Host of EconTalk
22 books recommended · 46 episodes
Books they recommend that someone else wrote.
“I want to close with a tribute to uh Julian Simon. Julian Simon's book, The Ultimate Resource, which uh I recommend to listeners.”
Why: Recommended because of its perspective on population growth and human creativity.
The Ultimate Resource by Julian Lincoln Simon
Host on EconTalkThe Great Fertility Collapse (with Jesus Fernandez-Villaverde) 10/12/26
“Our topic for today is Tolstoy's short story, You could call it a novella. The Death of Ivan Ilyich. David, welcome to EconTalk.”
Why: It offers extraordinary depth and conversations about life and death despite being only about 50 pages.
The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy
Host on EconTalkLives Wasted and Well-Lived: David Wolpe on The Death of Ivan Ilyich
“Erwin Yalom has a book called, I think it's called Staring at the Sun.”
Why: It captures the theme of how people instinctively look away from and avoid facing their inevitable death.
Staring at the Sun by Irvin D. Yalom
Host on EconTalkLives Wasted and Well-Lived: David Wolpe on The Death of Ivan Ilyich
“I mentioned reading the Radetzky March by Joseph Roth, and it's hard to read that book and maintain much romance about the state.”
Why: It gives a portrait of Austria-Hungary that helps strip away romance about the state.
Radetzky March by Joseph Roth
Host on EconTalkPublic Choice and Politics Without Romance (with Mike Munger) 9/28/26
“Adam Smith talks about the fact that in Theory of Moral Sentiments, Adam Smith talks about the fact that the soldier, when he imagines his death and funeral, thinks about the applause that he will receive.”
The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith
Host on EconTalkPublic Choice and Politics Without Romance (with Mike Munger) 9/28/26
“Inside I got from George Steiner when he writes about this book, this passage in his book, Errata, E-R-R-A-T-A.”
Why: Offers profound insights on shared mortality among human beings.
Errata by George Steiner
Host on EconTalkDwayne Betts on the Iliad 7/20/26
“This is the second installment of the EconTalk Book Club on the Iliad by Homer.”
Why: It is part of civilization and culture, offering deep insights into life, human tragedy, and friendship.
The Iliad by Homer
Host on EconTalkDwayne Betts on the Iliad 7/20/26
“This episode is the first episode of the EconTalk Book Club on the Iliad. I encourage you to read the book. We'll be reading the Fagels translation, but there are many to choose from.”
Why: It is a stunning, incredibly cinematic book that serves as a work of psychology and a masterpiece of understanding the human heart.
The Iliad by Homer
Host on EconTalkEconTalk Book Club on the Iliad (with Ido Hevroni) 7/6/26
“The Thomas Sowell references his book, which I recommend, A Vision of the Anointed.”
Why: Recommended for its insights on human flaw and the unconstrained view.
The Vision of the Anointed by Thomas Sowell
Host on EconTalkDo Less, Heal More: The Case for Medical Conservatism (with John Mandrola)
“You talk about the influence of Clayton Christensen on Jensen Wang's thinking, and it's my take on that. The innovator's dilemma is a little bit different than the one that you attribute to Jensen Wang.”
The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen
Host on EconTalkThe Man Who Built NVIDIA (with Stephen Witt)
“He was last year in November of 2024 talking about the great Vasily Grossman novel, Life and Fate, which many of you read profitably and enjoyed.”
Why: Many people read it profitably and enjoyed it.
Life and Fate by Vasiliĭ Semenovich Grossman
Host on EconTalkAI, Employment, and Education (with Tyler Cowen)
“And here, I'm going to quote Adam Smith, an opportunity you missed, Alan, in your article. In The Theory of moral sentiments, he makes this fantastic observation, which is actually quite relevant for your insights.”
The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith
Host on EconTalkSeiko, Swatch, and the Swiss Watch Industry (with Aled Maclean-Jones)
“And, of course, you referenced the work of Ian McGilchrist, the master and his emissary, and his past EconTalk guest where we talked about that, those two kinds of attention.”
Why: It is an extraordinary book that explores two kinds of attention.
The Master and His Emissary by Iain McGilchrist
Host on EconTalkHow to Flourish (with Daniel Coyle)
“And Smith in the theory of moral sentiments, when he wrote that meant by loved, he didn't mean just romantic love.”
