Podcast
No Stupid Questions book list: the books mentioned on the show
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…
Books from the latest episodes
Most recommended on No Stupid Questions
-
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Daniel Kahneman's 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' was referenced on No Stupid Questions by host Angela Duckworth and listener contributors. The discussions focused on Kahneman's foundational concepts of System 1 and System 2 thinking, human reasoning quirks, and the subsequent controversies surrounding research on priming.
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
-
Grit
On the podcast No Stupid Questions, host Mike Maughan frequently mentioned Angela Duckworth's book Grit across multiple episodes, highlighting it as the most recurrently cited title in the show's history. Mike and Angela discussed how Mike's book club once flew to Philadelphia to meet with her and discuss the book in person. Additionally, background details and the origins of the 2006 paper inspiring the book were touched upon during fact-checking segments, with Angela noting the intense personal toll the writing process took on her.
Discussed“did you read grit for that We did read grit for that”
Where to get it
-
Bowling Alone
Robert D. Putnam's book "Bowling Alone" was referenced across multiple episodes of No Stupid Questions in 2023 by Angela Duckworth and Stephen Dubner. The hosts cited Putnam's sociological work to examine modern trends of social isolation, declining community engagement, and reduced participation in local leagues. They connected Putnam's theories to contemporary declines in friendship, socializing, and sexual activity, noting that Americans increasingly spend time alone rather than engaging with others in community settings.
Discussed“Bob putam who wrote bowling alone about how as you know I guess Mike that Americans are spending time alone”
Where to get it
-
Influence
Robert B. Cialdini's book Influence was discussed on No Stupid Questions. Angela Duckworth recommended the book to help a listener understand the psychological principles of persuasion and scams, sharing that it originally inspired her to become a psychologist. Stephen Dubner also discussed Cialdini's work on human persuasion, mental shortcuts, and how the book aims to help civilians recognize persuasion tactics.
Recommended“If I gave Raymond the best advice I think it would be go read influence by Bob chalini and I know you and I have both read influence and were both big fans the reason I suggest that is that what Bob chalini as a psychologist did was to document the half dozen basic principles by which human beings persuade”
Where to get it
-
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie's 1936 classic How to Win Friends and Influence People was discussed across multiple episodes of No Stupid Questions. Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth both expressed their fandom for the book while exploring themes of persuasion, praise, and the psychological impact of its provocative title. Mike M. referenced the book's advice on endearing oneself to others through humor, and podcast fact-checkers corrected previous misreferences made regarding the book's title.
Discussed“I wonder if like you know it's in that book How to Win Friends and Influence People laughing at someone's jokes it's pretty hard to think of anything that will endear you more”
Where to get it
-
Man's Search for Meaning
Viktor E. Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning was discussed on No Stupid Questions by co-host Angela Duckworth in multiple episodes across 2023 and 2024. Duckworth brought up the Holocaust memoir and psychological treatise to explore existential questions, human purpose, and finding agency and meaning during times of severe suffering and difficulty. She praised the book for being short yet impactful, frequently citing Frankl's clinical observations and his personal survival experiences in concentration camps.
Discussed“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”
Where to get it
-
Freakonomics
Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner's Freakonomics was referenced by Stephen Dubner across multiple episodes of No Stupid Questions. In January 2023 discussions, Dubner talked about writing about school teacher cheating in their first and second books, and he and Angela Duckworth discussed a cameo appearance of Freakonomics on the television show Modern Family. In January 2022, Dubner mentioned finding foreign edition contracts for the book in his office storage and discussed the abortion and crime research featured in the text.
Discussed“so we wrote a bit in or first and second Freakonomics books about different kinds of cheating you mentioned School teachers who looked the other way we wrote about school teachers who actually did the cheating to make their students test scores higher”
Where to get it
-
Guinness Book of World Records
On No Stupid Questions, the Guinness Book of World Records was brought up in several episodes by Stephen Dubner, Angela Duckworth, and fact-checker Rebecca Lee Douglas. The book was referenced for various reasons, including verifying sales statistics for the Bible, confirming whether the three-toed sloth is technically the slowest mammal, and recalling childhood memories of writing to publishers regarding gum wrapper chains.
Discussed“according to the Guinness Book of World Records approximately 5 billion copies have been sold”
Where to get it
-
Radical Candor
On No Stupid Questions, Kim Malone Scott's book Radical Candor was frequently referenced by the hosts and fact-checker when discussing communication, criticism, and feedback methods. Mike Maughan shared anecdotes about Scott visiting Qualtrics as a Silicon Valley executive, Stephen Dubner brought up the book while exploring criticism, and Rebecca Lee Douglas used Scott's concepts to properly define terms like obnoxious aggression.
Discussed“so Kim Scott who we both love author of radical cander Silicon Valley executive wonderful wonderful Soul she came to qualtrix in our early days and was doing a Q&A with the employees and I remember she said these exact words”
Where to get it
-
Amusing Ourselves to Death
On No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner repeatedly referenced Neil Postman's 1980s book Amusing Ourselves to Death. Dubner brought up the text in multiple episodes to illustrate long-standing societal anxieties regarding passive media consumption, entertainment distraction, and how easily humans succumb to modern technological distractions.
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
-
A tree grows in Brooklyn
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith came up on No Stupid Questions in January 2023. Host Stephen Dubner referenced a previous conversation with Angela Duckworth about forgetting the plots of books they love, and noted it as an example of a familiar title readers return to for comfort. Duckworth spoke about her childhood connection to the protagonist, the communality she felt when reading it as a young girl, and its role as one of her favorite memoirs.
Discussed“I've been thinking about a conversation that we had about A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”
Where to get it
-
Candide
On No Stupid Questions, Francois Voltaire's Candide was mentioned by Angela Duckworth, who reflected on being assigned the book during her junior year French class. Duckworth used the novel to illustrate the philosophical concept of cultivating one's own garden rather than attempting to fix overwhelming and unchangeable structural problems in the world.
Discussed“I remember reading in French class I think it was junior year and Dr Roland had assigned Candide by Voltaire”
Where to get it
-
The Theory of Moral Sentiments
On No Stupid Questions, Adam Smith's The Theory of Moral Sentiments was brought up by Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth to explore moral philosophy and human nature. Duckworth quoted famous passages from the work to illustrate humanity's inherent drive to care about the fortune of others, weigh moral circles, and examine how individuals respond to distant tragic events.
