Person
Every book Sean Hayes recommended on podcasts
Sean Hayes’s most recommended books
- Moneyball by Michael Lewis
- Just Because by Matthew McConaughey
- The Blind Side by Michael Lewis
- The Help by Kathryn Stockett
- Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Unplugged by Tom Freston
- The big short by Michael Lewis
- Truly by Lionel Richie
- Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother by Barry Sonnenfeld
- Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Sean Hayes has recommended and discussed several books during episodes of SmartLess. He mentioned guest Tom Freston's upcoming memoir, Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu, praising it as phenomenal and reminding listeners of its release date. Hayes also reminded listeners about the release date of Lionel Richie's memoir Truly, urging the audience to read it, and recommended that listeners pick up Kate McKinnon's book Secrets of the Purple Pearl at the end of an episode. During an interview with Bill Gates, one of the hosts brought up Gates's upcoming memoir, Source Code, to praise it and discuss its origins. Hayes congratulated Arnold Schwarzenegger on his book Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life toward the end of their interview, noting that it was amazing. Finally, during another episode, Hayes mentioned that he was listening to the science fiction collection by H.G. Wells on Audible, specifically highlighting classic tales such as The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, and The Island of Dr. Moreau.
Books recommended by Sean Hayes
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Moneyball
Moneyball by Michael Lewis is a groundbreaking non-fiction book that explores how the Oakland Athletics baseball team leveraged advanced statistical analytics to compete against wealthier franchises with larger payrolls.
Discussed“some of his books have even become some of our favorite movies such as the blind side moneyball and the big short”
Where to get it
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Just Because
Discussed“But we are going to talk about his books, and we are going to talk about his foundation, and then we are going to talk about his new book, Just Because, which I read, which is for kids that comes out September 12, 2023.”
Where to get it
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The Blind Side
The Blind Side by Michael Lewis is a bestselling non-fiction book that examines the evolution of football strategy alongside the complex micro and macro narratives of its subjects, and which famously inspired a major film adaptation.
Discussed“some of his books have even become some of our favorite movies such as the blind side moneyball and the big short”
Where to get it
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The Help
The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a historical fiction novel exploring the lives of Black domestic workers in Jackson, Mississippi, during the civil rights movement.
Discussed“You know you did all of this work before the thing that really catapulted you, which was The Help. You were amazing, just incredible.”
Where to get it
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Be Useful
Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger is a practical self-help book that outlines the legendary bodybuilder, actor, and politician's guiding principles for achieving ambitious goals and living a meaningful life.
Recommended“and that's what the book be useful is all about yeah be useful seven tools for life which is amazing”
Where to get it
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Unplugged
Unplugged is a memoir by Tom Freston that chronicles his expansive travels and professional adventures across the globe, spanning from his early days at MTV to remote corners like Timbuktu.
Recommended“By the way, Tom's Tom's got a book that we're going to get we're going to get into Tom's book in a second because I I read it a while ago and it's phenomenal. Uh but I will called Unplugged which is fantastic which is I think out now, right Tom?”
Where to get it
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The big short
The big short by Michael Lewis is a non-fiction account that explores the housing market collapse and the traders who profited from the 2008 financial crisis.
Discussed“some of his books have even become some of our favorite movies such as the blind side moneyball and the big short”
Where to get it
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Truly
Truly is a compelling memoir by legendary musician and performer Lionel Richie that explores his life, career, and the creative stories behind his iconic music.
Discussed“your book is coming out I want to say September 30th. Your book truly. You named it.”
Where to get it
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Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother
Discussed“so barry i want to get into your book that you've written uh called barry sonnenfeld call your mother um which is a great title”
Where to get it
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Greenlights
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey is a bestselling memoir that blends autobiographical stories, lessons, and reflections from the acclaimed actor's life.
Discussed“you wrote green lights huge success and now you've written this kid's book which I as I mentioned the thing that I read”
Where to get it
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Secrets of the Purple Pearl
Secrets of the Purple Pearl by Kate McKinnon is an imaginative book written by the talented comedian, actress, and author.
Where to get it
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Source Code
Source Code by Bill Gates is a memoir by the technology pioneer detailing his early life, intellectual development, and the formative experiences that shaped his career.
Recommended“he's got this new book coming out that's that's you know about like how this all started for him how his brain started going and how he got biography uh yes I believe so yeah it's called source code”
Where to get it
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The Classic Science Fiction Collection
The Classic Science Fiction Collection compiles some of the most influential speculative fiction stories in literary history by legendary authors H.G.
Recommended“I am listening to H.G Wells the science fiction collection it's really cool he talks it you know part of it is like who are the worlds if the time machine The Invisible Man the island of Dr Moreau like all those classic ones I'm listening to again it's so so cool”
Where to get it
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Among the Thugs
Among the Thugs by Bill Buford is a journalistic exploration of British soccer hooliganism and the psychological and social dynamics of crowd violence.