Why: It offers deep insight into human nature and the desire to matter.
The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith
Host on EconTalkThe Mattering Instinct (with Rebecca Newberger Goldstein)
“I once made the mistake of reading a heartbreaking work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers in a hotel lobby.”
Why: It is laugh-out-loud funny even though it handles a tragic subject.
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
Host on EconTalkConversation, Interintellect, and Arcadia (with Anna Gat)
“and his play Arcadia. Arcadia is my favorite modern play, maybe my favorite play, period.”
Why: It is his favorite modern play and he has seen it multiple times.
Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
Host on EconTalkConversation, Interintellect, and Arcadia (with Anna Gat)
“Then I interviewed Angus Fletcher recently. His book Primal Intelligence is very much a defensive intuition, slightly different interpretation than yours, but in the ballpark.”
Primal Intelligence by Angus Fletcher
Host on EconTalkIn Defense of Intuition (with Gerd Gigerenzer)
“Yeah, we had a very nice episode with Ben Cohen on his book, The Hot Hand.”
Hot Hand by Ben Cohen
Host on EconTalkIn Defense of Intuition (with Gerd Gigerenzer)
“I interviewed David Bessis recently on his book Mathematica, which is a really a he really champions intuition he calls it he call he he relates it to system one of kahneman and versky…”
Mathematica by David Bessis
Host on EconTalkIn Defense of Intuition (with Gerd Gigerenzer)
“Or I love this one. I got Alan Watts in The Wisdom of Insecurity, which is a book I kind of love and kind of, it's a book.”
Why: It is thought-provoking and explores how we struggle to deal with reality and the pace of change.
The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts
Host on EconTalkThe Wonder of the Emergent Mind (with Gaurav Suri)
“And much of this book is consonant with the recent episode with David Bessis on his book Mathematica.”
Mathematica by David Bessis
Host on EconTalkPrimal Intelligence (with Angus Fletcher)
“reading this book reminded me a little bit of reading The Economics of Discrimination by Gary Becker.”
Why: It features a huge amount of economic nuance rather than simple dogmatic answers.
The Economics of Discrimination by Gary Stanley Becker
Host on EconTalkTwenty Years of Freakonomics (with Stephen Dubner)
“I've only encountered one other book like yours in my life. It's called The Unforgettable Season by G.H. Fleming. Do you know that book?”
Why: He recommends it as a remarkable work told completely through historical excerpts.
The Unforgettable Season by Gordon H. Fleming
Host on EconTalkZionism, the Melting Pot, and the Galveston Project (with Rachel Cockerell)
“His memoir, which I really recommend, which I think your quote is from, it's called The World of Yesterday. It's an extraordinary memoir of life in Vienna and in Europe between the wars and then the rise of the Nazis. It's an extraordinary book.”
Why: It is an extraordinary memoir of life in Vienna and Europe between the wars.
The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig
Host on EconTalkZionism, the Melting Pot, and the Galveston Project (with Rachel Cockerell)
“I read a really interesting book recently you might be familiar with called Fear of a Setting Sun, which is by a historian who makes his claim that almost to a man, the founding fathers of the United States became blackpilled on America before their death.”
Why: It is a really interesting book that explores how the founding fathers became pessimistic about the country before they died.
Fears of a Setting Sun by Dennis C. Rasmussen
Host on EconTalkIncentives Are for Losers (with Adam Mastroianni)
Their own books, or books they discussed with the author. Not counted as recommendations.
“I guess today has been Angela Duckworth. Her book, not that she cares that I mention it, but it's called Situated. Angela, thanks for being part of EconTalk.”
Situated by Angela Duckworth
Host on EconTalkHow Your Situation Shapes You (with Angela Duckworth)
“Today is September 14th, 2026, and my guest is author Megan O'Giblin. Her latest book, the subject of today's conversation, is Will and Attention, a memoir.”
Will and Attention by Meghan O'Gieblyn
Host on EconTalkAddiction, Faith, and the Limits of Willpower (with Meghan O'Gieblyn)
“Our topic for today is his recent book, Hamas and its Two Million Hostages.”
Hamas and Its Two Million Hostages by Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib
Host on EconTalkHamas and the Future of Gaza (with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib) 8/31/26
“Our topic for today is his latest book, We Want to Believe, How Aliens Went Mainstream and Why It Matters.”
