If Books Could Kill Sat, 05 Oct 2024 10:13:40 -0400 https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod en © 2024 If Books Could Kill yes 33441543-1a55-5826-aefe-81ba15038034 Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri episodic true Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri https://storage.buzzsprout.com/k9zro32pxohrzhs1mj4p8w1hemb2?.jpg If Books Could Kill https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod Michael Hobbes Peter Shamshiri UNLOCKED: Eric Adams UNLOCKED: Eric Adams New York’s favorite criminal is in the news, so here is our episode about his ridiculous life.

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]]> 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

]]> Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri Buzzsprout-15822103 Thu, 26 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0400 3568 full false Glenn Kessler Retire B*tch [TEASER] 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.

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]]> 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




]]> Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri Buzzsprout-15818675 Thu, 26 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400 2168 full false Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother 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: 

Sources:


 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> A memoir about parenting very badly and then getting weirdly defensive when anyone asks you about it.

Where to find us: 

Sources:


 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-15802540 Tue, 24 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400 3337 full false The Anxious Generation 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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> 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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-15546366 Thu, 08 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400 7218 full false Breaking News Re-Release: "Hillbilly Elegy" 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!

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

]]> Buzzsprout-15425650 Tue, 16 Jul 2024 18:00:00 -0400 3072 full false Richard Hanania's "The Origins of Woke" 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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> 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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri Buzzsprout-15396653 Thu, 11 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400 3714 full false The Columbia Protests [TEASER] 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.

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]]> 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:
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]]> Buzzsprout-15077931 Thu, 16 May 2024 01:00:00 -0400 1637 full false "Going Infinite": Michael Lewis Takes On Sam Bankman-Fried "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.

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]]> 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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-14994036 Thu, 02 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400 4544 full false "The Better Angels of Our Nature" Part 2: Campus Lies, I.Q. Rise & Epstein Ties "The Better Angels of Our Nature" Part 2: Campus Lies, I.Q. Rise & Epstein Ties 2 Better 2 Angels

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]]> 2 Better 2 Angels

Support us on Patreon:
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]]> Buzzsprout-14868290 Thu, 11 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400 5052 full false Who's Afraid of Naomi Wolf? [TEASER] 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. 

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]]> 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:
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]]> Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri Buzzsprout-14783880 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 02:00:00 -0400 1817 full false Lean In 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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> 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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-14687504 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400 3420 full false "The Better Angels of Our Nature" Part 1: You're Not Wrong, Pinker. You're Just An *sshole "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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> 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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-14551597 Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500 5865 full false The Art of the Deal 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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> 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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-14286395 Thu, 11 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500 3142 full false The Worst Takes of 2023 [TEASER] The Worst Takes of 2023 [TEASER] To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod


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


]]> Buzzsprout-14184404 Thu, 21 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500 1695 full false The Identity Trap The Identity Trap "There are two kinds of political scientists: The types who deal with noisy data and post on Twitter with a bunch of caveats. And then there are the types who write books about identity politics."
 
Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> "There are two kinds of political scientists: The types who deal with noisy data and post on Twitter with a bunch of caveats. And then there are the types who write books about identity politics."
 
Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-14143351 Thu, 14 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500 6423 full false Pundit Portraits: Kathleen Parker and Chris Cillizza [TEASER] Pundit Portraits: Kathleen Parker and Chris Cillizza [TEASER] To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

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

]]> Buzzsprout-14041918 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500 1782 full false The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck You stare, mouth agape, at the bookstore display. It’s a self-help book, but with curse words in the title?! This must be a revolutionary new framework, not simply the same dull, reactionary ideas repackaged as hip and new.

Support us on Patreon:
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Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!



]]> You stare, mouth agape, at the bookstore display. It’s a self-help book, but with curse words in the title?! This must be a revolutionary new framework, not simply the same dull, reactionary ideas repackaged as hip and new.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!



]]> Buzzsprout-14006961 Tue, 21 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500 2744 full false The 48 Laws of Power The 48 Laws of Power In 1996, a frustrated screenwriter got a fellowship in Italy. Twenty years later, Beyoncé released "Lemonade." 

Content warning: This episode includes a mention of suicide.

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]]> In 1996, a frustrated screenwriter got a fellowship in Italy. Twenty years later, Beyoncé released "Lemonade." 

