read Dune”
Where to get it
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Irreversible Damage
Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier is a 2020 non-fiction book exploring the sudden rise of adolescent girls adopting transgender identity as a social contagion.
Discussed“I mean I it's funny because you had Abigail shrier on wrote this big book on on transgenderism as a social contagion I think it was in 2020”
Where to get it
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Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson is a comprehensive biography exploring the life, career, and complex personality of the co-founder of Apple.
Discussed“Walter Isaac who's writing a book about Elon right now by the way but Walter Ison in his biography of Steve Jobs he was like he was like look Steve Jobs was just too much of an [ __ ]”
Where to get it
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The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath is a powerful 1939 novel by John Steinbeck that chronicles the harrowing journey of the Joad family, tenant farmers forced to migrate from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma to California in search of a better life during the Great Depression.
Discussed“well remember the remember uh grapes of wrath uh the john steinbeck novel is the oh they came from the dust bowl in oklahoma”
Where to get it
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The Innovators
The Innovators by Walter Isaacson is a comprehensive historical study examining how groups of hackers, geniuses, and geeks collaborated to create the digital revolution.
Discussed“Walter Isaac who's writing a book about Elon right now by the way but Walter Ison in his biography of Steve Jobs he was like he was like look Steve Jobs was just too much of an [ __ ]”
Where to get it
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The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium
The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium by Martin Gurri is an analytical examination of how digital connectivity empowers citizens to challenge institutional authority and traditional political hierarchies.
Discussed“so this is the Revolt of the public by Martin G is he argues that really all of this is just the elites freaking out about the rise of the internet”
Where to get it
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Woke Racism
Woke Racism by John McWhorter is a cultural commentary book that argues modern militant anti-racism functions as a new religion, one that ultimately harms Black America rather than helping it.
Discussed“because we had read I had read John mcc's book woke racism which came out right around the time that San Francisco came out and I just was like and he argues that wokeism is a religion”
Where to get it
Books Michael Shellenberger wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Rogan Experience #1963 - Michael Shellenberger | The Joe Rogan Experience | 2024-06-27 | 6 |
| Joe Rogan Experience #1798 - Michael Shellenberger | The Joe Rogan Experience | 2024-06-27 | 1 |
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“you're your book san francisco what would you call that that's a socio-political book”
“this is the subject of this is where san francisco and apocalypse never are going is that really people have created a new religion”
“she did dopamine Nation”