If Books Could Kill IBCK Premium
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- Society & Culture
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The airport bestsellers that captured our hearts and ruined our minds
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"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 InfiniteThe Curious Case of FTX’s ‘Company Therapist’ (vice.com)FTX’s Collapse Was a Crime, Not an AccidentGoing Infinite by Michael Lewis review – falling for the antiheroThe Second FTX Asset Recovery Report Is Packed With BombshellsTakeaways From a New Book on Sam Bankman-FriedCaroline Ellison Testifies Against Sam Bankman-Fried, Blaming Him for Crimes Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song! -
Eric Adams vs. Bail Reform
A few years ago, New York reformed its bail system. Since then, police and their close ally Mayor Eric Adams have successfully manipulated the public into believing that the reforms have been a disaster. Peter and Michael discuss how police have used taxpayer money to fund massive PR operations and control media narratives about crime.
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"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 child sexual abuse with online sexual abuse addedHave Sexual Abuse and Physical Abuse Declined Since the 1990s?Explanations for the Decline in Child Sexual Abuse CasesThe Decline in Child Sexual Abuse CasesWhy Have Child Maltreatment and Child Victimization Declined?Spanking and Other Corporal Punishment of Children by Parents: Undervaluing Children, Overvaluing PainWere There Really More Hate Crimes Last Year?Hate Crime Reported by Victims and PoliceThe Sexual Victimization of College WomenThe "Discovery" of Child AbuseA Short History of Child Protection in America Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song! -
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 -
Who's Afraid of Naomi Wolf?
Michael and Peter are finally discussing a good book: Naomi Klein's Doppelganger, a book that discusses the long, steady descent of another Naomi - Naomi Wolf - from feminist icon to crank conspiracist.
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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 Wins from Leaning in?One Cheer for Lean InIs there an implicit quota on women in top management? A large‐sample statistical analysisFemale tokens in high-prestige work groups: Catalysts or inhibitors of group diversification?Want Equal Pay? Get a Union.The Gender Wage Gap: Extent, Trends, and ExplanationsWhat Was the Girlboss?New Research: Women Who Don’t Negotiate Might Have a Good ReasonNow, Women Do Ask: A Call to Update Beliefs about the Gender Pay GapWhat’s It Like Inside the Hive? Managerial Discretion Drives TMT Gender Diversity of Women-Led FirmsI asked Facebook if I could work part-time from home after I had my baby. They said no—so I quitWomen in the Workplace 2023Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter SyndromeDig Deep: Beyond Lean In Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!
Customer Reviews
A great eye-opener for all those books I half-read but could’t finish
Before you retire to the “one book” conclusion; please tackle Bjorn Lomborg!!
So glad they tackled Pinker’s Better Angels - I always remembered that graph and thinking “really?” In all honesty; back in the 90s, I thought “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” was a play on rich people lacking morals; so when I finally read it I was shocked and felt dirty.
I am so happy this exists.
Love this!
This pod is so good. Michael Hobbs - I will listen to anything you put out. Hope the carpal tunnel/virus thing gets better soon. The other guy is pretty good too. Thanks for reading all these books so we don’t have to. Huge nostalgia vibes.
Funny but lazy
The hosts offer some funny criticisms of obviously bad books like The Secret but come up very short against books written by academics, often using the lazy thinking these scholarly books criticise. It’s a shame because the hosts and warm and funny, but they miss (or dismiss) crucial data presented in the books they are criticising and often misunderstand analogies the authors offer. I agree that people like Stephen Pinker draw overly optimistic conclusions from population level data, but “Ok boomer” is not a legitimate or substantial critique. The worst part is I think the hosts are smart enough to do better.