Discussed“the theory of moral sentiments was his big moral philosophy book here's what he wrote how selfish soever man may be supposed there are evidently some principles in his nature which interest him in the fortune of others and render their happiness necessary to him though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it”
Where to get it
-
Anarchy, State, and Utopia
Robert Nozick's 1974 book Anarchy, State, and Utopia was referenced on No Stupid Questions in episodes from January 2019, June 2023, and September 2026. During the fact-check segment, Rebecca Lee Douglas mentioned the book to clarify the philosophical origins of the pleasure machine thought experiment—where humans choose between real life and a pleasant simulation—which Angela Duckworth had brought up 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
-
Blood, Bones, & Butter
Gabrielle Hamilton's memoir Blood, Bones, & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef was mentioned on No Stupid Questions by Angela Duckworth during interviews and discussions with the author. Duckworth brought up the full title of the book and noted her reading of Hamilton's essays and memoir while introducing conversations about the challenges of being a chef and navigating career paths.
Discussed“and of course I read blood bones and butter cheffing if it's even a verb cheffing”
Where to get it
-
Born a Crime
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth recommended Trevor Noah's memoir Born a Crime. Duckworth cited the book as a thoughtful and serious look at the comedian's life, highlighting a poignant perspective on regret and how the things left undone are what people should fear most while discussing the broader societal constructs of adulthood.
Recommended“and i think one fascinating thing i listened to recently was from trevor noah who's the comedian wrote one of my favorite books is book bor crime”
Where to get it
-
Quiet
Susan Cain's book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking was discussed on No Stupid Questions. In episode 194, Angela Duckworth recommended the book while addressing the cultural dominance of the extrovert ideal, and Mike Maughan shared that reading it helped his brother finally understand his own personality. Maughan also referenced the book later in the same episode to question societal bias toward extroverts, and Duckworth previously cited it in episode 58 regarding the energy introverts expend on socializing.
Recommended“I found one of the most wonderful books ever written about this was Susan kain's book quiet the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking”
Where to get it
-
Against Empathy
Angela Duckworth and co-hosts on No Stupid Questions discussed Paul Bloom's book Against Empathy in episodes from 2023 and 2024. Duckworth brought up Bloom's psychological arguments regarding the differences between empathy, sympathy, and rational compassion.
Discussed“there's a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto named Paul Bloom are you famili with Paul I know Paul so he wrote a book you may have read called against empathy”
Where to get it
-
David and Goliath
Malcolm Gladwell's book David and Goliath was brought up on No Stupid Questions by hosts Angela Duckworth, Mike M., and Angela. The hosts discussed the book to explore concepts such as how disadvantages can foster creative problem-solving and how competitive environments can negatively impact high-achieving individuals through what Gladwell termed elite institution cognitive disorder.
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, Angela Duckworth, Mike M., and Mike Maughan referenced Arthur C. Brooks's book From Strength to Strength. The hosts discussed how the book illustrates the necessity of adapting as one grows older, transitioning from past strengths to new life strategies, and building diverse friendships during later stages of life.
Discussed“I'm sure you're familiar with Arthur Brook's book from strength to strength yeah I read it but he kind of goes through the same idea or principle that sometimes we hang too doggedly to one version of ourselves”
Where to get it
-
Nudge
On No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner brought up Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein's book Nudge while discussing behavioral economics, pro-social behavior, and signage. Dubner and co-host Rebecca Lee Douglas discussed the book's famous example of placing an image of a housefly on airport urinals to encourage cleanliness.
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
-
Parent Nation
Dana Suskind's book Parent Nation was discussed by Angela Duckworth on No Stupid Questions. Duckworth brought up the work to support the argument that the United States government fails to adequately support parents, describing it as a policy-oriented book focused on societal responsibility for caring for overlooked children.
Discussed“she is a pediatric surgeon and she wrote this book called parent Nation it's about what we have to do as a society to take care of all children”
Where to get it
-
The Great Good Place
On the June 11, 2023, episode of No Stupid Questions, and again in a replay on November 26, 2023, Mike M. brought up Ray Oldenburg's book The Great Good Place. He referenced it while discussing the loss of communal third places in society, noting that home is the first place and work is the second place, whereas people used to gather at various third places such as bowling leagues or churches.
Discussed“Ray oldenberg who wrote The Great good place and talked about the loss of third places”
Where to get it
-
Will
On No Stupid Questions, host Angela Duckworth and the show's fact-checker discussed Will Smith's 2021 memoir, Will. Duckworth mentioned reading the autobiography cover to cover as a fan and referenced an anecdote from the book about a young Will Smith facing a major career decision to illustrate the origin of the phrase 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 I don't know if it was the fresh prince of Belair or was it his first hip-hop recording contract”
Where to get it
-
Yes Man
On No Stupid Questions, co-host Mike Maughan brought up Danny Wallace's book Yes Man as a tangential aside during discussions about scams. Maughan recounted the premise of Wallace growing bored in London and resolving to say yes to everything for six months, using the narrative to illustrate what happens when someone fully engages with a scam email.
Discussed“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 he was getting bored his life was getting boring his friends were worried about him so he makes this decision that for six months he's just going to say yes to literally everything”
Where to get it
-
Bible
Discussed“think about the Bible it is the most read book in the history of the universe”
Where to get it
-
Evicted
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth and Mike M. discussed Matthew Desmond's book Evicted. Duckworth highlighted the book's value in understanding the emotional, social, and psychological impacts of growing up in extreme poverty, while Mike M. described the work as a fascinating and heartbreaking exploration of housing instability.
Discussed“this book that we've talked about before called evicted that goes through this psychological and social and emotional impact of growing up in a really financially limited setting where you're constantly being evicted it's like Matthew Desmond”
Where to get it
-
Range
David J. Epstein's book Range was discussed on No Stupid Questions by Angela Duckworth and Stephen Dubner. Duckworth referenced Epstein's insights while exploring how generalists succeed through early sampling, and Dubner confirmed that he had read the book and engaged in conversations with the author.
Discussed“where Steve levit was interviewing David Epstein the author of The Great Book range”
Where to get it
-
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
On No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth discussed Stephen R. Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in episode 145 to explore the origins of the scarcity and abundance mindset, and Duckworth referenced it to outline its core habits and mention the Eisenhower Matrix in an earlier episode.