We Want to Believe by Adam Kirsch
Host on EconTalkAre We Alone? Cosmic Loneliness and the Longing to Believe (with Adam Kirsch)
“Adam was last here in January of 2025 discussing his book On Settler Colonialism.”
On Settler Colonialism by Adam Kirsch
Host on EconTalkAre We Alone? Cosmic Loneliness and the Longing to Believe (with Adam Kirsch)
“My guest today has been Adam Kirsch. His book is We Want to Believe. Adam, thanks for being part of EconTalk.”
We Want to Believe by Adam Kirsch
Host on EconTalkAre We Alone? Cosmic Loneliness and the Longing to Believe (with Adam Kirsch)
“Today is June 29th, 2026, and my guest is author and journalist Cal Flynn. Her latest book and the topic for today's conversation is The Savage Landscape, How We Made the Wilderness.”
The Savage Landscape by Cal Flyn
Host on EconTalkSavage Landscapes (with Cal Flyn) 7/27/26
“And he's the author of No Experience Necessary, Why Betting on Yourself in Your 20s is the Best Decision You'll Ever Make, which is our topic for today.”
Why: Encourages young people to take a chance and start a business.
No Experience Necessary by Ronnen Harary
Host on EconTalkSawdust to Paw Patrol: The Spin Master Story (with Ronnen Harary) 7/13/26
“His latest book is In Defense of Sunlight, The Surprising Science of Sun Exposure.”
In Defense of Sunlight by Rowan Jacobsen
Host on EconTalkThe Case for Sunshine (with Rowan Jacobsen)
“We've had a couple episodes on René Girard on the program, and you wrote a book called Wanting, which I will hope to read soon. Having read this book, which came before, explain what mimesis is briefly.”
Wanting by Luke Burgis
Host on EconTalkThe Self, the Crowd, and Social Contagion (with Luke Burgis)
“pressing problems. And he is the author of the book, 80,000 Hours, How to Have a Fulfilling career that does good, which is our subject for today. Ben, welcome to EconTalk.”
80,000 Hours by Benjamin J Todd
Host on EconTalkMaking Your 80,000 Hours Count (with Benjamin Todd)
“He was last here in June of 2021 talking about his book Freedom.”
Freedom by Sebastian Junger
Host on EconTalkFacing Death (with Sebastian Junger)
“Our topic for today and his latest book is In My Time of Dying, How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife.”
Why: It is beautifully written and makes you think.
In My Time of Dying by Sebastian Junger
Host on EconTalkFacing Death (with Sebastian Junger)
“Before that, in 2018, we talked about his book Tribe. I loved both those books.”
Tribe by Sebastian Junger
Host on EconTalkFacing Death (with Sebastian Junger)
“He was last on the program in May of 2019 discussing his book, Range. Our topic for today is his latest book, Inside the Box, How Constraints Make Us Better.”
Range by David Epstein
Host on EconTalkThinking Inside the Box (with David Epstein)
“I tried to do something similar with my book, How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life. But these are shorter, and they're very readable.”
How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life by Russ Roberts
Host on EconTalkAdam Smith's Warning About Wealth, Fame, and Status (with Ross Levine)
“His latest book and the subject of today's conversation is Maintenance of Everything, Part 1.”
Why: It explores the overlooked importance of maintenance in civilization and technology.
Maintenance of Everything by Stewart Brand
Host on EconTalkThe Unseen Work: Stewart Brand on Maintenance and Civilization
“You wrote a book a while back we talked about called Stubborn Attachments, which is one of my favorite books of yours, maybe my favorite book.”
Stubborn Attachments by Tyler Cowen
Host on EconTalkAI, Employment, and Education (with Tyler Cowen)
“Our topic for today is his latest book, Out of the Sky, Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe, which is the strange tale of a group of Jews living in Palestine under the British mandate during the Second World War who parachuted back into Nazi-occupied Europe.”
Pumpkinflowers by Matti Friedman
Host on EconTalkThe Match That Lit the Flame: Hannah Senesh and the Creation of Modern Israel (with Matti Friedman)
“Today is January 28th, 2026, and my guest is philosopher and author Hanno Sauer, his latest book. And the subject of today's episode is The Invention of Good and Evil, A World History of Morality.”
