Podcast
No Stupid Questions book recommendations
Research psychologist Angela Duckworth (author of "Grit") and tech and sports executive Mike Maughan really like to ask people questions, and they believe there’s no such thing as a stupid one. So they have a podcast where they can ask each other as many “stupid questions” as they want. New episodes each week. "No Stupid Questions" is a production of the Freakonomics Radio Network. To get every sh…
Latest mentions
-
Misfit
-
Long Walk to Freedom
-
The Most Good You Can Do
-
Amusing Ourselves to Death
-
Anarchy, State, and Utopia
-
Man's Search for Meaning
-
Start Making Sense
-
Think Like a Freak (Republish)
-
David and Goliath
-
Outliers
-
The Tipping Point
-
Grit
-
Small Fry
-
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
-
Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1
-
Enlightenment Now
-
The Better Angels of Our Nature
-
High Conflict
-
Life Is So Good
-
The Creative Act
Most recommended on No Stupid Questions
-
Grit
On No Stupid Questions, co-host Angela Duckworth regularly discussed her book Grit alongside co-host Mike Maughan. Duckworth reflected on the central theme of Grit, explaining that she wanted to challenge the common belief that talent alone dictates greatness. She shared personal anecdotes regarding the publication, admitting she should not have written about her daughters without their consent and explaining why she stopped reading Amazon reviews. Additionally, Duckworth recounted a phone conversation with executive Paul DePodesta, who reached out to ask about Grit to explore how passion and perseverance might assist sports teams in evaluating and selecting future players.
Discussed“I mean, I don't know if I should confess to this, but it was very clear to me when I wrote 'Grit' that what made the idea interesting is that we had a view that what makes somebody great at what they do is talent.”
Where to get it
-
Think Like a Freak (Republish)
On No Stupid Questions, co-host Stephen Dubner and guest Mike Maughan referenced the Freakonomics book series—including 'Think Like a Freak'—across episodes from 2023 to 2024. The hosts and callers discussed counterintuitive ideas, charitable organizations like Smile Train, and the lifelong influence of a person's first name. Listeners frequently called in to share how reading the books inspired them to pursue careers in economics or turned the titles into recurring holiday gift traditions.
Discussed“I was going to say I always say sometimes, I don't want to make a declarative that all things, but my immediate reaction went back to the book Freakonomics.”
Where to get it
-
Thinking, Fast and Slow
On No Stupid Questions, hosts Angela Duckworth and Stephen Dubner regularly referenced Daniel Kahneman's book "Thinking, Fast and Slow." Duckworth explained core concepts from the text, including the distinction between System 1 fast thinking and System 2 slow thinking, as well as human desires for narrative coherence. The hosts and listeners brought up the book to discuss psychological topics such as cognitive biases, heuristics, and priming, noting the academic debates surrounding priming research following the book's release. They also contrasted the book's widespread popularity with Kahneman's lesser-known concepts, highlighting its lasting influence on understanding human reasoning.
Discussed“That's why Danny called his bestselling book Thinking, Fast and Slow, because thinking fast is using system one and thinking slow is using system two.”
Where to get it
-
Bowling Alone: Revised and Updated
On No Stupid Questions, host Angela Duckworth and Stephen Dubner repeatedly referenced Robert D. Putnam's book 'Bowling Alone: Revised and Updated' across multiple episodes to examine modern social isolation. Duckworth brought up the sociologist's work to explain why Americans increasingly spend time alone rather than with friends, while Dubner linked Putnam's theories on declining community engagement and polarization to broader cultural trends, including a modern decrease in sexual activity.
Discussed“Let me then give the Bob Putnam answer; Bob Putnam, who wrote Bowling Alone about how, as you know, I guess Mike, that Americans are spending time alone that they used to spend with friends, and this is going to get all the way back to pubs and churches.”
Where to get it
-
Freakonomics
On No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner frequently discussed 'Freakonomics,' which he co-authored with Steven Levitt. Dubner reflected on the period of fame that followed the book's release, mentioned its sequel 'SuperFreakonomics,' and recalled a television reference where a character was seen reading the title by a swimming pool.
Discussed“I do so by then we had two books for economics and super Freakonomics and we'd started Freakonomics radio”
Where to get it
-
A tree grows in Brooklyn
Across multiple episodes of the No Stupid Questions podcast, hosts Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth discussed Betty Smith's novel 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn'. Duckworth frequently cited the novel as one of her favorite childhood books, using it to illustrate concepts ranging from aspirational consumerism to the psychological comfort found in rereading familiar stories during difficult times, while Dubner recalled their previous conversations about Duckworth's affection for the book.