Discussed“It actually came from an extraordinarily popular book called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey who was an interesting guy who I didn't really know very much about”
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 Sweet Spot
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth and Mike M. discussed Paul Bloom's book The Sweet Spot, describing it as a manifesto examining the value of meaningful discomfort. Duckworth also previously mentioned the book in a discussion exploring happiness research related to having children.
Discussed“he wrote this book called the sweet spot and it really was I think a kind of like Manifesto on how there is a sweet spot of discomfort”
Where to get it
-
Top Five Regrets of the Dying
On the No Stupid Questions podcast, the book Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware was discussed in episodes across 2023 and 2024. Angela Duckworth and co-host Mike Merman brought it up to explore human motivations and life satisfaction, specifically highlighting the primary regret noted by the hospice nurse author: wishing one had the courage to live a life true to oneself rather than meeting the expectations of others.
Discussed“the nurse in question is Australian paliative care provider bronnie wear author of the 2012 Memoir the top five regrets of the the dying”
Where to get it
-
A Guide to the Good Life
On No Stupid Questions, Dr. Laurie Santos discussed reading A Guide to the Good Life by William B. Irvine. She mentioned turning to the book and its insights on contemporary practicing stoicism to help her cope mentally and physically after breaking her kneecap.
Discussed“and I read a book by this current practicing stoic Bill herbine”
Where to get it
-
The Good Life
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth brought up Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz's book The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness across multiple episodes. In "157. How Can You Get Closer to the People You Care About?," she highly recommended the work. Earlier, in "134. Will You Live to Be 100?," she cited the book while discussing the Harvard study of adult development and the importance of relationships to happiness.
Recommended“It's by Robert Waldinger and Mark Schultz and it's called The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.”
Where to get it
-
Diligis from Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
On No Stupid Questions, Mike M. and Mike Maughan referenced Arthur C. Brooks's book From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life. The hosts used the text to explore how people must adapt, change strategies, and build diverse friendships as they age rather than holding onto past versions of themselves.
Discussed“I'm sure you're familiar with Arthur Brook's book from strength to strength yeah I read it but he kind of goes through the same idea or principle that sometimes we hang too doggedly to one version of ourselves”
Where to get it
-
Lolita
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth brought up Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita to introduce a discussion regarding the existence of true evil. A listener subsequently referenced the book to emphasize the unsettling idea that any individual might be capable of committing evil acts under 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 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 momer”
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
-
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
-
The adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain came up on No Stupid Questions. Stephen Dubner referenced the novel to compare a guest's clever methods of engaging users to Tom Sawyer tricking others into whitewashing a fence, while Rebecca Lee Douglas mentioned the book during a fact-check segment about the opening chapters.
Discussed“so in Adventures of Tom Sawyer Tom Sawyer's Aunt Polly tells him his Saturday chore is to White Wash or paint this really tall fence and he's bummed because you know he'd rather be fishing or swimming or playing and then he decides well what if I persuade people that this is not grunt work but a novel and awesome”
Where to get it
-
The Good Earth
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth and Steven Dubner discussed Pearl S. Buck's novel The Good Earth. The hosts referenced the book while exploring questions of cultural ownership in storytelling and whether authors should write about cultures outside of their own.
Discussed“The Good Earth did you read The Good Earth by Pearl sbck”
Where to get it
-
Turbulent Souls:
During an episode of No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner discussed his 1998 memoir 'Turbulent Souls', which was later republished as 'Choosing My Religion'. He described the subject matter of his first book, detailing how it focuses on his parents, who were first-generation Brooklyn Jews that converted to Catholicism before meeting.
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
-
Twilight
On No Stupid Questions, co-host Angela Duckworth brought up Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series during discussions on highbrow culture and adaptations. Duckworth confessed to reading the entire series in a span of a week while pulling multiple all-nighters, and she playfully defended her appreciation for the visual elements of the film adaptation.
Discussed“I read the Twilight series in a week Stephen and I told I think four all-nighters”
Where to get it
-
Utilitarianism
On No Stupid Questions, John Stuart Mill's work Utilitarianism was brought up by the show's fact-checker and hosts. The text was referenced to analyze or correct claims regarding the 19th-century philosopher's views on higher and lower intellectual pleasures versus physical pleasures.
Discussed“also Angelo recalls that 19th century philosopher John Stuart Mill believed that humans would always choose higher more intellectual Pleasures over lower face Pleasures this is an exaggeration in its 1861 work utilitarianism Mill does claim that higher Pleasures are more intrinsically valuable”
Where to get it
-
The Art of Gathering
Priya Parker's 'The Art of Gathering' was featured on No Stupid Questions in June 2024. Host Mike discussed the principles he discovered in the book, relating them to his own experiences in book clubs and group gatherings. He and his co-host explored Parker's concepts regarding uncomfortable social dynamics, popup rules, managing guest transitions, and the intentional use of exclusivity to foster meaningful gatherings.
Discussed“Angela I was recently reading an amazing book called The Art of gathering by priia Parker”
Where to get it
-
The Secret
On an episode of No Stupid Questions, hosts Mike and Angela discussed Rhonda Byrne's bestselling 2006 book, 'The Secret.' Mike brought up the title to introduce a conversation about manifestation and the law of attraction, noting its massive global sales and reliance on a three-step process. Angela humorously considered whether the book could serve as a resource for encouraging positive visualization in children. However, she also critiqued its philosophy, arguing that the book overlooks the hard work required after crossing initial hurdles and that its concepts might not be as intuitive to readers as intended.
Discussed“so the first time I was truly introduced to the idea of manifestation came in I don't know 2006 there was this book that came out in this movie that came out called the secret”
Where to get it
-
A Man Called Ove
Fredrik Backman's novel "A Man Called Ove" was discussed on the June 12, 2024 episode of No Stupid Questions. Host Angela Duckworth expressed her desire to start a book club with this specific title as its first read. Throughout the segment, Duckworth and co-host Mike Maughan discussed the author, Fredrik Backman, and Angela shared that she had read the novel, highlighting its correct Swedish pronunciation.
Discussed“He wrote A Man Called Ove.”