The Invention of Good and Evil by Hanno Sauer
Host on EconTalkHow We Tamed Ourselves and Invented Good and Evil (with Hanno Sauer)
“Our topic for today is her 2012 book, Quiet, The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. Susan, welcome back to EconTalk.”
Quiet by Susan Cain
Host on EconTalkThe Power of Introverts (with Susan Cain)
“She was last here in October of 2024 discussing her book, Bittersweet. Our topic for today is her 2012 book, Quiet, The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.”
Bittersweet by Susan Cain
Host on EconTalkThe Power of Introverts (with Susan Cain)
“Her latest book is The Man Who Would Be King, Mohammed Ben Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia.”
Man Who Would Be King by Karen Elliott House
Host on EconTalkThe Man Who Would Be King of Saudi Arabia (with Karen Elliott House)
“My guest is author and consultant Daniel Coyle. His latest book is Flourish, The Art of Building Meaning, Joy, and Fulfillment.”
Flourish by Daniel Coyle
Host on EconTalkHow to Flourish (with Daniel Coyle)
“He was last here in October of 2025 discussing his marvelous book, Mathematica. Our topic for today is a provocative essay from his substack that we…”
Mathematica by David Bessis
Host on EconTalkNature, Nurture, and Identical Twins (with David Bessis)
“Today is December 3rd, 2025, and my guest is philosopher and author Rebecca Neuberger-Goldstein. Her latest book and the subject of today's episode is The Mattering Instinct, How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us.”
The Mattering Instinct by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
Host on EconTalkThe Mattering Instinct (with Rebecca Newberger Goldstein)
“Our topic for today is his book, The Intelligence of Intuition. Gerd, welcome back to EconTalk.”
The Intelligence of Intuition by Gerd Gigerenzer
Host on EconTalkIn Defense of Intuition (with Gerd Gigerenzer)
“Our topic today isn't the interesting books that you've written, The Fabric of Reality, The Beginning of Infinity.”
The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch
Host on EconTalkDavid Deutsch on the Pattern
“Our topic today isn't the interesting books that you've written, The Fabric of Reality, The Beginning of Infinity.”
The Fabric of Reality by David Deutsch
Host on EconTalkDavid Deutsch on the Pattern
“book, The Perfect Tuba, Forging Fulfillment from the Bass Horn, Band, and Hard Work. Sam, welcome back to EconTalk.”
The Perfect Tuba by Sam Quinones
Host on EconTalkThe Perfect Tuba: How Band, Grit, and Community Build a Better Life (with Sam Quinones)
“Today is October 16th, 2025, and my guest is author Will Storr. Our topic for today is his book, The Status Game.”
The Status Game by Will Storr
Host on EconTalkThe Status Game (with Will Storr)
“He's the co-author with Jay McClelland of the book The Emergent Mind, How Intelligence Arises in People and Machines, which is our topic for today.”
Why: It integrates AI and neuroscience in a fascinating way and explores how intelligence emerges.
The Emergent Mind by Gaurav Suri
Host on EconTalkThe Wonder of the Emergent Mind (with Gaurav Suri)
“His latest book, which is the subject of today's episode, is Primal Intelligence. You are smarter than you know. Angus, welcome to EconTalk.”
Primal Intelligence by Angus Fletcher
Host on EconTalkPrimal Intelligence (with Angus Fletcher)
“Today is September 18th, 2025, and my guest is mathematician and author David Bessis. His book is Mathematica, A Secret World of Intuition and Curiosity.”
Mathematica by David Bessis
Host on EconTalkA Mind-Blowing Way of Looking at Math (with David Bessis)
“Our topic for today is his book, Anointed, the Extraordinary Effects of Social Status in a Winner-Take-Most World. Toby, welcome to EconTalk. Thanks, Russ. Thrilled to be here.”
Anointed by Jeremiah Lambert
Host on EconTalkThe Invisible Hierarchies that Rule Our World (with Toby Stuart)
“She is the author, along with Kevin Hall, of Food Intelligence, the Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us, which is our topic for today. Julia,…”
Food Intelligence by Julia Belluz
Host on EconTalkEating with Intelligence (with Julia Belluz)
“What I love in your book, and as the occasional leader of a group, reminds me of its importance, is the task itself.”
Collective Edge by Colin Fisher
Host on EconTalkHow Teams Succeed (with Colin Fisher)
“you say early on in the book and I think you're 100% right you say most career advice didn't seem to be based on any research…”
80,000 Hours by Benjamin J Todd
Host on EconTalkMaking Your 80,000 Hours Count (with Benjamin Todd)
Named without an opinion attached.