Content warning: This episode includes a mention of suicide.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-13887364 Thu, 02 Nov 2023 04:00:00 -0400 3956 full false The "Organized Retail Crime" Panic [TEASER] The "Organized Retail Crime" Panic [TEASER] Retailers have been sounding the alarm about a shoplifting epidemic driven by organized criminal syndicates. In a shocking twist, it turns out that their story is mostly made up. Join us as Peter tries to figure out where this panic originated and as Mike finally comes clean about his criminal past.


To hear the rest of the show, support us on Patreon:
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]]> Retailers have been sounding the alarm about a shoplifting epidemic driven by organized criminal syndicates. In a shocking twist, it turns out that their story is mostly made up. Join us as Peter tries to figure out where this panic originated and as Mike finally comes clean about his criminal past.


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

]]> Buzzsprout-13846837 Thu, 26 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400 1872 full false San Fransicko San Fransicko This week we're tackling "San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities," a book that dares to ask: What if everything that experts think about homelessness is wrong, and everything that one crank on Twitter thinks about homelessness is right?

Thanks to Ned Resnikoff for helping us with the research for this episode!

Support us on Patreon:
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Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> This week we're tackling "San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities," a book that dares to ask: What if everything that experts think about homelessness is wrong, and everything that one crank on Twitter thinks about homelessness is right?

Thanks to Ned Resnikoff for helping us with the research for this episode!

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-13806310 Thu, 19 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400 3643 full false The 4-Hour Workweek The 4-Hour Workweek Have you ever wanted to escape the grind and follow your dreams? This week we're discussing "The 4-Hour Workweek," which reveals that all you need is a plan, a willingness to take risks and a modestly sized fraud operation built on Third World labor.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Have you ever wanted to escape the grind and follow your dreams? This week we're discussing "The 4-Hour Workweek," which reveals that all you need is a plan, a willingness to take risks and a modestly sized fraud operation built on Third World labor.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-13631222 Thu, 21 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400 3385 full false The Clinton E-Mail Scandal [TEASER] The Clinton E-Mail Scandal [TEASER] But her e-mails! Michael explains the non-scandal that captivated the mainstream media in 2016 while Peter attempts to sow the podcast with anti-Hillary sentiment.

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]]> But her e-mails! Michael explains the non-scandal that captivated the mainstream media in 2016 while Peter attempts to sow the podcast with anti-Hillary sentiment.

To hear the rest of the show, support us on Patreon:
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]]> Buzzsprout-13588052 Thu, 14 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400 1682 full false God And Man At Yale God And Man At Yale Oops all grievance.

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 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Oops all grievance.

Support us on Patreon:
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Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri Buzzsprout-13544735 Thu, 07 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400 4277 full false 'On Bullsh*t' and the Pundit Industrial Complex [TEASER] 'On Bullsh*t' and the Pundit Industrial Complex [TEASER] For this month's bonus episode we dissected Harry Frankfurt's gloriously brief bestseller and applied the concept to our favorite op-ed page. 

To hear the rest of the show, support us on Patreon:
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]]> For this month's bonus episode we dissected Harry Frankfurt's gloriously brief bestseller and applied the concept to our favorite op-ed page. 

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




]]> Buzzsprout-13380106 Thu, 10 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400 977 full false Liberal Fascism Liberal Fascism Who poses the greatest threat to democracy? Is it the movement that openly identifies with the symbols, goals and policies of fascist governments? Or is it the median bureaucrat at the Department of Health and Human Services?

In 2008, a National Review nepo-baby attempted to answer this vexing question.

Support us on Patreon:
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]]> Who poses the greatest threat to democracy? Is it the movement that openly identifies with the symbols, goals and policies of fascist governments? Or is it the median bureaucrat at the Department of Health and Human Services?

In 2008, a National Review nepo-baby attempted to answer this vexing question.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-13297592 Thu, 27 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400 3873 full false Are The Straights OK [TEASER] Are The Straights OK [TEASER] In our "Rules" and "Game" episodes we didn't get a chance to dissect the phenomenon of online dating (i.e. describe our worst dates and read cringe profiles out loud to each other), so that is what we are doing on today's bonus episode. 

