Person
Every book William Costello recommended on podcasts
William Costello appears as a guest on podcast discussions centered around contemporary social dynamics, sex and relationships, and evolutionary psychology. Across his appearances on Modern Wisdom, Costello engages deeply with scientific frameworks, historical parallels, and sociological critiques to make sense of modern dating markets and shifting cultural norms. During these conversations, Costello highlights several notable texts. He praises Louise Perry's book Case Against the Sexual Revolution as phenomenal for its perspective on loveless sex and modern mating behaviors. To connect contemporary singlehood and hedonism with speculative futures, he discusses Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel Brave New World with host Chris Williamson. In exploring his own academic background, Costello points to David M. Buss's The Evolution of Desire, noting its connection to the laboratory where he conducts research. Additionally, Costello brings up Stephen Jay Gould's classic book The Mismeasure of Man to contrast it with his own work and to critique the ways psychological scales and evolutionary approaches to human behavior are developed in modern scientific settings. Through these references, Costello contextualizes contemporary psychological and cultural debates within broader intellectual traditions of evolutionary theory, literature, and social criticism.
Books recommended by William Costello
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Case Against the Sexual Revolution
The Case Against the Sexual Revolution by Louise Perry is a provocative critique of modern sexual culture that re-evaluates the social and psychological fallout of the sexual revolution from a feminist perspective.
Recommended“louise perry's book case against the sexual revolution is phenomenal at this”
Where to get it
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Brave New World
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a dystopian novel that imagines a futuristic society engineered through biological conditioning, technological control, and the elimination of traditional human emotions.
Discussed“it's like it's almost like huxley and it's like brave new world have you read that chris yes”
Where to get it
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The Evolution of Desire
The Evolution of Desire by David M.
Discussed“but it led me to discover the evolution of desire by david buss whose lab i'm in right now”
Where to get it
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The Mismeasure of Man
Discussed“Now that title is strategic because there was a famous book called the mismeasure of men by uh Steven Jay Gould who was very critical of evolutionary psychology and evolutionary approaches to human behavior and we think it's the precise opposite that's happening in scale development in psychology now that a a lack of insight into evolutionary psychology and just”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEBATE: Why Do Gen Z Women Hate Men So Much? - #1094 | Modern Wisdom | 2026-05-07 | 1 |
| Are Incels A Threat To Society? - William Costello - #526 | Modern Wisdom | 2022-09-15 | 3 |