If Books Could Kill

If Books Could Kill

The airport bestsellers that captured our hearts and ruined our minds

Josh Hawley's "Manhood" [TEASER]

To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

03-31
53:11

Steve Harvey's "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man"

Are you a single lady struggling to find love with a man? Don't fret! A twice-divorced game show host who thinks conversation is for women is here to help. Where to find us: Peter's newsletterPeter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseThanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

03-28
58:53

Of Boys And Men

Who's to blame for the crisis of American masculinity? On the right, politicians tell men that they being oppressed by feminists and must reassert their manhood by supporting an authoritarian regime. And on the left, users of social media are often very irritating to people who write airport books. Where to find us: Peter's newsletterPeter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources: Conscientiousness as a Predictor of the Gender Gap in Academic Achievement...

03-06
01:22:42

You Are A Badass

Peter and Michael dissect Jen Sincero's "You are a Badass," a book that answers the question: What if "The Secret" was written in the painful, try-hard style of "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck"? Featuring a surprise digression about Sincero's other, even worse books. Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources: Savy Writes Books Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

01-23
58:58

What's The Matter With Kansas?

In 2004, historian Thomas Frank proposed a theory about the rightward drift of the white working class. Was he a prescient king whose work presaged the rise of Trump — or a bumbling fool with a broken thesis? Unfortunately it turns out he is a secret third thing that takes one hour and six minutes to explain. Special thanks to Julia Valdés for her help with this episode! Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources: The Thesis That D...

12-06
01:05:33

Sam Harris's "The End of Faith"

Peter and Michael discuss the book that launched the phenomenon of New Atheism and asked the question: What if we hated Muslims, but in a secular way? Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources: Views of ViolenceCarnival Booth: An Algorithm for Defeating the Computer-Assisted Passenger Screening SystemThe same motive for anti-US 'terrorism' is cited over and overDoes intuitive mindset influence belief in God? Terrorism science: 5 insi...

11-04
01:09:58

Who Moved My Cheese?

What should workers do when they get laid off? In 1998 a bleak, asinine bestseller told them to find another whey. Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources: Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking Is Undermining AmericaDownsizing in AmericaTemp: How American Work, American Business, and the American Dream Became TemporaryThe Disposable AmericanSpencer Johnson, ‘Who Moved My Cheese?’ Author, Dies at 78What was the New Economy?Bo...

10-10
01:09:12

UNLOCKED: Eric Adams

New York’s favorite criminal is in the news, so here is our episode about his ridiculous life. To hear all of our bonus episodes, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

09-26
59:28

Glenn Kessler Retire B*tch [TEASER]

Is fact-checking a legitimate enterprise? Is America's most famous fact-checker nothing more than a dweeb? Michael and Peter discuss. To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

09-26
36:08

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

A memoir about parenting very badly and then getting weirdly defensive when anyone asks you about it. Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources: Effects of Authoritative Parental Control on Child Behavior, Child DevelopmentTypes of Parenting Styles and Effects On ChildrenDoes “Tiger Parenting” Exist? Parenting Profiles of Chinese Americans and Adolescent Developmental OutcomesAssociations of parenting dimensions and styles with externaliz...

09-24
55:37

The Anxious Generation

Is social media to blame for the teen mental health crisis? It's complicated! Thanks to Emily Weinstein, Amy Orben, Andrew Przybylski, Dean Burnett, Michael Mullarkey and Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz for help researching and fact-checking this episode! Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources: Emily Weinstein's book, "Behind Their Screens"Positive and negative uses of social media among adolescents hospitalized for suicidal behaviorThe Sisyp...

08-08
02:00:18

Breaking News Re-Release: "Hillbilly Elegy"

To celebrate ("celebrate") Donald Trump choosing JD Vance as his running mate we are re-releasing our "Hillbilly Elegy" episode. Enjoy!

07-16
51:12

Richard Hanania's "The Origins of Woke"

Peter and Michael discuss "The Origins of Woke," a glimpse into the dark aspirations of the Republican Party and the mind of a very unusual man. Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources: What Speech Does "Hostile Work Environment" Harassment Law Restrict? Tunis v. Corning Glass Works, 698 F. Supp. 452 (S.D.N.Y. 1988)Pakizegi v. First Nat. Bank of Boston, 831 F. Supp. 901 Tesla Settles Discrimination Suit With Former Factory Wo...