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

]]> In our "Rules" and "Game" episodes we didn't get a chance to dissect the phenomenon of online dating (i.e. describe our worst dates and read cringe profiles out loud to each other), so that is what we are doing on today's bonus episode. 

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

]]> Buzzsprout-13214486 Thu, 13 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400 1450 full false BONUS: Conservatives vs. Pride Month BONUS: Conservatives vs. Pride Month Lots of subscribers asked us to release last month's bonus episode in full so here it is! Share it with the conservatives, the boomers and the Satanists in your life.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod
 

Where to find us: 

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Lots of subscribers asked us to release last month's bonus episode in full so here it is! Share it with the conservatives, the boomers and the Satanists in your life.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod
 

Where to find us: 

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri Buzzsprout-13171798 Thu, 06 Jul 2023 10:00:00 -0400 3916 full false The Rules The Rules In 1995 a bestselling book proposed a simple dating strategy for women: Lose weight, wear bright colors and become a completely different person for the rest of your life.

Thanks to Moira Donegan for helping us with this episode!

Support us on Patreon:
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Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> In 1995 a bestselling book proposed a simple dating strategy for women: Lose weight, wear bright colors and become a completely different person for the rest of your life.

Thanks to Moira Donegan for helping us with this episode!

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-13118682 Thu, 29 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400 4147 full false Atomic Habits Atomic Habits This week we're discussing "Atomic Habits," a book about how to use science (and also some stuff that’s definitely not science) to train yourself to be a more functional person.

Support us on Patreon:
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Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> This week we're discussing "Atomic Habits," a book about how to use science (and also some stuff that’s definitely not science) to train yourself to be a more functional person.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-13042014 Thu, 15 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400 3669 full false The World is Flat The World is Flat Much has been said about globalization, but perhaps no one has said it worse than Thomas Friedman.

Content Note: Discussions of xenophobic and racist content, especially toward the end of the episode.

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 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Much has been said about globalization, but perhaps no one has said it worse than Thomas Friedman.

Content Note: Discussions of xenophobic and racist content, especially toward the end of the episode.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-12955923 Thu, 01 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400 4061 full false "Nudge" Part 2: Mr. Nudge Goes to Washington "Nudge" Part 2: Mr. Nudge Goes to Washington The Nudgening.

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]]> The Nudgening.

Support us on Patreon:
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]]> Buzzsprout-12877671 Fri, 19 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400 3664 full false The Meme Stock Cult [TEASER] The Meme Stock Cult [TEASER] In 2021, scrappy young investors from across the world joined forces to buy GameStop stock, aiming to take down greedy hedge funds. What came next was tragedy, injustice, and a conspiratorial internet cult so stupid we had to do an episode about it.

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

]]> In 2021, scrappy young investors from across the world joined forces to buy GameStop stock, aiming to take down greedy hedge funds. What came next was tragedy, injustice, and a conspiratorial internet cult so stupid we had to do an episode about it.

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

]]> Buzzsprout-12850761 Mon, 15 May 2023 08:00:00 -0400 1178 full false "Nudge" Part 1: A Simple Solution For Littering, Organ Donations and Climate Change "Nudge" Part 1: A Simple Solution For Littering, Organ Donations and Climate Change In 2008, an economist and a law professor proposed a radical new approach to politics: Telling people not to do bad stuff.

Support us on Patreon:
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Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> In 2008, an economist and a law professor proposed a radical new approach to politics: Telling people not to do bad stuff.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-12780949 Thu, 04 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400 4251 full false The 5 Love Languages The 5 Love Languages What’s your love language? Is it gifts? Words of affirmation? Or is it podcasts about books with extremely weird, reactionary gender dynamics?

Support us on Patreon:
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Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> What’s your love language? Is it gifts? Words of affirmation? Or is it podcasts about books with extremely weird, reactionary gender dynamics?

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri Buzzsprout-12684857 Thu, 20 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400 3286 full false Ben Shapiro's Plan To End Poverty [TEASER] Ben Shapiro's Plan To End Poverty [TEASER] Is it bootstraps? It's bootstraps.

To hear the rest of the show, support us on Patreon:
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]]> Is it bootstraps? It's bootstraps.