Where to get it
-
Charlotte's Web
E. B. White's classic novel Charlotte's Web was discussed on No Stupid Questions by Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth during an episode exploring the boundary between humans and animals. Both hosts reminisced about reading the book at a young age, highlighting the emotional bond between Fern and the pig Wilbur and the central conflict of raising a farm animal for food. They reflected on how the story prompted childhood thoughts about morality, even though neither stopped eating meat.
Discussed“and if I think back to when I read Charlotte's Web for the first time I must have been quite young who could forget Wilbur and Fern's relationship with Wilbur and then wanting Wilbur not to become bacon which was in fact the whole plot of the book”
Where to get it
-
The Hidden Dimension
On the August 20, 2023, episode of No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth introduced Edward Twitchell Hall's 1966 book The Hidden Dimension while discussing human personal space. Fact-checker Rebecca Lee Douglas also referenced the text to explain how the author introduced the term proxemics to describe the study of interpersonal spatial behavior.
Discussed“this was a psychologist named Edward Hall who published this book called The Hidden dimension on human personal space”
Where to get it
-
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Marie Kondo's book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up was discussed on No Stupid Questions. The hosts and fact-checkers examined Kondo's methods for organizing possessions, correcting misconceptions about her advice on discarding and handling books, and discussing the broader cultural tendency to accumulate household clutter.
Discussed“and in the world of the life-changing magic of tidying up and the world that kind of called forth Marie condo to write a book about how we accumulate like so much crap in our lives”
Where to get it
-
The Meritocracy Trap
On the February 4, 2024, episode of No Stupid Questions, Mike Maughan read a listener question asking about the potential failures of a meritocracy as discussed in Daniel Markovits's book The Meritocracy Trap. Angela Duckworth then shared background information on the author, noting that Daniel Markovits is a professor of law at Yale.
Discussed“So Patrick says I'm a big fan of the podcast It would be insightful if the two of you could talk about the potential failures of a meritocracy like the one discussed in the Meritocracy Trap by Daniel Markovits Are you familiar with this book I haven't read the Meritocracy Trap, but I'm pretty familiar with these arguments against meritocracy”
Where to get it
-
Klara and the Sun
On the No Stupid Questions podcast in August 2024, Angela Duckworth recommended Kazuo Ishiguro's 2021 novel Klara and the Sun to her co-host Mike as homework. Duckworth noted that the book had been recommended to her by Bob Cialdini and offered it as a thoughtful exploration of artificial intelligence companions written before the recent boom in generative AI.
Recommended“I think Mike as we close out this fascinating question from Vivien I want to ask you whether you have read a book called Clara and the son”
Where to get it
-
Permission to Feel
On the March 17, 2024, episode of No Stupid Questions titled '187. Is Fear Running Your Life?', Angela Duckworth brought up Marc Brackett, Ph.D.'s book 'Permission to Feel'. Duckworth mentioned the title while discussing the importance of recognizing and allowing oneself to feel negative emotions such as fear. Later in the episode, she referenced the book again toward the end of the discussion to summarize their conversation on emotional awareness and highlight its usefulness as a concept.
Recommended“Actually, there's a really interesting author; I've just been reading a book called 'Permission to Feel.' Yes, yes!”
Where to get it
-
The Art of Learning
On the No Stupid Questions podcast, Angela Duckworth recommended The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin in March 2024. Duckworth highlighted the book as one of her favorites while exploring themes of intuition, high-repetition practice, and chess, noting the author as one of the greatest chess masters.
Recommended“no I do not play chess but one of my favorite books is called the art of learning by one of the greatest Chess Masters ever”
Where to get it
-
The Comfort Crisis
On the June 30, 2024, episode of No Stupid Questions, Mike M. brought up Michael Easter's book The Comfort Crisis. He asked Angela Duckworth if she had read it and subsequently used a line from the book to quote a statistic about the amount of time Americans spend indoors.
Recommended“When you were talking about your students, though, one thought that came to mind: I don't know if you've read Michael Easter's book, The Comfort Crisis?”
Where to get it
-
Co-Intelligence
Ethan Mollick's Co-Intelligence was featured on No Stupid Questions. Angela Duckworth and the show's fact-checker discussed Mollick's prominent role as an influencer in generative AI, specifically highlighting the acknowledgments section in his book where he reflected on whether to thank artificial intelligence for assisting in its creation.
Discussed“so Ethan mik is probably the number one influencer in how to use generative AI to your advantage he has this book called co-intelligence”
Where to get it
-
Power and Progress
On No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner discussed a forthcoming book by economist Daron Acemoglu titled Power and Progress: Our 1,000-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity. Dubner cited the upcoming work to explore changing views on technology and prosperity, noting a growing skepticism regarding the benefits of rapid technological progress and highlighting the authors' ideas about the abundance mindset.
Discussed“he's got a forthcoming book called power and progress our 1 000 year struggle over technology and prosperity”
Where to get it
-
The Giving Tree
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth discussed Shel Silverstein's children's book The Giving Tree, examining its themes of extreme self-sacrifice and generosity. Duckworth also shared an editor's critical perspective that framed the relationship depicted in the book as essentially sadomasochistic.
Discussed“and I think maybe that very famous book The Giving Tree Giving Tree”
Where to get it
-
A Brief History of Intelligence
On the April 21, 2024 episode of No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth discussed Max Bennett's book A Brief History of Intelligence. Duckworth shared how Daniel Kahneman originally recommended the book to her, leading her to move past her initial skepticism and eventually become an admirer of the text.
Recommended“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
-
Conflicted
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth and Mike Maughan discussed the self-help book 'Conflicted: Why Arguments Are Tearing Us Apart and How They Can Bring Us Together' by Ian Leslie. Maughan recommended the book as a helpful guide on how to navigate disagreements and approach healthy conflict, while Duckworth highlighted the author as a journalist and corporate communicator.
Recommended“and that's where this self-help book called conflicted why arguments are tearing us apart and how they can bring us together is really helpful who wrote this Ian Leslie a journalist and corporate Communicator wrote this book”
Where to get it
-
Influence, New and Expanded: the Psychology of Persuasion
On the June 22, 2023 episode of No Stupid Questions titled "Why Do People Get Scammed?," host Angela recommended Robert B. Cialdini's book "Influence, New and Expanded" to a listener named Raymond who asked why people fall for scams. Angela explained that the book teaches the principles of persuasion. Later in the same episode, she cautioned Raymond against using Cialdini's strategies to perpetuate scams or engage in unethical behavior.