Discussed“I've been thinking about a conversation that we had about A Tree Grows in Brooklyn do you recall this conversation”
Where to get it
-
Radical Candor
On No Stupid Questions, host Mike Maughan referenced Kim Malone Scott and her book "Radical Candor" in multiple episodes during 2023 and 2024. Maughan expressed admiration for Scott as a Silicon Valley executive and author, utilizing her work to discuss varying perspectives on feedback methods, specifically the "crap sandwich" approach. He also highlighted her management framework regarding rock stars and superstars in startup environments.
Discussed“So Kim Scott, who we both love, author of Radical Candor, Silicon Valley executive, wonderful, wonderful soul.”
Where to get it
-
SuperFreakonomics LP
On No Stupid Questions, the hosts referenced their book 'SuperFreakonomics LP' across multiple episodes in 2023 and 2024. They discussed how the book provided a more accurate retelling of the Kitty Genovese story and its associated reporter incentives, explored prostitution as an industry studied from economic and social perspectives, and argued that drunk walking is more dangerous per mile than drunk driving.
Discussed“And it turns out that if you pull apart the story of what actually happened that night—which is a little difficult to do, CU this was in the 1960s—but we went back, and in our second book, Super Freakonomics, we actually retold the story as well as we could, including the incentives for the reporters involved and the police involved.”
Where to get it
-
Against Empathy
On No Stupid Questions, Angela discussed Paul Bloom's book Against Empathy, reflecting on the psychologist's position within the empathy and sympathy spectrum. In another episode, the host mentioned Paul Bloom's book by title and author while discussing its arguments surrounding rational compassion.
Discussed“So he wrote a book you may have read called 'Against Empathy.' So where do you think he falls on the spectrum of this? I know because I know the book!”
Where to get it
-
Amusing Ourselves to Death
On the September 6, 2026 episode of No Stupid Questions titled "Do You Savor or Gobble?", Steven Dubner brought up Neil Postman's book Amusing Ourselves to Death. Dubner used the text to illustrate long-standing societal concerns about passive media consumption, noting that the work addressed how engagement with media and entertainment affects human behavior.
Discussed“If you want to be depressed about our ability to succumb to that, I think of a book from maybe 30 years ago by Neil Postman called Amusing Ourselves to Death, which wasn't about binge watching because it didn't exist”
Where to get it
-
Anarchy, State, and Utopia
On the September 6, 2026 episode of No Stupid Questions titled 91. Do You Savor or Gobble?, the podcast's fact-checker mentioned Robert Nozick's 1974 book, Anarchy, State, and Utopia. The mention was used to clarify the philosophical origin of the pleasure machine thought experiment—where humans choose between real life and a pleasant simulation—that Angela Duckworth had referenced earlier in the discussion.
Discussed“But Angela was likely thinking of the thought experiment described by American philosopher Robert Nozick in his 1974 book, Anarchy, State, and Utopia. In the book, humans have the choice to experience reality as it exists, or to live forever in a pleasant simulation.”
Where to get it
-
Born a Crime
On No Stupid Questions, the hosts mentioned Trevor Noah's memoir 'Born a Crime' across episodes in July 2023 and September 2024. Angela Duckworth praised the work as a thoughtful, serious look at his life and reflected on a poignant quote about regret, while another host cited it as one of their favorite books while examining societal constructs.
Discussed“We have these constructs, and I think one fascinating thing I listened to recently was from Trevor Noah, who's the comedian who wrote one of my favorite books, 'Born a Crime.'”
Where to get it
-
Candide
Francois Voltaire's Candide was discussed by the hosts of No Stupid Questions in January 2023. Stephen Dubner brought up reading the novel in high school and asked his co-host Angela if she had read it too, prompting her to recall being assigned the book in her junior year French class and expressing her strong dislike for it.
Discussed“I remember reading in French class—I think it was junior year—and Dr. Roland had assigned Candide by Voltaire, and I hated it, by the way!”
Where to get it
-
Charlotte's Web
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth and Stephen discussed E.B. White's classic novel Charlotte's Web. Duckworth referenced White's renowned writing and a memorable line from the book, while Stephen reminisced about reading the story as a child. Stephen highlighted the central plot involving Wilbur and Fern's relationship and used the book as a starting point to reflect on personal choices and the ethics of eating meat.