07-11
01:01:54

The Columbia Protests [TEASER]

Peter and Michael discuss the media coverage of the protests at Columbia — from the crazed, bloodthirsty ravings of right-wing media to the more muted, respectful bloodthirst of centrist media. To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

05-16
27:17

"Going Infinite": Michael Lewis Takes On Sam Bankman-Fried

Peter and Michael discuss Michael Lewis’s bestselling book about the rise and fall of Sam Bankman-Fried, a young prodigy whose only flaw was that he dreamed too big. Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources: Michael Lewis Is Buying What Sam Bankman-Fried Is Selling Michael Lewis Likens Critics of His New Book on Sam Bankman-Fried to a 'Mob'The SBF trial is a reminder that crypto is a rotten businessReview: Michael Lewis's Going Inf...

05-02
01:15:44

"The Better Angels of Our Nature" Part 2: Campus Lies, I.Q. Rise & Epstein Ties

2 Better 2 Angels Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources: Jeffrey Epstein’s Science of SleazePinker’s response to Epstein allegationsHow Jeffrey Epstein Captivated HarvardJeffrey Epstein Hoped to Seed Human Race With His DNAIt’s Official — Steven Pinker Is Full of ShitPinker, Epstein, Soldier, SpyA century of sexual abuse victimisation: A birth cohort analysisThe prevalence of...

04-11
01:24:12

Who's Afraid of Naomi Wolf? [TEASER]

We're finally discussing a good book! Naomi Klein's "Doppelgänger" chronicles the long, steady descent of another Naomi — Wolf (buddy oof) — from feminist icon to crank conspiracist. To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

03-28
30:17

Lean In

In 2013, Sheryl Sandberg became an icon for women who wanted to move from middle management at a tech company into upper management at a tech company. Today, Peter and Michael examine the contents of her bestselling book, survey the wreckage of corporate feminism and ask whether women will finally find liberation in the Metaverse. Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources: Facebook Feminism, Like It or NotFeminism's Tipping Point: Who Wi...

03-14
57:00

"The Better Angels of Our Nature" Part 1: You're Not Wrong, Pinker. You're Just An *sshole

This week we're tackling Steven Pinker's 900 page dissection of the reasons why violence, torture and war have declined over the last 10,000 years. Was it an indeterminate mixture of politics, economics, technology and serendipity? Or did some European guys write some books that said murder was bad? Special thanks to Philip Dwyer, Eleanor Janega, David M. Perry and Doug Thompson for help researching and fact-checking this episode! Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4Mike'...

02-22
01:37:45

The Art of the Deal

Before Donald Trump became America's most prominent politician and birth certificate inspector, he spent his days making everyone in New York City slightly uncomfortable. Michael and Peter discuss "The Art of the Deal," Trump’s 1987 bestseller chronicling his exploits as a celebrity slumlord. Where to find us: TwitterPeter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources: When Donald Trump Took Down Holiday Inns The Lost City of Trump Who Runs New York Now?...

01-11
52:22
I love this podcast.

Tuesday Leigh Phillips

I love this podcast.

03-29 Reply
15 minutes in and I've already said "ew" so many times I lost count.

Stevie D'Arbanville

15 minutes in and I've already said "ew" so many times I lost count.

03-28 Reply
Neil Strauss's "The Game" delves into the world of pickup artists, offering insights into social dynamics and human behavior. While the content is controversial, it sheds light on the lengths some go to in mastering social interactions. Similarly https://afropari.com/line in the realm of online gaming, understanding strategies can enhance one's experience. For instance, platforms like Afropari provide intuitive interfaces and a variety of games, making it easier for newcomers to navigate and enjoy. Just as "The Game" emphasizes practice and understanding, immersing oneself in these platforms can lead to a more rewarding experience.

Tomas Virgin

Neil Strauss's "The Game" delves into the world of pickup artists, offering insights into social dynamics and human behavior. While the content is controversial, it sheds light on the lengths some go to in mastering social interactions. Similarly https://afropari.com/line in the realm of online gaming, understanding strategies can enhance one's experience. For instance, platforms like Afropari provide intuitive interfaces and a variety of games, making it easier for newcomers to navigate and enjoy. Just as "The Game" emphasizes practice and understanding, immersing oneself in these platforms can lead to a more rewarding experience.

03-07 Reply
can you do a review on "deep work" by cal Newport?

Mehri Jabrailian

can you do a review on "deep work" by cal Newport?

12-29 Reply
I've never seen these two miss the mark more than this episode. Comparing religious beliefs to horoscopes? People don't kill for horoscopes.

Amy Semenov

I've never seen these two miss the mark more than this episode. Comparing religious beliefs to horoscopes? People don't kill for horoscopes.

11-06 Reply

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