Recommended“If I gave Raymond the best advice, I think it would be go read ‘Influence’ by Bob Cialdini.”
Where to get it
-
Practical Wisdom
On the January 19, 2023, episode of No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth recommended the book Practical Wisdom, written by Barry Schwartz and Kenneth Sharpe. Duckworth brought up the text to explore the qualities of a wise person and noted that one of the authors, Barry Schwartz, was a psychologist at Swarthmore College.
Recommended“so I did come across this book I'm not sure if you're familiar with it but I'd like to tell you about it a little bit maybe this would prove useful for Yvonne as well it's written by two authors one of whom I know you know Barry Schwartz who's a psychologist at Swarthmore and Kenneth sharp who's a political”
Where to get it
-
Beartown
On the No Stupid Questions episode 'What Makes a Good Gathering?', co-host Mike M. M. brought up Fredrik Backman's novel 'Beartown.' Mike noted that it was the second book his book club read and praised it as perhaps the most perfect book ever written, adding that Backman is perhaps his favorite fiction author.
Recommended“the second book we ever read is I think maybe the most perfect book ever written it's called Bear toown by friedrick Bachman who is maybe my favorite fiction author”
Where to get it
-
Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive
Angela Duckworth discussed Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive by Marc A. Brackett on No Stupid Questions in March 2024. She mentioned reading the book while talking about the importance of allowing oneself to feel negative emotions like fear, and she later used the title as a oneliner to summarize the discussion.
Discussed“I've just been reading a book called permission to feel Oh by Mark bracket”
Where to get it
-
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth brought up Eileen Spinelli's children's book Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch in the episode Do You Need Closure? to illustrate how the mystery of receiving an anonymous gift can evoke feelings of joy, anticipation, and community.
Recommended“this is so interesting I mean there's this Valentine's book that we always read as kids called somebody loves you Mr hatch is this the M family yes this is the m family gosh I want to be part of this family I'll mail you this book it's an awesome book”
Where to get it
-
The Genetic Lottery
On No Stupid Questions, co-host Angela recommended "The Genetic Lottery" by Kathryn Paige Harden. Angela highlighted the author's background as a behavioral geneticist and urged listeners to engage more deeply with how genetics and DNA actually influence human outcomes.
Recommended“There's a book out now; I really recommend it.”
Where to get it
-
The Perfection Trap
On the February 25, 2024 episode of No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth recommended The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough by Thomas Curran. Duckworth brought up the title to introduce Curran's background as a professor at the London School of Economics and his expertise as a world authority on perfectionism.
Recommended“his book is called the Perfection trap embracing the power of good enough”
Where to get it
-
This Tender Land
During the No Stupid Questions episode '204. What Happens When You’re Cut Off From All Human Contact?', Angela Duckworth and Mike Miltimore discussed William Kent Krueger's novel 'This Tender Land'. Angela brought up the book's depiction of Native American schools, and Mike referenced a character in the story who befriends a rat in solitary confinement to illustrate how isolated people seek psychological connection.
Discussed“I was just reading a book called this tender land about Native American schools and there's one child in it who is constantly sent to solitary confinement this room and there is a rat there in the room that becomes like his buddy”
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“one is I've been reading this book by Tolstoy called a calendar of days and it is kind of like this Daily Devotional so he apparently for the last 15 or more years of his life created this journal where he kept all his favorite quotes”
Where to get it
-
A Prayer for Owen Meany
On the No Stupid Questions episode '180. What Makes Some Objects Feel Special?', Mike Maughan brought up John Irving's novel 'A Prayer for Owen Meany'. Mike shared a personal story from his time reading the book, expressing his strong dislike for it and explaining how his frustration with the story led him to damage the physical copy.
Discussed“by the way I remember the day that I was reading John Irving's A Prayer for Owen meanie”
Where to get it
-
Abundance
On No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner discussed the book Abundance by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler. The host brought up the work during a broader conversation about techno-optimism, noting the authors' argument that technology will continually solve pressing problems and improve human lives.
Discussed“he actually wrote a book called abundance”
Where to get it
-
Angela's Ashes
On No Stupid Questions, co-host Stephen Dubner brought up Frank McCourt's memoir Angela's Ashes while discussing adaptations. Dubner shared his deep affection for the book and noted that he was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the film adaptation, stating that he thought the movie was pretty good despite his initial reservations.
Discussed“like I can think of one book that I loved loved loved and I saw the film and I didn't hate it and that was Angela's Ashes which I thought was a pretty good film”
Where to get it
-
Beginners
On No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner introduced Tom Vanderbilt's book Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning, stating its full title and noting that Vanderbilt is a non-fiction author, using it to discuss lifelong learning and brain plasticity.
Discussed“the author is Tom Vanderbilt the book is called beginners the joy and transformative power of lifelong learning now I should say Vanderbilt is a non-fiction author”
Where to get it
-
Burn-out: the high cost of achievement
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth discussed Herbert J. Freudenberger's book Burn-Out: The High Cost of Achievement. Duckworth referenced the text and the author's psychological background to explain the history of the concept of burnout and identify who is most susceptible to it.
Discussed“and in the 1980s he wrote a book called burnout the high cost of achievement and had also written this paper titled staff burnout”
Where to get it
-
Cool
On an episode of No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth discussed the book Cool: How the Brain's Hidden Quest for Cool Drives Our Economy and Shapes Our World by Steven Quartz and Annette Asp. She noted that the authors wrote about neuroeconomics, explaining how research by Quartz and other neuroscientists demonstrates that humans possess a fundamental need for coolness, which significantly influences both the economy and global society.
Discussed“anyway two of them got together and wrote this book and it is on neuro economics but it's actually called cool how the brains hidden quest for Cool drives our economy and shapes our world”
Where to get it
-
Dare to Lead
During the No Stupid Questions episode '159. How Much Personal Space Do You Need?', the host and fact-checker Rebecca Lee Douglas discussed Brené Brown's 2018 book 'Dare to Lead'. They referenced the work to clarify the origins of the phrase 'clear is kind, unclear is unkind,' noting that Brown wrote about first hearing it at a 12-step meeting.
