Lit in a Nutshell

Chukwuemeka Azubuike

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Conversations about books in a nutshell.

7H AGO

Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned

Welcome back to Lit in a Nutshell, the podcast where we unpack powerful books and ideas in a way that fits right into your busy life. In today’s episode, we’re diving into Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned by Kenneth O. Stanley and Joel Lehman. This book challenges one of our deepest assumptions: that having a clear goal is always the best path to success. Instead, the authors argue that true innovation, creativity, and even greatness often emerge when we let go of rigid objectives and allow discovery to guide us. We’ll explore how this idea reshapes the way we think about careers, technology, personal growth, and even everyday choices. If you’ve ever felt stuck chasing goals that don’t inspire you—or wondered why breakthroughs often come from unexpected places—this book offers a fresh perspective. Let’s break it down, in a nutshell.

18 min
AUG 20

How China Escaped Shock Therapy

Welcome to another episode of Lit in a Nutshell, the podcast where we break down complex books into sharp, digestible insights. Today, we’re looking at How China Escaped Shock Therapy by Isabella Weber — a fascinating study of how China took a very different path to economic reform than many other post-socialist countries. While nations like Russia embraced rapid ‘shock therapy’ privatization in the 1990s, often with devastating consequences, China pursued gradual reforms, blending markets with state control. Weber reveals the debates, policies, and strategies that allowed China to avoid collapse and instead set the stage for its extraordinary growth. In this episode, we’ll unpack the core lessons of the book — why China chose gradualism over shock, how that decision reshaped its economy, and what it tells us about the relationship between states, markets, and development today. To buy the book, Click this Link on Amazon. Buying using our affiliate link means we can make money from it to keep creating more for you.

48 min
AUG 19

From Third World to First: The Singapore Story by Lee Kuan Yew

Today’s spotlight is on From Third World to First: The Singapore Story by Lee Kuan Yew — the remarkable memoir of the man who led Singapore’s transformation from a struggling postcolonial backwater into one of the world’s most advanced economies. Through Lee’s perspective, we see the tough decisions, bold policies, and relentless vision that turned a resource-poor island into a global hub for finance, trade, and innovation. It’s not just a story about Singapore, but a lesson in leadership, strategy, and what it takes to build a nation against the odds. In this episode, we’ll unpack the key themes of the book — from governance and discipline to globalization and resilience — and explore why Lee Kuan Yew’s story still resonates far beyond Singapore’s borders. You can buy the book on Amazon Here. When you buy using our affiliate link above; we make some money to keep the podcast running.

47 min
AUG 18

The Economic Weapon: Sanctions and Total Wars

In this episode of Lit in a Nutshell, we explore One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way by Dr. Robert Maurer — a powerful guide to lasting change through the art of small, consistent steps. Rooted in the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, the book shows how tiny, manageable actions can lead to big transformations in health, work, habits, and personal growth. Instead of relying on drastic overhauls or bursts of motivation, Kaizen teaches us that progress comes from steady, incremental improvements. Join us as we break down the key ideas of the book, uncover why small steps are so effective, and share how you can start applying Kaizen in your own life today. Because sometimes, the smallest step is the one that changes everything. You can buy the book here on Amazon: We make some money to keep the podcast running when you buy with that affiliate link.

40 min
AUG 18

One Small Step Can Change Your Life - The Kaizen Way

In this episode of Lit in a Nutshell, we explore One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way by Dr. Robert Maurer — a powerful guide to lasting change through the art of small, consistent steps. Rooted in the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, the book shows how tiny, manageable actions can lead to big transformations in health, work, habits, and personal growth. Instead of relying on drastic overhauls or bursts of motivation, Kaizen teaches us that progress comes from steady, incremental improvements. Join us as we break down the key ideas of the book, uncover why small steps are so effective, and share how you can start applying Kaizen in your own life today. Because sometimes, the smallest step is the one that changes everything. You Can Buy the Physical Book here on Amazon. When you buy through this link, our podcast makes some money to keep producing more episodes for you.

32 min
AUG 12

Economics in Two Lessons: Why Markets Well and Fail Badly

Welcome to Lit in a Nutshell, the podcast where we take big ideas from great books and break them down into sharp, digestible insights. Today, we’re diving into Economics of Two Lessons by John Quiggin — a modern reimagining of Henry Hazlitt’s classic Economics in One Lesson. Quiggin keeps the original lesson — always look beyond the immediate effects of economic decisions — but adds a second, vital one: consider the long-term and wider impacts, including costs and consequences that markets often overlook. From climate change to inequality, the book challenges the idea that markets always get it right, and asks us to think about economics not just as numbers, but as a tool for building a fairer, more sustainable future. In this episode, we’ll distill both lessons, explore real-world examples, and see how they reshape the way we think about policy, business, and everyday choices.

36 min
AUG 12

Friedman: The Last Conservative

Welcome back to Lit in a Nutshell, the show where we distill powerful books into bite-sized brilliance.Today, we’re diving into The Last Conservation — a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to protect the things we can’t afford to lose. In its pages, we journey through the fragile line between preservation and loss, asking: what happens when the last chance to save something is right in front of us?Whether it’s nature, heritage, or ideals, this story invites us to confront urgency, responsibility, and the human role in shaping the future. In the next few minutes, we’ll unpack its core themes, its most resonant moments, and why it matters now more than ever." 📖 Brief About the BookThe Last Conservation is a timely and poignant work that examines the fight to preserve what’s on the brink of disappearance. Through vivid storytelling, it blends environmental urgency with human emotion, painting a picture of a world where every choice counts. It’s as much about hope and action as it is about loss — reminding us that conservation isn’t just about saving things, but about redefining our relationship with them.

37 min
JUL 22

Alibaba: Jack Ma's Entrepreneurial Journey

Welcome to Lit in a Nutshell, the podcast that breaks down powerful books so you can soak in their wisdom without flipping a single page. Today, we’re diving into Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built by Duncan Clark — a riveting account of one of the most unlikely tech titans of our time. This is not just a business biography. It’s the story of a former English teacher from Hangzhou who defied odds, skeptics, and even global tech giants to create one of the largest e-commerce empires in the world. Duncan Clark, who knew Jack Ma personally and witnessed the rise of Alibaba up close, gives us a rare window into the ambition, setbacks, and vision that turned a scrappy startup into a company that would change China’s digital economy — and challenge Amazon on the global stage. In this episode, we’ll explore: How Jack Ma’s charisma and perseverance shaped Alibaba’s culture The fierce competition and political tightrope he had to walk in China What Alibaba’s rise says about the future of global trade, innovation, and regulation So whether you're an entrepreneur, a tech enthusiast, or just love a good underdog story — buckle up. The Alibaba tale is more than business — it’s about belief, disruption, and rewriting the rules of the game. Let’s get into it.

56 min

Conversations about books in a nutshell.

Creator

Chukwuemeka Azubuike
Years Active

2K
Episodes

64
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Chukwuemeka Azubuike
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Lit in a Nutshell