Mentioned in Podcasts

Person

Every book Penn Jillette recommended on podcasts

Key facts

  • Penn Jillette has recommended or discussed 3 books on podcasts, as of August 29, 2019.
  • Penn Jillette has talked about books on 1 podcast, as of August 29, 2019.
  • Those books came up in 1 episode, as of August 29, 2019.
  • The 3 books Penn Jillette has mentioned in the most episodes, as of August 29, 2019: How Music Works, MOBY-DICK; or, THE WHALE and The Better Angels of Our Nature.
  • The latest episode with a book mention from Penn Jillette aired on August 29, 2019.

Updated

Guest on The Joe Rogan Experience · 3 books · 1 episode across 1 podcast

Penn Jillette appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience to discuss cultural exchange, art, human progress, and his personal reading habits. During the conversation, Jillette recommended David Byrne's book, How Music Works, praising it as a fabulous exploration of musical influences. Alongside this recommendation, Jillette and Joe Rogan deeply engaged with Steven Pinker's book, The Better Angels of Our Nature. Jillette described Pinker's work as one of the most subversive books of their time, explaining how its central thesis regarding the historical decline of violence completely blew his mind and shifted his perspective on human progress and art. Jillette also discussed reading Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby Dick, relatively late in life at age forty-five. He used this personal milestone to illustrate that certain profound works of literature require a specific level of personal maturity and life experience before a reader can fully appreciate them, emphasizing the importance of timing in literary engagement.

Books Penn Jillette recommended or discussed

Who said what is our best reading of each episode. 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.

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  1. How Music Works

    David Byrne · Recommended · 1 episode

    How Music Works by David Byrne is an insightful exploration of musical creation, cultural evolution, and the complex relationship between art and the physical environments that shape auditory experiences.

    Recommended
    “and David Burns book how music works which is a fabulous book”
    The Joe Rogan Experience #1343 - Penn Jillette 2019-08-29 Listen at 58:13
    Where to get it
    Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon

  2. MOBY-DICK; or, THE WHALE

    Herman Melville · Discussed · 1 episode

    MOBY-DICK; or, THE WHALE by Herman Melville is an epic American novel detailing Captain Ahab's obsessive, self-destructive quest for revenge against the giant white whale.

    Discussed
    “and I never read Moby Dick til I was 45”
    The Joe Rogan Experience #1343 - Penn Jillette 2019-08-29 Listen at 1:39:58
    Where to get it
    Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon

  3. The Better Angels of Our Nature

    Steven Pinker · Discussed · 1 episode

    The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker is a sweeping historical and psychological analysis arguing that violence has steadily declined over the course of human history.

    Discussed
    “I mean that better angels of our nature is one of I think the most subversive books of our time”
    The Joe Rogan Experience #1343 - Penn Jillette 2019-08-29 Listen at 0:48
    Where to get it
    Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
#1343 - Penn JilletteThe Joe Rogan Experience2019-08-294