Discussed“in her 2018 book dare to lead”
Where to get it
-
Determined
On the February 18, 2024 episode of No Stupid Questions titled 183. Does Free Will Exist, and Does It Matter?, Angela Duckworth brought up Robert M. Sapolsky's book Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will. Duckworth noted that the prolific author's recent book argues directly against the existence of free will, using it as a primary reference point to anchor the podcast's exploration of the topic.
Discussed“and he most recently wrote a book he's quite prolific called determined a science of life without Free Will”
Where to get it
-
Doughnut Economics
On No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner discussed Kate Raworth's book Doughnut Economics. Dubner referenced the work by the British economist to contrast techno-optimism and illustrate the perspective that modern civilization and the global economy have expanded too aggressively.
Discussed“and then there are people like I think of Kate rayworth who's I believe a British Economist who wrote a book called donut economics”
Where to get it
-
Enlightenment Now
On No Stupid Questions, co-host Angela Duckworth discussed Steven Pinker's book Enlightenment Now. Duckworth referenced the work to explore themes of objective societal progress, global optimism, and human flourishing, contrasting the data-driven arguments in the book with general public pessimism.
Discussed“I mean I don't know Stephen Pinker at all but his book Enlightenment now so well I'm familiar with the work better angels of our nature”
Where to get it
-
Fear and Courage
On No Stupid Questions, host Angela Duckworth discussed Stanley Rachman's book Fear and Courage. Duckworth highlighted Rachman as a lifelong scholar of fear and cited his work to clarify the true nature of courage, noting the common misunderstanding that being courageous means lacking fear entirely.
Discussed“And there's a psychologist named Stanley Rachman who was a lifelong scholar of fear and courage! And he wrote a book of the same title: 'Fear and Courage.'”
Where to get it
-
Free Will
On the No Stupid Questions episode '183. Does Free Will Exist, and Does It Matter?', Angela Duckworth mentioned Sam Harris's book 'Free Will'. She shared that her brother had given her a copy of the book when she reached adulthood, an event that sparked her contemplation of the philosophy surrounding free will.
Discussed“I'm going to admit I hadn't until I got into adulthood and he was reading a book called Free Will by Sam Harris which he gave me”
Where to get it
-
Generations
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth introduced Jean M. Twenge's book Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents and What They Mean for America's Future. Duckworth and her co-host discussed the book to support the academic perspective that real generational differences exist, reviewing the distinct categories that Twenge outlines in her work regarding society and the future of America.
Discussed“let me start with Gene Twinkie the leading academic on the side of absolutely there are real generational differences and by the way these are categories that she writes about in her recent book the title of that book is Generations colon the real differences between gen Z Millennials Gen X Boomers and silence and what they mean for America's”
Where to get it
-
Give and Take
Adam Grant's Give and Take was referenced on No Stupid Questions by Angela Duckworth. Duckworth cited the book to explain Grant's typology dividing people into three categories: givers, takers, and matchers.
Discussed“and in the book give and take Adam has this typology there are three kinds of people”
Where to get it
-
Hit Refresh
During an episode of No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner mentioned Satya Nadella's book, Hit Refresh. While discussing the text, the host humorously struggled to recall the exact title and remarked that while most books written by corporate CEOs are typically not great reads, the book still carried notable value.
Discussed“and one thing that so impressed me he wrote a book that I mean to be honest wasn't a great book most books by CEOs aren't great books but I know this book it was like fresh restart that sounds about right maybe it was something like hit reset or something”
Where to get it
-
Homicide
On No Stupid Questions, Mike Maughan and a co-host discussed David Simon's book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets. Maughan referenced the book to explain how economist Steve Levitt found inspiration to study crime after feeling discouraged at MIT, shifting his focus after reading Simon's gripping account of crime.
Discussed“and Levitt had this Epiphany because he was reading a book about crime yes but by David Simon it's called homicide a year on The Killing streets”
Where to get it
-
How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes
On the No Stupid Questions episode 'Is It Wrong to Lie to Children?', Angela Duckworth brought up the book 'How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes' by Melinda Wenner Moyer. Duckworth mentioned the title while discussing her own article on the complexities of honesty, and co-host Mike highlighted the book as a valuable resource for positive parenting.
Discussed“she's also the author of a book called how to raise kids who aren't good goal for anyone”
Where to get it
-
How We Die
On No Stupid Questions, Steven Dubner brought up Sherwin B. Nuland's How We Die to discuss how modern American society has separated people from death. Fact-checker Rebecca Lee Douglas also mentioned the book to clarify when Angela Duckworth had first read it as a young woman.
Discussed“and you know there has been a lot written about including the Sherwin nulan book you mentioned earlier how we die about how modern society but modern America in particular has just removed death from life”
Where to get it
-
I Must Say
On an episode of No Stupid Questions, Mike Maughan brought up Martin Short's memoir to share an anecdote about the actor using an alternate persona to help defuse tension with his wife. Angela Duckworth also mentioned the title, noting that the book starts with this same interesting story about Martin and his wife Nancy.
Discussed“so I want to give you an example that I loved in a book I just read by Martin Short so Martin Short movie star comedic go I love Martin Short oh good like he hangs out with Steve Martin super funny he's on Comedians and Cars or go on sorry I got distracted comedians with cars comedians getting coffee”
Where to get it
-
Life Is in the Transitions
On the July 23, 2023 episode of No Stupid Questions, the hosts discussed Bruce Feiler's book Life Is in the Transitions. Angela and Mike Maughan talked about how the author traveled across the United States for over a year to collect hundreds of stories from individuals who navigated major life changes, using the book to examine how people master transitions at any age.
Discussed“there's a guy named Bruce feiler and he wrote a book called life is in the transitions mastering change at any age”
Where to get it
-
Passages
On the No Stupid Questions episode 'Are You Having a Midlife Crisis?', Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth explored the origins of the midlife crisis, during which Angela brought up Gail Sheehy's 1976 book 'Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life.' Stephen recalled the book as being massively popular and focused on aging from a female perspective. Later in the episode, fact-checker Rebecca Lee Douglas corrected Stephen regarding the book's exact publication year.
Discussed“There was a book by Gail Sheehy which was just at the time massively everywhere; it was particularly looking at the passage of time and aging from a female perspective, but it was called 'Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life.' That was 1976.”
