Podcast
Jason Calacanis's book list: the books mentioned on This Week in Startups
Books from the latest episodes
Most recommended on This Week in Startups
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Bad Therapy
On This Week in Startups episode E2339, titled Hugging Face Co-Founder on Open-Source, Microduck, and NVIDIA and released on September 18, 2026, Jason Calacanis brought up Abigail Shrier’s book Bad Therapy. While talking to a guest, Jason mentioned that he had introduced someone to Shrier and praised the publication, calling it a great book.
Recommended“I introduced him to Abigail Shrier of Bad Therapy Fame. Great book by the way.”
Where to get it
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Born Standing Up
On This Week in Startups, Jason Calacanis advised a caller on the October 7, 2026 episode to read Born Standing Up by Steve Martin. He recommended the biography to help the listener gain a broader perspective outside of their specific industry.
Recommended“So, go read uh Born Standing Up by um Steve Martin.”
Where to get it
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Dark Matter
During This Week in Startups episode E2336, titled The Pentagon Wants Equity in AI Startups and released on September 11, 2026, the host recommended Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. The host brought up the sci-fi novel while discussing its television show adaptation, noting that it is a great read for hard sci-fi fans.
Recommended“It's based on a sci-fi novel by this guy Blake Crouch who's also making the show. And I mean, if you are a hard sci-fi fan, it is it is great.”
Where to get it
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Easy Riders Raging Bulls
On This Week in Startups episode Jason Mentors The Next Generation + Why AI Is Bad at Teaching (Aristotle Intervi, released on October 7, 2026, Jason Calacanis brought up Peter Biskind’s book Easy Riders Raging Bulls. Jason asked if anyone had read the publication and remarked that it is amazing.
Recommended“Did you ever read that Peter Biscin book, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls?”
Where to get it
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On Writing
During an episode of This Week in Startups on October 7, 2026, Jason Calacanis recommended Stephen King's book On Writing to David as an effective resource to help unlock inspiration and learn valuable writing lessons.
Recommended“Stephen King has a great one on writing. Stephen King's on writing. Really interesting.”
Where to get it
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Shoe Dog
On This Week in Startups, Jason Calacanis recommended Shoe Dog by Phil Knight to a young caller during the October 7, 2026 episode. He included the book as part of a recommended reading list focused on business and brand biographies.
Recommended“Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.”
Where to get it
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Something Like An Autobiography
During This Week in Startups episode Jason Mentors The Next Generation + Why AI Is Bad at Teaching (Aristotle Intervi, released on October 7, 2026, Jason Calacanis recommended Something Like An Autobiography by Akira Kurosawa. Jason suggested the book to a young caller as part of a recommended reading list focused on biographies for achieving a well-rounded education.
Recommended“Then you could go even further back and read Akira Kurasawa's something like an autobiography.”
Where to get it
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Einstein
On an episode of This Week in Startups on October 7, 2026, David mentioned that he was currently in the middle of reading Walter Isaacson's biography Einstein as part of a reading assignment.
Discussed“I'm in the middle of Einstein by Walter Isacson right now.”
Where to get it
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My Fair Lady
On This Week in Startups episode E2338, titled Jason’s Put a $5K Bounty on His Dream Chrome Extension and released on September 28, 2026, Jason Calacanis discussed George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion. While explaining the Pygmalion effect, Jason mentioned the famous musical adaptation My Fair Lady, noting that it shares the same story.
Discussed“George Bernard Shaw the the famous play. Most people know it better. My fair lady is the very famous version that was rewritten based off of Pig Malian. Same story.”
Where to get it
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Pygmalion
On This Week in Startups episode E2338, titled Jason’s Put a $5K Bounty on His Dream Chrome Extension and released on September 28, 2026, Jason Calacanis discussed the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. Jason referenced the work while explaining the psychological phenomenon known as the Pygmalion effect.
Discussed“Remember the what was it? Pyalonian was a book or a play and then it became a movie play. George Bernard Shaw the the famous play. Most people know it better. My fair lady is the very famous version that was rewritten based off of Pig Malian. Same story.”
Where to get it
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Superintelligence
During a September 9, 2026 episode of This Week in Startups, the host recalled early discussions around AI safety from 2012 to 2014 with figures like Sam Harris and Elon Musk. The host brought up Nick Bostrom's book Superintelligence as the work that initially sparked widespread hand-wringing about superintelligence.
Discussed“What was the book um that came out right along my time that got every everybody super hand-wringing about the superintelligence maybe? Nicholas whatever. The Bostrom Yeah, Nick Bostrom's book had kind of been taking this.”
Where to get it
Guests who recommended books
Latest mentions
“Then you could go even further back and read Akira Kurasawa's something like an autobiography.”
“Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.”
“So, go read uh Born Standing Up by um Steve Martin.”
“Did you ever read that Peter Biscin book, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls?”
“I'm in the middle of Einstein by Walter Isacson right now.”
“Stephen King has a great one on writing. Stephen King's on writing. Really interesting.”
“Remember the what was it? Pyalonian was a book or a play and then it became a movie play. George Bernard Shaw the the famous play. Most people know it better. My fair lady is the very famous version that was rewritten based off of Pig Malian. Same story.”
“George Bernard Shaw the the famous play. Most people know it better. My fair lady is the very famous version that was rewritten based off of Pig Malian. Same story.”
“I introduced him to Abigail Shrier of Bad Therapy Fame. Great book by the way.”
“It's based on a sci-fi novel by this guy Blake Crouch who's also making the show. And I mean, if you are a hard sci-fi fan, it is it is great.”
“What was the book um that came out right along my time that got every everybody super hand-wringing about the superintelligence maybe? Nicholas whatever. The Bostrom Yeah, Nick Bostrom's book had kind of been taking this.”
Episodes
Link to this list from your show notes
Host or produce This Week in Startups? 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.
