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Every book Rich Cohen recommended on podcasts
Rich Cohen appeared on The Daily Stoic podcast to discuss the art and obsession of writing, sharing several specific book recommendations and literary insights. Cohen recommended James Salter's novel Solo Faces and Hunter S. Thompson's Hell's Angels, noting that Thompson's first book is the best. In addition to his direct recommendations, Cohen discussed several other works during the episode. He referenced Tom Wolfe's The Right Stuff during a conversation about astronauts and fear, specifically highlighting a scene where the astronauts sit upside down in the capsule waiting for lift-off. Cohen also talked about Walker Percy's novel The Moviegoer and J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, discussing the difficulties of adapting both books into successful films. Furthermore, Cohen mentioned several other titles by James Salter, including the novels The Hunters, A Sport and a Pastime, and the short story collection Dusk and Other Stories, offering brief commentary on their stylistic qualities and themes.
Books recommended by Rich Cohen
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Hell's Angels
Hell's Angels by Hunter S.
Recommended“For me, the book that I like, the first book is the best, which is the Hell's Angels.”
Where to get it
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Solo Faces
Solo Faces is a novel by James Salter that explores the intense, solitary world of alpine mountaineering and the profound risks and personal sacrifices required of those who scale dangerous peaks.
Recommended“There's another really great book by James Salter called solo faces.”
Where to get it
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A Farewell to Arms
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway is a celebrated twentieth-century novel depicting the experiences of an American ambulance driver serving in Italy during the First World War and his tragic romance.
Discussed“Have you looked at the alternate endings for a farewell to arms?”
Where to get it
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A Sport and a Pastime
Discussed“Well, his famous book, you know, is a sport in the past time, which is very dirty.”
Where to get it
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Dusk and Other Stories
Discussed“Somebody gave me his book of short stories, Dusk, which there's this thing that old European novels have like...”
Where to get it
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In Our Time
In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway is a celebrated early collection of short stories that established the author's signature minimalist style and explored themes of war, alienation, and disillusionment.
Discussed“And I read the Hemingway story in our time.”
Where to get it
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The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye by J.
Discussed“There's not a good movie of the catcher in the rye either for the same reason.”
Where to get it
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The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe is a foundational work of New Journalism that chronicles Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and their psychedelic journey across America in a psychedelic school bus.
Discussed“He gave Tom Wolf all the stuff, the reporting that became electrocolate acid test.”
Where to get it
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The Moviegoer
The Moviegoer by Walker Percy is a classic philosophical novel about a young stockbroker in New Orleans grappling with alienation, routine, and a search for authenticity.
Discussed“So how could you ever make a good movie a good movie of the movie goer?”
Where to get it
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The Right Stuff
The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe is a compelling historical account of the early American space program, focusing on the test pilots who became the first astronauts.
Discussed“So it's another great thing for me in a book is in the Tom Wolf book, The Right Stuff, where he's got the astronauts sitting upside down in the capsule waiting for the blast off.”
Where to get it
Books Rich Cohen wrote
- Murder in the Dollhouse
- The Fish That Ate the Whale
- The Adventures of Herbie Cohen
- The Peanuts Papers
- Tough Jews
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Art and Obsession of Writing with Rich Cohen | The Daily Stoic | 2026-10-03 | 11 |
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“So I wrote this book Murder in the Dollhouse about this guy, Fotas Dulos, who killed his wife.”
“And he picks it up and it's a page from Anna Karenina.”