Discussed“You know E.B. White, like the author of Charlotte's Web? With one of the greatest lines ever in literature that I am not going to nail right now, but...”
Where to get it
-
Dale Carnegie for Children (Abridged and adapted)
On No Stupid Questions on January 19, 2023, host Stephen mentioned reading Dale Carnegie as part of a conversation about self-help literature. In another episode on the same date, Stephen brought up Dale Carnegie again while discussing self-help books.
Discussed“so Dale Carnegie seven habits of highly effective people We've talked about this self-help book”
Where to get it
-
David and Goliath
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth referenced Malcolm Gladwell's bestseller 'David and Goliath'. She discussed the book while addressing the challenges and struggles that high-achieving individuals face in highly competitive environments, including elite academic institutions.
Discussed“Adam Grant writes about Malcolm Gladwell, who's the well-known author of many New York Times bestsellers like 'David and Goliath,' 'Tipping Point,' and 'Outliers.'”
Where to get it
-
From Strength to Strength
On No Stupid Questions, Arthur C. Brooks's book From Strength to Strength was discussed by Angela and Mike across multiple episodes. Angela highlighted the book's relevance to the generativity stage of life, while Mike referenced Brooks's advice to illustrate how individuals must adapt and evolve as they grow older, transitioning away from past strengths.
Discussed“Here's what I love about that, especially when you get to this generativity stage: I'm sure you're familiar with Arthur Brooks' book, 'From Strength to Strength.' Yeah, I read it!”
Where to get it
-
Holy Bible (NIV)
On No Stupid Questions, the Bible came up in multiple episodes. In September 2024, the hosts discussed the stickiness of stories before written language, using the Old Testament as an example of oral tradition. In January 2023, Angela cited sociologist Mickey McGee to explore the idea that the Bible functions as one of history's earliest self-help books.
Discussed“There was the era of BS troubadours, and you know, the Bible, the Old Testament, at least I should specify, all of which existed pre-written language. It's hard to imagine that they were passed along orally, but they were.”
Where to get it
-
How to Win Friends and Influence People
On the No Stupid Questions podcast, Angela mentioned How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie as a classic example of a standard self-help book. Later, in another episode, Stephen struggled to recall the title while discussing the same book with his co-host, ultimately correcting himself as they talked about Carnegie's famous work on interpersonal skills.
Discussed“how to get people how to win friends and influence people can't remember the title of the book”
Where to get it
-
It
On No Stupid Questions, Stephen King's book 'It' came up during discussions about horror movies. Across episodes on January 12, 2023, and October 3, 2024, the hosts talked about scariest horror movies, leading Stephen Dubner to clarify that the title 'It' refers to the book written by Stephen King.
Discussed“And let's see, this is titled It, I can't tell if that's supposed to be It or if it's actually It. It's It, Stephen King!”
Where to get it
-
Lolita
Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita was discussed across two episodes of No Stupid Questions in late 2024. Angela examined the book's narrative style, noting that the story is told entirely from the interior worldview of Humbert Humbert, a pedophile who entraps a young girl named Lolita. A listener also referenced the novel on October 6, 2024, to illustrate the unsettling idea that anyone might be capable of evil given the right circumstances.
Discussed“Much like Nabokov forces us to do in Lolita, the truly unsettling part, the terrifying thing, is realizing that each one of us might be capable of committing an evil act given the right reasons.”
Where to get it
-
Man's Search for Meaning
On No Stupid Questions, co-host Angela Duckworth brought up Viktor Frankl's book, "Man's Search for Meaning," in episode "223. What About All the Questions We Haven’t Answered?" and episode 20. Angela asked co-host Mike if he had read it, and Mike confirmed reading it several times, calling it short and full of great punch. Angela explained that the book centers on Frankl's experiences in concentration camps and his observations on finding meaning through noble responses to suffering. She highlighted the English edition's postscript, "Logotherapy in a Nutshell," and reflected on how Frankl's concepts connect to personal goals, enduring hardship, and insights observed in clinical practice.
Discussed“But one of these books is Man’s Search for Meaning. Now, Mike, there’s no way that you have not read Victor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, correct? I’ve read it several times!”
