Person
Every book Scott Barry Kaufman recommended on podcasts
Across 2 podcasts. Every show Scott Barry Kaufman appears on, in one place — not just one.
Scott Barry Kaufman is an American cognitive scientist, author, podcaster, coach, popular science writer, and mentalist. His writing and research focuses on intelligence, creativity, and human potential. Most media attention has focused on Kaufman's attempt to redefine intelligence. Kaufman is founder and director of the Center for Human Potential and has taught courses at Columbia, NYU, the University of Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. Appearing on Modern Wisdom and The Rich Roll Podcast, Kaufman discussed several influential books across psychology and culture. He mentioned Jean M. Twenge's book Generations to analyze cultural shifts and changing attitudes toward entitlement among youth. He also brought up The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt to explore how younger generations increasingly feel unsafe around opposing ideas and words. Kaufman critically discussed Bessel van der Kolk's bestselling book The Body Keeps the Score, arguing against the scientific accuracy of the premise that trauma is physically stored in the body. Additionally, he discussed Angela Duckworth's book Grit, recalling their time working near each other at Penn, and touched upon Robert Wright's The Moral Animal and Kevin Simler's The Elephant in the Brain.
Books recommended by Scott Barry Kaufman
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Building Community Among Adults of Different Generations
Discussed“But there seems to have been a cultural shift among youth where um and Gene Twangi has has done a great analysis of this in her book generations. prior generation.”
Where to get it
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Generations
Jean M.
Discussed“and Gene Twangi has has done a great analysis of this in her book generations. prior generation.”
Where to get it
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Grit
Grit by Angela Duckworth is a psychology-based exploration of the roles that passion and perseverance play in achieving long-term success, independent of innate talent.
Discussed“I've had some great conversations with like Angela Duckworth who wrote a phenomenal book called, "Grit" about this because my office was right next door to hers when I was at Penn.”
Where to get it
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The Body Keeps the Score
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk is an influential exploration of how trauma physically impacts the brain and body, offering pathways to healing through modern science and therapy.
Critiqued“Um this notion that trauma is stored in the body I don't think is scientifically accurate. You know, the body keeps the score is like the number one. It's been on the New York Times bestseller list.”
Where to get it
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The Coddling of the American Mind
The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt examines how modern safetyism and social media culture are impacting the psychological resilience of younger generations.
Discussed“a lot of people feel unsafe around ideas, around words, you know. Oh, uh, that's become a thing in the younger generation as as as Jonathan Height and Greg Luciano have talked a lot lot about in coddling of the American mind.”
Where to get it
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The elephant in the brain
The Elephant in the Brain by Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson is an insightful exploration of human behavior, hidden motives, and the unconscious evolutionary reasons behind why people act the way they do.
Discussed“the elephant the elephant in the brain Right and Paul bloom had this great quote as well when I spoke to him”
Where to get it
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The Moral Animal
The Moral Animal by Robert Wright is an influential exploration of evolutionary psychology that examines how natural selection has shaped human nature, morality, relationships, and social behavior.
Discussed“reading a book at the moment The moral animal by Robert Wright I just can't put the Sun down”
Where to get it
Books Scott Barry Kaufman wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| How To Not Let Your Past Define You - Scott Barry Kaufman - #947 | Modern Wisdom | 2025-05-29 | 5 |
| Scott Barry Kaufman On The Science of Transcendence | The Rich Roll Podcast | 2022-03-21 | 1 |
| The New Science Of Self Actualisation - Scott Barry Kaufman - #156 | Modern Wisdom | 2020-04-02 | 2 |
Other mentions (6: passing, ad reads, own books)
“But if if I gave only that message then there'd be no point in write writing the book rise above um because we also have an agency as you said to compensate to do what we need to not you know what what's it going to do to help you to say oh I have the genes for shortness I'm”
“I um you can buy Riseabove and hopefully any bookstore or online bookstore. And I have the Psychology Podcast.”
“Now that doesn't mean you're not doing things in the world. It means that you have certain habits of mind and certain habits of ways of acting and responding to the world that consistently moves you in the direction of greater creativity. Like openness to experience is a way of being.”
“It's the workbook companion to "Transcend".”
“and that's what I tried to do in this book as well in that same spirit and show that full self-actualization is not just an individualistic pursuit”
“what I try to do in this this book is show that in order to transcend yourself you need a self that's transcended”