“I just want to clarify that the poem I butchered a minute ago is Invictus by Henley.”
Invictus by William Ernest Henley
Host on EconTalkHow Your Situation Shapes You (with Angela Duckworth)
“Another poem that has that bravado about it, of course, which you also mentioned, which you mentioned, is If by Kipling, which is an exhortation to willpower, grit, courage, many virtues.”
If-- by Rudyard Kipling
Host on EconTalkHow Your Situation Shapes You (with Angela Duckworth)
“Mick Jagger was reading this book called The Master Margarita by Bulgakov. And if you've read The Master Margarita, it opens with two Russian intellectuals…”
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
Host on EconTalkThe Death of Reading (with James Marriott) 9/21/26
“Today is May 28th, 2026, and I want to remind listeners before introducing today's guest that we're doing an EconTalk book club around the Iliad by Homer.”
Why: Part of an ongoing book club for listeners to engage with together.
The Iliad by Homer
Host on EconTalkSawdust to Paw Patrol: The Spin Master Story (with Ronnen Harary) 7/13/26
“Today is May 20th, 2026, and before introducing today's guest, I want to let listeners know we'll be doing an EconTalk book club around the Iliad by Homer. The first episode of that…”
The Iliad by Homer
Host on EconTalkDo Less, Heal More: The Case for Medical Conservatism (with John Mandrola)
“so because in the episode we did with Chuck Klosterman on his book, But What If We're Wrong?”
But What If We're Wrong? by Chuck Klosterman
Host on EconTalkThinking Inside the Box (with David Epstein)
“One is Coleridge, although it was probably a drug-induced stupor, but we're not sure. But he supposedly heard in his head the opening lines of his…”
Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Host on EconTalkThinking Inside the Box (with David Epstein)
“Matthew Walker and his blockbuster, Why We Sleep, held it up as the ultimate proof that our dreaming brains, loosed from the bounds of reality, can accomplish what our waking brains can't.”
Why We Sleep by Matthew P. Walker
Host on EconTalkThinking Inside the Box (with David Epstein)
“and the other thing that I want to point out, which you point out in passing, comes from Clayton Christensen's The Innovator's Dilemma. And he makes the point that a lot of times your competitor is not a better version of what you do.”
The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen
Host on EconTalkSeiko, Swatch, and the Swiss Watch Industry (with Aled Maclean-Jones)
“Related episodes on the other side of the free will determinism debate include my discussion with Robert Sapolsky on his book Determined and the recent episode with Gaurav Suri on his book with Jay McClellan, The Emergent Mind.”
The Emergent Mind by Gaurav Suri
Host on EconTalkFree Will Is Real (with Kevin Mitchell)
“Related episodes on the other side of the free will determinism debate include my discussion with Robert Sapolsky on his book Determined and the recent episode with Gaurav Suri on his book with Jay McClellan, The Emergent Mind.”
Determined by Robert M. Sapolsky
Host on EconTalkFree Will Is Real (with Kevin Mitchell)
“You know, without any spoilers, there's a similar character in the Shawshank Redemption. It's, you know, when you script it in a movie, it seems a little heavy handed…”
The Shawshank Redemption by Mark Kermode
Host on EconTalkThe Status Game (with Will Storr)
“So we recently had Toby Stewart on the program talking about his book Anointed, which is in a similar vein.”
Anointed by Jeremiah Lambert
Host on EconTalkThe Status Game (with Will Storr)
“I think about – I can see it here on my shelf – the book by Roy Baumeister called Evil.”
Evil by Roy F. Baumeister
Host on EconTalkShampoo, Property Rights, and Civilization (with Anthony Gill)
“What I liked about this book wasn't about achievement of the standard glittering kind, to allude to an Adam Smith quote in the Theory of Moral Sentiments,…”
The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith
Host on EconTalkHow Your Situation Shapes You (with Angela Duckworth)
“It's an example that comes from the Brothers Karamazov. Some people suggest she took it from there. Some say it was just independent. Maybe she's influenced unconsciously. But the point is very simple.”
The Brothers Karamazov by Fiódor Dostoievski
Host on EconTalkIncentives Are for Losers (with Adam Mastroianni)