Where to get it
-
Man's Search For Ultimate Meaning
On No Stupid Questions, co-host Angela Duckworth discussed Viktor Frankl and his work across multiple episodes. In episode 33, she referenced Frankl as a psychiatrist who survived concentration camps and wrote Man's Search for Meaning, developing a therapy based on his experiences regarding how people respond to circumstances. In episode 20, she again mentioned Frankl and his memoir in the context of finding meaning in suffering.
Discussed“and I hesitate to paraphrase Victor Frankel the psychiatrist who was in concentration camps and out of that experience wrote man search for meaning and developed a whole therapy based on his experience”
Where to get it
-
Mrs. Miracle
During the fact-check segments on No Stupid Questions in episodes from September 2023 and July 2024, the podcast discussed the 1996 book 'Mrs. Miracle' by bestselling romance novelist Debbie Macomber. The host noted that the common aphorism 'the grass is always greener on the other side' apparently originated from a specific line within Macomber's novel.
Discussed“In fact, the version of the aphorism, 'the grass is always greener on the other side,' seems to have originated in a line from 'Mrs. Miracle,' a 1996 book by bestselling romance novelist Debbie Macomber.”
Where to get it
-
Nudge
On No Stupid Questions, Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein's book was referenced in January 2023 episodes. Stephen Dubner mentioned the text when discussing behavioral science and pro-social behavior nudges, and the speakers cited the book's famous example of placing a housefly image on airport urinals to illustrate behavioral change.
Discussed“...and many behavioral economists Richard thaler and so on who wrote a book called nudge talking about the way to nudge people towards pro-social Behavior as opposed to mandates”
Where to get it
-
Outliers
On No Stupid Questions, the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell came up in discussions between the hosts. On December 8, 2024, Angela Duckworth referenced Outliers as one of Gladwell's well-known New York Times bestsellers alongside David and Goliath and The Tipping Point. On January 13, 2023, Stephen Dubner mentioned that Gladwell had written extensively about the relative age effect in his books.
Discussed“Adam Grant writes about Malcolm Gladwell, who's the well-known author of many New York Times bestsellers like 'David and Goliath,' 'Tipping Point,' and 'Outliers.'”
Where to get it
-
Ovid: Ars Amatoria, Book III
Ovid's Ars Amatoria, Book III (often referred to as The Art of Love) was discussed on No Stupid Questions in late 2023 and mid-2024. The hosts referenced the book as the origin of a specific maxim, quoting the ancient Roman poet's line that the harvest is always more fruitful in another man's field, using it to explore themes around human desire.
Discussed“The original maxim evolved from 'The Art of Love' by the ancient Roman poet Ovid, who wrote, 'The harvest is always more fruitful in another man's field!'”
Where to get it
-
Pain, Parties, Work
On No Stupid Questions, the book came up in two episodes. In the December 28, 2023 episode Why Is It So Hard to Make Decisions?, Mike mentioned Sylvia Plath's book The Bell Jar and read a passage about internal struggles and analysis paralysis. In the October 22, 2023 episode Would You Be Happier if You Were More Creative?, Angela discussed a theory by Marty Seligman regarding Plath's creativity, citing The Bell Jar as an example of work produced during manic episodes.
Discussed“It's from The Bell Jar.”
Where to get it
-
Range
David Epstein's book 'Range' was discussed on the podcast No Stupid Questions across two episodes. On April 21, 2024, in the episode 'Should You Get Out of Your Comfort Zone?', Angela discussed the book and its author in relation to a story about how exploration leads to unexpected discoveries, expressing her admiration for the work. Earlier, on January 13, 2023, in episode 39 ('Is Everybody Cheating These Days?'), Angela anticipated Stephen would talk about the book, and Stephen confirmed that he had read it and spoken with the author.
Discussed“There's this awesome other story that comes actually from our sibling show People I (Mostly) Admire, where Steve Levitt was interviewing David Epstein, the author of the great book Range. I love David Epstein! I just need to say, it's a great book!”
Where to get it
-
The Great Good Place
Ray Oldenburg's The Great Good Place was discussed on No Stupid Questions in both the June 11, 2023 episode and its replay on November 26, 2023. During the conversation, Mike referenced the book while discussing the decline of communal gathering spaces, or third places, noting Oldenburg's framework of home as the first place, work as the second place, and community spaces like bowling leagues or churches as the third.