Discussed“Twitter Bill Buford called among the thugs which is about I don't know if you're reading about that that was it that was it”
Where to get it
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Anam Cara [Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition]
Discussed“There's a book about that. that John O' Donahghue the poet wrote called the anamara which is means soul friend it's gaic right it means soul friend”
Where to get it
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Bad Monkey
Discussed“so but tell us about Bad Monkey Vince before we let you go uh it's with Bill Lawrence and for Tracy Bill Lawrence created scrubs he created Ted lasso City Ted lasso uh well he's great I I I used to play in a poker game with him when I was like 19 and he was super funny and he”
Where to get it
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Breakfast at Tiffany's
Discussed“one of his earliest jobs was an assistant stage manager for a play adaptation of the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's”
Where to get it
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Burn this
Discussed“you know um you know you I know you did burn this in 2019 yeah yeah I did that in College of course I played Larry”
Where to get it
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Bye Bye Birdie
Discussed“and you know byebye birdie yes you [ __ ] sorry I meant to say Bye Bye Birdie bye bye”
Where to get it
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Chariots of the Gods?
Chariots of the Gods? by Erich von Daniken is a well-known alternative history book that posits ancient civilizations were influenced by extraterrestrial visitors.
Discussed“it's like Chariots of the Gods it's all about UFOs visited Earth back in the day”
Where to get it
The other 16 books Sean Hayes recommended or discussed, ranked
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
- Gomorrah by Roberto Saviano
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying by Frank Loesser
- Life Will Be the Death of Me by Chelsea Handler
- Love Life by Rob Lowe
- Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
- Perry Mason by Erle Stanley Gardner
- Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe
- Surrender by Bono
- Swimming For Triathlon And Open Water by Paul Mason
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
- The Deficit Myth by Stephanie Kelton
- The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs
- The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Premonition by Michael Lewis
Appearances
Other mentions (29: passing, ad reads, own books)
“And they're growing they're growing crops like Matt Damon in The Martian.”
“One of the one of the many many presidents of NBC when Will and Grace is on the air. Have you guys heard of that show?”
“One of the one of the many many presidents of NBC when Will and Grace is on the air. Have you guys heard of that show?”
“I had that with Harry Potter. I was like 11 when the books came out”
“His book truly comes out September 30th.”
“There's a book called Eats, Shoots, and Leaves.”
“Jimmy when you first did Beyond The Pale that was your first standup special”
“Johnny Betts from Private Eye, Taylor Rolator from 21 Jump Street, you might know him as Glenn from Finish Line, um, you might know him as Jack Passion from WKA Road, probably not, but you might know him more as Gurney HCK from Dune or Thanos from Avengers: Endgame or or Dan White for which he was nominated for an”
“what's the name of that there's a book called that right Everybody Poops yeah remember that book”
“Thank you for taking the time to talk to us and for all your success, including your amazing book, Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life.”
“one that I'm really enjoying is written by James Clear called Atomic habits it's just basically you know it's not just another self-help book it's something that like you can actually put these these things into motion”
“we are going to talk about his books and we are going to talk about his foundation and then we are going to talk about his new book just because which I read which is for kids that comes out September 12 2023”
“yes Brave New World no”
“Let's do it together; we'll start with Love Letters.”
“Orwell said we'd all be famous for 15 minutes, right? Now it's like we'll all be stars!”
“so from his book surrender 40 songs one story”
“so like for example right now I'm I'm checking out the immortality Thief it's really really cool it's about this guy this this like Smuggler who uh is blackmailed into a job to get some data off an ancient ship but it's you know”
“for instance by the way by the Bee he too just came out by Michael Mann and Meg Gardner which is the follow-up to heat the film they wrote this book he too narrated by voice over Legend Peter Giles who's also happens to be one of my close mates”
“he talks it you know part of it is like who are the worlds if the time machine The Invisible Man the island of Dr Moreau”
“he talks it you know part of it is like who are the worlds if the time machine The Invisible Man the island of Dr Moreau”
“he talks it you know part of it is like who are the worlds if the time machine The Invisible Man the island of Dr Moreau”
“you know what I'm listening to now I'm listening to the grayman it's it's the there's a movie that's out right now but it's the book that the movie's based on and it's by Mark greeny”
“It's cozy, it's fun to go out and celebrate, but at home, you know we have Ricky our dog and I like to dress him up as Falcor from the NeverEnding Story, anybody?”
“Yeah, I mean, honestly, for me, I'm like I could read about it in a book and be like great, thanks, I'm good!”
“You have this new gigantic book that's out now called Directed by James Burrows: Five Decades of Stories from the Legendary Director of Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, and tons more!”
“Kate, we've, we've kept you way too late, god bless you, I'm gonna let you go in two seconds, I need to fan out, oh my god, Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite book series, I'm so glad you were in it, you were a staple in my mind forever because of that, and as a kid,”
“Kate, we've, we've kept you way too late, god bless you, I'm gonna let you go in two seconds, I need to fan out, oh my god, Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite book series, I'm so glad you were in it, you were a staple in my mind forever because of that, and as a kid,”
“and barry martyr who invented ted l nancy uh letters from a nut”