To hear the rest of the show, support us on Patreon:
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]]> Buzzsprout-12643561 Thu, 13 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0400 733 full false Rich Dad Poor Dad Rich Dad Poor Dad In 1997, Robert Kiyosaki revealed the secret to lifelong success: Deliver grifty seminars and hire child slaves.

Support us on Patreon:
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Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> In 1997, Robert Kiyosaki revealed the secret to lifelong success: Deliver grifty seminars and hire child slaves.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri Buzzsprout-12593204 Thu, 06 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400 4437 full false The Dumbest Campus Controversies Of The Last Decade [TEASER] The Dumbest Campus Controversies Of The Last Decade [TEASER] Get in loser, we're going to Oberlin.

To hear the rest of the show, support us on Patreon:
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]]> Get in loser, we're going to Oberlin.

To hear the rest of the show, support us on Patreon:
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]]> Buzzsprout-12543363 Thu, 30 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400 1223 full false Hillbilly Elegy Hillbilly Elegy In 2016, J.D. Vance informally launched his political career with "Hillbilly Elegy," a memoir that blames the relative poverty of Appalachian and Rust Belt populations on their own culture. Despite its reactionary premise, mainstream and liberal press outlets were so enamored by the book that they accidentally made Vance a senator.

Support us on Patreon:
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Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> In 2016, J.D. Vance informally launched his political career with "Hillbilly Elegy," a memoir that blames the relative poverty of Appalachian and Rust Belt populations on their own culture. Despite its reactionary premise, mainstream and liberal press outlets were so enamored by the book that they accidentally made Vance a senator.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-12498107 Thu, 23 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400 2881 full false The Coddling Of The American Mind The Coddling Of The American Mind TRIGGER WARNING: if you're a SNOWFLAKE college professor afraid of how your students are expressing themselves, you might need a SAFE SPACE, because Michael and Peter are discussing "The Coddling of The American Mind," a book about campus culture that's light on facts and heavy on cherry-picked anecdotes.

CORRECTION: The Socrates quote mentioned at the end of this episode is apocryphal. We thank the listeners who pointed this out for refusing to coddle our American minds.

Support us on Patreon:
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Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> TRIGGER WARNING: if you're a SNOWFLAKE college professor afraid of how your students are expressing themselves, you might need a SAFE SPACE, because Michael and Peter are discussing "The Coddling of The American Mind," a book about campus culture that's light on facts and heavy on cherry-picked anecdotes.

CORRECTION: The Socrates quote mentioned at the end of this episode is apocryphal. We thank the listeners who pointed this out for refusing to coddle our American minds.

Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod


Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-12404629 Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500 3673 full false The New York Times's War On Trans Kids [TEASER] The New York Times's War On Trans Kids [TEASER] The nation's most prestigious newspaper insists on asking a very stupid question. So for this month's bonus episode, we decided to answer it.

To hear the rest of the show, support us on Patreon:
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As we mentioned at the top of the episode, we're donating this month's support to three of our trans journo-friends! They've been unbelievably patient with Mike as he's navigated the science and politics of this issue over the last year. Here's where to find and support their work:




]]> The nation's most prestigious newspaper insists on asking a very stupid question. So for this month's bonus episode, we decided to answer it.

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

As we mentioned at the top of the episode, we're donating this month's support to three of our trans journo-friends! They've been unbelievably patient with Mike as he's navigated the science and politics of this issue over the last year. Here's where to find and support their work:




]]> Buzzsprout-12341306 Tue, 28 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500 1658 full false The Clash of Civilizations The Clash of Civilizations "If your thesis doesn't hold up to obvious criticisms, there's a chance that your thesis sucks."

Thanks to Paul Musgrave and Alex Cruikshanks for helping us fact-check this episode!

Support us on Patreon:
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Links!

]]> "If your thesis doesn't hold up to obvious criticisms, there's a chance that your thesis sucks."

Thanks to Paul Musgrave and Alex Cruikshanks for helping us fact-check this episode!

Support us on Patreon:
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Where to find us: 

Links!

]]> Buzzsprout-12306773 Thu, 23 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500 3499 full false The End of History The End of History Francis Fukuyama's "The End of History and the Last Man" changed political discourse forever. Peter and Michael peel back his muddled history and fluffy rhetoric, revealing several more layers of muddled history and fluffy rhetoric.