Discussed“I knew you were going to either invoke Bob Putnam or Ray Oldenburg, who wrote The Great Good Place and talked about the loss of third places, so home being the first place, work being the second place, and we used to have all of these third places to which we would go, like bowling leagues or churches or pubs”
Where to get it
-
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
On No Stupid Questions, Stephen R. Covey's book is discussed in May and October 2023. In one episode, Angela expresses her surprise upon discovering that scarcity and abundance mindsets originated from Covey's popular 1989 self-help book. In another episode, Mike mistakenly attributes a quotation about doing first things first to Covey and his book rather than to Peter Drucker.
Discussed“Finally, Mike attributes the quotation 'do first things first and second things not at all' to Stephen Covey, author of the 1989 book 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.'”
Where to get it
-
The Theory of Moral Sentiments
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth referenced Adam Smith's book The Theory of Moral Sentiments. She cited the text during a discussion on human self-interest and the universal desire for praise and praise-worthiness.
Discussed“Well, the Theory of Moral Sentiments...”
Where to get it
-
Turbulent Souls:
On No Stupid Questions, Stephen J. Dubner's 1998 memoir 'Turbulent Souls'—later republished as 'Choosing My Religion'—was discussed in January 2023. The show's fact-checker referenced the book while correcting an error regarding Dubner's mother, prompting Dubner to describe the subject matter of his first book concerning his parents' conversions to Catholicism.
Discussed“the first book that I wrote I think we've talked about this a little bit in the past on this show is about my parents both of whom were first generation Brooklyn Jews who each before they met each other converted to Catholicism”
Where to get it
-
Will
Will Smith's memoir, Will, was discussed on No Stupid Questions by co-host Angela. In episodes from late 2023, including 'Are We Getting Lonelier?' and 'Why Is It So Hard to Make Decisions?', Angela shared that she read the autobiography from cover to cover as a dedicated fan. She referenced a specific story from the book involving a young Will Smith, which introduced her to the concept of paralysis by analysis.
Discussed“He tells the story in his memoir of being a very young Will Smith — a certain deal has come his way.”
Where to get it
-
Yes Man
On No Stupid Questions, host Mike Maughan referenced Danny Wallace's book Yes Man as a tangential aside during conversations about scams and boredom. Maughan outlined the book's premise, describing a London resident whose friends worry about his boring life until he resolves to say yes to everything, and he noted that the book was later adapted into a film.
Discussed“One thing that is interesting though, and this is a totally tangential aside, there's this book called 'Yes Man.' I think they later made a movie about it, but this guy, Danny Wallace, who lived in London, was getting bored.”
Where to get it
-
A Brief History of Intelligence
During the April 21, 2024 episode of No Stupid Questions titled Should You Get Out of Your Comfort Zone?, Angela shared that Danny Kahneman had recommended Max Bennett's book A Brief History of Intelligence. Although initially skeptical after spending decades studying the subject, Angela eventually grew to admire the book and recommended it to others.
Discussed“And he said, A Brief History of Intelligence by Max Bennett! And I said to Danny, I was like, never heard of Max Bennett! I spent 20-plus years studying intelligence and what it is and what it's not!”
Where to get it
-
A Calendar of Wisdom
On No Stupid Questions, Leo Tolstoy's book 'A Calendar of Wisdom' was discussed in a January 2023 episode. Stephen mentioned that he had been reading the book, describing it as a daily devotional filled with thoughts and reflections. Angela also expressed her enjoyment of the book, initially misremembering the title as 'A Calendar of Days' before clarifying the correct title.
Discussed“You know, I've been thinking about this recently for two reasons: one is I've been reading this book by Tolstoy called 'A Calendar of Days,' and it's kind of like this daily devotional.”
Where to get it
-
A Man Called Ove
Fredrik Backman's 'A Man Called Ove' was discussed on No Stupid Questions in June 2024. Angela mentioned she had read the book and emphasized its proper Swedish pronunciation. She later expressed her enthusiasm for potentially starting a book club, stating that Backman's work would be her first choice for reading. Co-host Mike also briefly chimed in during the conversation to highlight Backman as the author of the novel.
Discussed“He wrote A Man Called Ove.”
Where to get it
-
A Prayer for Owen Meany
On an episode of No Stupid Questions titled 180. What Makes Some Objects Feel Special? released on January 28, 2024, the host Mike shared a personal anecdote about reading John Irving's novel A Prayer for Owen Meany. Mike recalled the exact day he was reading the book and expressed a strong dislike for it, explaining how his intense negative reaction to the story ultimately led him to physically damage the book.