Where to get it
-
Peter and Wendy
On the April 7, 2024 episode of No Stupid Questions, the hosts fact-checked details regarding the story of Peter Pan during their discussion on nostalgia. They specifically referenced the original 1911 novel Peter and Wendy by Scottish author and playwright J. M. Barrie to correct inaccuracies and clarify the original narrative.
Discussed“at least as it's told in the original 1911 novel Peter and Wendy by Scottish author and playwright JM Barry”
Where to get it
-
Pour Your Heart Into It
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth discussed Howard Schultz's memoir, Pour Your Heart Into It, while exploring whether the author experienced impostor syndrome. Although she humorously misremembered the exact title of the book, she expressed a strong personal interest in knowing Schultz.
Discussed“I did read his Memoir I think it's called like a cup at a time or something like that”
Where to get it
-
Scarcity
On the May 7, 2023 episode of No Stupid Questions, host Stephen Dubner discussed the book Scarcity by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir. Dubner noted that the authors published the book shortly after releasing their landmark paper on the subject. He brought up the text to contrast its focus on actual resource scarcity with conventional mindset concepts like those discussed by Stephen Covey.
Discussed“I would have given a very similar answer because Sendel and Eldar published a book called scarcity not that long ago”
Where to get it
-
Self-help
On No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner discussed Samuel Smiles's book Self-Help during an episode on January 19, 2023. Dubner brought up the 1859 text to explore the origins of the self-help genre and the phrase itself. He explained that Smiles was inspired by the perseverance of Thomas Carlyle, which motivated him to write the book that eventually became a major bestseller.
Discussed“do you know the book self-help which I believe was the origin of the phrase have you ever come across that book by Samuel's Smiles like literally called self-help”
Where to get it
-
Small Fry
Lisa Brennan-Jobs's memoir Small Fry was discussed by Angela Duckworth on No Stupid Questions in December 2024. Duckworth shared that she was deeply engrossed in every detail of the book, explaining how the narrative provided a sense of novelty and fresh learning without entirely upending her assumptions.
Discussed“or I'm reading like Steve Jobs daughter's Memoir small fry oh my gosh I'm just leaning into every detail and it's not because she's saying things that have upended my idea of who Steve Jobs was it's just itself new to me like novelty and I'm really learning like I didn't know that I had no idea she saw her”
Where to get it
-
Start Making Sense
On No Stupid Questions in December 2024, Angela discussed Steven J Heine's upcoming book Start Making Sense: How Existential Psychology Can Help Us Build Meaningful Lives in Absurd Times. She noted that it was an unpublished work by one of her favorite psychologists at the University of British Columbia and highlighted that the author frequently references Viktor Frankl throughout the text.
Discussed“The other book I’ll just say, which is much longer and unpublished, is start making sense: How Existential Psychology Can Help Us Build Meaningful Lives in Absurd Times is really on the same topic. 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.”
Where to get it
-
Stolen Focus
Johann Hari's book Stolen Focus was discussed by Angela Duckworth on No Stupid Questions in November 2024. Duckworth mentioned that her daughter recommended the book and shared that she had begun reading it to explore themes related to attention spans, distraction, and technology.
Discussed“and one of the books that I started reading but I haven't gotten too far into it is called stolen Focus”
Where to get it
-
Success and Luck
On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth brought up the book Success and Luck: Good Fortune and the Myth of Meritocracy by economist Robert Frank in a 2024 episode. Duckworth used the book to support a discussion on meritocracy, connecting Frank's arguments about luck and success to the broader themes surrounding elite academic admissions.
Discussed“so Mike there's an economist named Robert Frank and he wrote a book called success and Luck Good Fortune and the myth of meritocracy”
Where to get it
-
The Anxious Generation
On No Stupid Questions, co-host Angela Duckworth discussed Jonathan Haidt's bestselling book The Anxious Generation. Duckworth referenced Haidt's work to examine the thesis that modern technology and social media platforms have directly contributed to rising rates of anxiety and declining mental health among younger generations, citing research highlighted throughout the publication.
Discussed“a lot of her research is cited in this New York Times best-selling book The anxious Generation by NYU professor John height you've probably heard of this book right”
Where to get it
The other 185 books mentioned on No Stupid Questions, ranked, with the latest episode and time
- The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin
- The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
- The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
- The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
- The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- The Hiding Place by Elizabeth Sherrill, Corrie Ten Boom, John Sherrill
- The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud
- The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
- The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo
- The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley, William D. Danko
- The Principles of Psychology by William James
- The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles
- The Science of Trust: Emotional Attunement for Couples by John M. Gottman
- The Spaces Between Us by Michael Graziano
- The Tyranny of Merit by Michael J. Sandel
- The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte
- The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
- Thirty Million Words by Dana Suskind
- Tribe by Sebastian Junger
- Type A behavior by Meyer Friedman
- Um. . . by Michael Erard
- Uncovering Your Path by Charles Lattimore Howard
- Words on the Move by John McWhorter
- A sense of where you are by John McPhee
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Evil Geniuses by Kurt Andersen
- Fantasyland by Kurt Andersen
- Feeling Good by David D. Burns
- Hard to Break by Russell Poldrack
- Honor Bound by Sandra Brown
- I Am a Girl from Africa by Elizabeth Nyamayaro
- I Love You the Purplest by Barbara M. Joosse
- Midlife by Kieran Setiya
- Peak by Anders Ericsson, Robert Pool
- Setting the Table by Danny Meyer
- The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
- The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N. Aron
- A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
- A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume
- Addiction by Design by Natasha Dow Schüll
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
- American Pastoral by Philip Roth
- An A to Z of food and drink by John Ayto
- An A-Z of food and drink by John Ayto
- An Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope
- Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
- Art of War by Niccolò Machiavelli
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
- Beginners by Raymond Carver
- Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
- Changing Expectations by Irving Kirsch
- Chasing Perfection by Bob Ladouceur
- Childhood and society by Erik H. Erikson
- Choke by Sian Beilock
- Choosing My Religion by Stephen J. Dubner
- Chuck Berry by Chuck Berry
- Complaining, Teasing, and Other Annoying Behaviors by Robin M. Kowalski
- Complicit by Max H. Bazerman
- Connected by Nicholas A. Christakis
- Connected the surprising prower of our social network and how they shape our lives by Nicholas A. Christakis and James H. Fowler
- Consumer Studies by Ontario. Ministry of Education.