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]]> Francis Fukuyama's "The End of History and the Last Man" changed political discourse forever. Peter and Michael peel back his muddled history and fluffy rhetoric, revealing several more layers of muddled history and fluffy rhetoric.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

Where to find us: 

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]]> Buzzsprout-12214779 Thu, 09 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500 2847 full false The Lab Leak [TEASER] The Lab Leak [TEASER] In December 2019, the coronavirus pandemic began in Wuhan, China. In May 2021, America experienced one of the most cursed weeks of punditry we've ever seen.

This is a condensed version of the full episode. To hear the rest go to patreon.com/IfBooksPod. See you next week! 

]]> In December 2019, the coronavirus pandemic began in Wuhan, China. In May 2021, America experienced one of the most cursed weeks of punditry we've ever seen.

This is a condensed version of the full episode. To hear the rest go to patreon.com/IfBooksPod. See you next week! 

]]> Buzzsprout-12145991 Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500 880 full false Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus In 1992 a yoga instructor with a distance-learning PhD had the courage to ask: "Are women not getting help around the house because they're using the wrong modal verb?"

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]]> In 1992 a yoga instructor with a distance-learning PhD had the courage to ask: "Are women not getting help around the house because they're using the wrong modal verb?"

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Sources:

]]> Buzzsprout-12115974 Thu, 26 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500 4161 full false The Secret The Secret Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret" sold millions of copies based on a simple premise: All of science is fake and the only reason anything ever happens is because people manifest it by communicating with the universe.

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]]> Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret" sold millions of copies based on a simple premise: All of science is fake and the only reason anything ever happens is because people manifest it by communicating with the universe.

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Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Buzzsprout-12025809 Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500 2578 full false The Population Bomb The Population Bomb How a Stanford lepidopterist convinced the world to fear the breeding habits of the poor. Again.

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]]> How a Stanford lepidopterist convinced the world to fear the breeding habits of the poor. Again.

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]]> Buzzsprout-11875391 Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500 2967 full false A Bari Special Bonus Episode [TEASER] A Bari Special Bonus Episode [TEASER] Our first premium episode is a deep dive into the blog of the infamously (and  dubiously) "canceled" Bari Weiss.

To hear the full episode, subscribe on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

More free episodes are on their way! 

]]> Our first premium episode is a deep dive into the blog of the infamously (and  dubiously) "canceled" Bari Weiss.

To hear the full episode, subscribe on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

More free episodes are on their way! 

]]> Buzzsprout-11833883 Thu, 08 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500 588 full false The Game The Game Neil Strauss's "The Game" aimed to teach any man how to hook up with beautiful women. All he needed was a little bit of sociopathy, a lot of misogyny and a fanny pack full of props.

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]]> Neil Strauss's "The Game" aimed to teach any man how to hook up with beautiful women. All he needed was a little bit of sociopathy, a lot of misogyny and a fanny pack full of props.

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]]> Buzzsprout-11789694 Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500 3341 full false David Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise" David Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise" David Brooks became liberals' famous conservative by telling them what they wanted to hear. But ... why did they want to hear something that was lazy and wrong?

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]]> David Brooks became liberals' famous conservative by telling them what they wanted to hear. But ... why did they want to hear something that was lazy and wrong?

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]]> Buzzsprout-11711429 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500 3584 full false Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers" Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers" In "Outliers," Malcolm Gladwell posited that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert in something. Mike and Peter prove him wrong by mastering his dumb book over the span of about 50 minutes.

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]]> In "Outliers," Malcolm Gladwell posited that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert in something. Mike and Peter prove him wrong by mastering his dumb book over the span of about 50 minutes.

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Links:

]]> Buzzsprout-11658428 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500 3006 full false Freakonomics Freakonomics In 2005, two men named Steven and Stephen published the quintessential airport book. In 2022, two men named Mike and Peter started a whole podcast just to make fun of it.

Thanks to Ted Joyce and Ames Grawert for helping with the research for this episode!

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]]> In 2005, two men named Steven and Stephen published the quintessential airport book. In 2022, two men named Mike and Peter started a whole podcast just to make fun of it.

Thanks to Ted Joyce and Ames Grawert for helping with the research for this episode!

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Where to find us: 


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Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

]]> Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri Buzzsprout-11606556 Tue, 01 Nov 2022 22:00:00 -0400 4398 full true