Discussed“By the way, I remember the day that I was reading John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, and I hated, did you read that book?”
Where to get it
-
A Treatise of Human Nature
In the January 19, 2023 episode of No Stupid Questions titled Does Psychotherapy Actually Work?, Stephen Dubner discussed David Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature. Dubner referenced the Scottish philosopher and quoted from the text regarding the nature of the self, noting Hume's assertion that mankind consists of a bundle of different perceptions succeeding each other rapidly.
Discussed“and this dates back to David Hume the Scottish philosopher This is from treaties of human nature he wrote this about our different elements I'm a venture to a firm of the rest of mankind that they are nothing but a bundle of different perceptions which succeed each other with an inconceivable rapidity and are in Perpetual flux and movement”
Where to get it
-
Abundance
During an episode of No Stupid Questions, the host Stephen discussed the book 'Abundance' by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler. Stephen noted that the authors argue that technology, in particular, will continue to solve pressing problems and consistently improve human life.
Discussed“He actually wrote a book called 'Abundance,' and they argue that technology, especially, will just keep solving problems and keep making things better.”
Where to get it
-
An Essay on Criticism
During an episode of No Stupid Questions titled Why Do We Seek Comfort in the Familiar?, host Stephen Dubner discussed Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism. Dubner referenced the British writer and satirist while quoting a famous passage from the essay about how a little learning is a dangerous thing.
Discussed“the most famous version of this idea at least as far as I know comes from the British writer and satiris Alexander Pope who in his essay on criticism wrote a little learning is a dangerous thing drink deep or taste not the purion spring there shallow drafts intoxicate the brain and drinking largely sobers us again”
Where to get it
-
Angela's Ashes
On No Stupid Questions in the January 12, 2023 episode In a Job Interview, How Much Does Timing Matter?, host Stephen reflected on Frank McCourt's memoir Angela's Ashes. He expressed his fondness for the book and shared his surprise and enjoyment upon discovering and watching the film adaptation, noting that he found the movie to be quite good despite initially not knowing it existed on screen.
Discussed“I can think of one book that I loved and saw the film, and I didn't hate it, and that was Angela's Ashes, which I thought was a pretty good film. I did not know that was a film.”
Where to get it
-
Anxious People
During an episode of No Stupid Questions in June 2024, podcast host Angela brought up Fredrik Backman's novel Anxious People. While discussing the topic of gatherings, Angela mentioned that she had read the book three times, highlighting her personal familiarity with and appreciation for Backman's work.
Discussed“I've read Anxious People three times.”
Where to get it
-
Art of War
During a fact-check segment on the No Stupid Questions episode released on January 20, 2023, the hosts discussed whether Angela Duckworth's behavior could be viewed as Machiavellian. In doing so, they referenced Niccolò Machiavelli's later works, including The Art of War, noting how they seemed to run counter to the advice given in The Prince.
Discussed“Some scholars have asserted that Machiavelli himself was not very Machiavellian; his later works, Discourses on Livy and The Art of War, seem to run counter to the advice given in The Prince.”
Where to get it
-
Autumn with Frog and Toad
On an episode of No Stupid Questions titled 'How Do You Know if People Don’t Like You? | No Stupid Questions | Episode 37' from January 19, 2023, Angela discussed Arnold Lobel's children's book series 'Autumn with Frog and Toad'. She mentioned that these were her favorite books growing up and noted that they always featured a meaningful message.
Discussed“or my favorite books were Frog and Toad and they are always something with a message”
Where to get it
-
Beartown
On the June 12, 2024, episode of No Stupid Questions titled What Makes a Good Gathering?, host Mike discussed the novel Beartown by Fredrik Backman. Mike mentioned that the title was the second book chosen by his book club, adding that Backman is perhaps his favorite fiction author.
Discussed“It's called Beartown by Fredrik Backman, who is maybe my favorite fiction author.”
Where to get it
-
Beginners
On the 2023-07-02 episode of No Stupid Questions titled "152. What’s the Worst Kind of Regret?", host Angela brought up Raymond Carver. She discussed his short story "A Small Good Thing," compared the author to the band The Butthole Surfers, and asked her co-host Mike if he was familiar with Carver.