- Creed Or Chaos? by Dorothy Leigh Sayers
- Daily Rituals by Mason Currey
- Dale Carnegie for Children (Abridged and adapted) by Dale Carnegie
- Decoded by Jay-Z
- Diligis Attached: the New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find--And Keep--Love by Amir Levine Rachel Heller
- Discourses on Livy by Niccolò Machiavelli
- Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
- Don't Choke by Gary Player
- DSM-5® Guidebook by Donald W. Black, Jon E. Grant
- Ecclesiastes by Philip Graham Ryken
- Economic Empowerment Of Women In The Islamic World: Theory And Practice by Toseef Azid, Jennifer L Ward-batts
- Egalitarian Envy by Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora
- Enchiridion by Epictetus
- First Things First by Stephen R. Covey
- Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
- High Conflict by Amanda Ripley
- Historical Models of Christian Missions by Robert Reese
- Holy Bible (NIV) by Various Authors,
- Hot Seat by Jeff Immelt
- How Not to Be Wrong by Jordan Ellenberg
- How the Mind Works by Steven Pinker
- Human Nature in Its Fourfold State by Thomas Boston
- Humor, Seriously by Jennifer Aaker
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
- In Defense of Free Speech by James R. Flynn
- Introduction to personality by Walter Mischel
- Julia Child's menu cookbook by Julia Child
- Just Giving by Rob Reich
- Justice by Michael J. Sandel
- Legacies of the Turf by Edward L. Bowen
- Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
- Managing Expectations by Naomi Karten
- Maslach burnout inventory by Christina Maslach
- Meditation is Not What You Think by Jon Kabat-Zinn
- Mindset by Carol S. Dweck
- Misfit by Gary Gulman
- Moneyball by Michael Lewis
- My Brother, Ernest Hemingway by Leicester Hemingway
- Nine Nasty Words : English in the Gutter by John McWhorter
- Not Born Yesterday by Hugo Mercier
- Othello by William Shakespeare
- Parasite by Seanan McGuire
- passages predictable crises of adult life by gail sheehy
- Personality and assessment. -- by Walter Mischel
- Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
- Piers Plowman by William Langland
- Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann
- Plato's Republic for today by Πλάτων
- Popular by Mitch Prinstein
- Postcards From the Edge by Carrie Fisher
- Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
- Pygmalion in the classroom by Robert Rosenthal, Lenore Jacobson
- Ring by Jonathan Yardley
- Ring Lardner by Donald Elder, Ring Lardner
- Robin Hood by Hilton Kelliher
- Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
- Sick in the Head by Judd Apatow
- Smuggler's Cove by Martin Cate, Rebecca Cate
- Some must watch while some must sleep by William C. Dement
- Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
- Studying with Miss Bishop by Dana Gioia
- Superfreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
- SuperFreakonomics LP by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
- The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
- The Best of Red Smith by Red Smith
- The big short by Michael Lewis
- The Big Test by Nicholas Lemann
- The Biggest Bluff by Maria Konnikova
- The Book of Job by John E. Hartley
- The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
- The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell
- The devil's candy by Julie Salamon
- The Diamond Sutra by translator Red Pine
- The Effective Executive by Peter F. Drucker
- The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Lisa Damour, Ph.D.
- The Emperor's New Drugs by Irving Kirsch
- The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin
- The grasshopper : games, life, and Utopia by Bernard Herbert Suits
- The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
- The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
- The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
- The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare
- The Most Good You Can Do by Peter Singer
- The Nature of Love by Harry Frederick Harlow
- The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
- The No Asshole Rule by Robert I. Sutton
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- The Power of Habit: by Charles Duhigg | Summary & Analysis by Elite Summaries
- The prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
- The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli
- The Reading Mind by Daniel T. Willingham
- The Road Not Taken, and Other Poems by Robert Frost
- The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend
- The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
- The Variations of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume 1 by Charles Darwin
- The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Consumption and Consumer Studies by Daniel Thomas Cook
- Theory of Games and Economic Behavior by John von Neumann
- Think Like a Freak by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
- Treating Type A Behavior and Your Heart by Meyer Friedman, Diane Ulmer
- Triumph of the City by Edward L. Glaeser
- Trust by Francis Fukuyama
- Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
- Twilight of the Idols by Friedrich Nietzsche
- Type A Behavior and Your Heart by Meyer Friedman
- Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
- Unhappy Cities by Edward Ludwig Glaeser
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle Melton
- Wake up, wake up, to do the work of the creator by William B. Helmreich
- Weird by Olga Khazan
- What Are People For? by Wendell Berry
- When Memory Comes by Saul Friedlander
- Where the Girls Are by Susan J. Douglas
- Who Needs a Missionary? by Robert Reese
- Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky
- Wild by Cheryl Strayed
- Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas
- Winter Notes on Summer Impressions by Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский
- Your erroneous zones by Wayne W. Dyer
- Zoom by Istvan Banyai
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 30 years ago by Neil Postman called Amusing Ourselves to Death, which wasn't about binge watching because it didn't exist”
“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.”
“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”
“The other book I’ll just say, which is much longer and unpublished, is start making sense: How Existential Psychology Can Help Us Build Meaningful Lives in Absurd Times is really on the same topic. 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.”
“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.'”
“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.'”
“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.'”
“or I'm reading like Steve Jobs daughter's Memoir small fry oh my gosh I'm just leaning into every detail and it's not because she's saying things that have upended my idea of who Steve Jobs was it's just itself new to me like novelty and I'm really learning like I didn't know that I had no idea she saw her”
“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”
“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”
“I mean I don't know Stephen Pinker at all but his book Enlightenment now so well I'm familiar with the work better angels of our nature”
“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”
“Rick Rubin the legendary music producer wrote a book called the creative act a way of being”
“and one of the books that I started reading but I haven't gotten too far into it is called stolen Focus”
“I think he has lots of other fancy titles, but I really, really appreciate the person, and he sent me his latest book to endorse, and this book is called Uncovering Your Path. I started reading it the way I honestly read most books that I'm asked to endorse, which is like trying to read it at the equivalent of”
“Michael Lewis writes about this in The Big Short you have all of these individuals who think that they are the king or the queen of their Castle”
Episodes
Link to this list from your show notes
Host or produce No Stupid Questions? Give your listeners every book mentioned on the show, with the episode and the minute it came up. New episodes are added as they come out.