Discussed“Let me just tell you that I read a short story by Raymond Carver, and it was called A Small Good Thing. He’s way cooler than The Butthole Surfers! By the way, do you know who I'm talking about?”
Where to get it
-
Beginners
During an episode of No Stupid Questions titled Is Everybody Cheating These Days?, host Stephen Dubner brought up Tom Vanderbilt's book Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning. Dubner introduced the book to his audience by stating its full title and mentioning that he had been reading it himself.
Discussed“I have been reading a book that you might love or you might hate and I would like to find out which one... The author is Tom Vanderbilt the book is called beginners The joy and transformative power of lifelong learning”
Where to get it
-
Blink
On an episode of No Stupid Questions titled Which Matters More, a First or Last Impression?, released on January 19, 2023, co-host Angela Duckworth discussed the book Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. Duckworth mentioned that she read about thin slicing in Gladwell's book.
Discussed“no but I read about thin slicing in one of milk I'm gladwell's books blink”
Where to get it
Host picks
Guest picks
Guests who recommended books
Latest mentions
“And he wrote a really nice memoir called "Miss Fit" growing up awkward in the 80s. And yes, he is wickedly funny.”
“I'm reading the autobiography of Nelson Mandela right now. One reason, because I admire him, but also, this has to be one of the most forgiving... That's a great comic. Funny man. He's got to be the most forgiving man in history.”
“I want to get a bigger place, but it has to fall within this range of not too ostentatious, where I would feel guilty because I read this book by Peter Singer, "The Most Good You Can Do," where if you live within certain means and give away a certain amount, you can save lives.”
“If you want to be depressed about our ability to succumb to that, I think of a book from maybe thirty years ago by Neil Postman called Amusing Ourselves to Death, which wasn't about binge-watching because it didn't exist, but it was about an engagement with media or entertainment.”
“Finally, Angela describes the 'philosophical problem' of being plugged into a pleasure machine; there are several canonical references that fit this description, but Angela was likely thinking of the thought experiment described by American philosopher Robert Nozick in his 1974 book Anarchy, State, and Utopia.”
“okay I'm gonna try to remember the three important things that Frankel said toward the end of man's search for meaning where he also talks about the patience that he sees in clinical practice”
“It’s a book by Steve Hina, who’s one of my favorite psychologists; he's at University of British Columbia. It’s coming out in January 2025. But Hina actually references Frankl more than I think two or three dozen times in the book; I mean, really what I say about these two books is that they take as the big question: What”
“You know, it reminds me a little bit of the argument that we made in the first Freakonomics book about names. So there's a lot of literature, including some done by Steve Levitt and Roland Fryer, about how influential a person's first name is on their life.”
“Yeah, okay, because like Malcolm Gladwell and others have written about this, like he did in David and Goliath; he coined this term, I think elite institution cognitive disorder, where basically we let elite institutions mess us up.”
“We've written about it in a couple of our books Malcolm gladwell's written about it a ton I think the most common example may be in sports”
“Adam Grant writes about Malcolm Gladwell, who's the well-known author of many New York Times bestsellers like 'David and Goliath,' 'Tipping Point,' and 'Outliers.'”
“Research psychologist Angela Duckworth (author of "Grit") and tech and sports executive Mike Maughan really like to ask people questions, and they believe there’s no such thing as a stupid one.”
“And I think that when you have a really amazing guest speaker or I'm reading Steve Jobs' daughter's memoir, 'Small Fry,' oh my gosh, I'm just leaning into every detail.”
“While it's true that this subject has only become a focus of modern emotion psychology in recent years, we should note that in 1872, Charles Darwin described emotions related to learning and thinking in his book 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals.'”
“Like there was a time when people bought Julia Child's cookbook and made coq au vin for the first time. Oh my gosh, this is how French people eat chicken, it's amazing!”
“Yeah, I mean I don't know Steven Pinker at all, but his book Enlightenment Now...”
“I'm familiar with the work; Better Angels of Our Nature, which I think preceded Enlightenment Now, right?”
“The term was popularized by journalist Amanda Ripley in her 2021 book High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out.”
“Prer was following in the footsteps of many other Americans who learned to read late in life, including the famous George Dawson, the grandson of a formerly enslaved person who learned to read at 98 and co-authored a book at 101.”
“Rick Rubin, the legendary music producer, wrote a book called The Creative Act: A Way of Being; he talks so much about how creativity will flow through us if we just give ourselves space to observe without having to pay attention to a specific thing.”