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Explore every episode of the podcast If Books Could Kill

Dive into the complete episode list for If Books Could Kill. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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1–50 of 81

TitlePub. DateDuration
The Rahm Emanuel Profiles Will Continue Until Morale Improves [TEASER]27 oct. 202600:42:26

This month's bonus episode is about Rahm Emanuel, a man whose political constituency consists entirely of prestige magazine editors.

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


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

Why Men Love Bitches05 oct. 202601:11:55

A 2002 dating guide has found new popularity on Tiktok using an old fashioned method: Have a catchy title and four pages of good advice.

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Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Surrounded By Idiots01 sept. 202601:09:05

Peter and Michael discuss "Surrounded by Idiots," a book that dares to ask: Can the mystery of human relationships be unraveled by a workplace personality assessment?

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Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Three Cups of Tea05 août 202601:52:21

In 1993, a desperate man stumbled into a remote village in the foothills of the Karakoram mountains. After the residents nursed him back to health, he placed his hands on the village elder's shoulders and made a sacred promise. "Somehow," he said, "I am going to get some private jet reimbursements out of this." 

Warning: Contains spoilers for the 2016 film "Arrival." 

Thanks to Ted Callahan for helping us fact-check this episode!

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

The Body Keeps The Score18 juin 202601:49:41

You know that book your friend recommended? The one that rigorously describes the science of trauma, de-stigmatizes abuse and promotes effective treatments? Well here’s the thing: It doesn't actually do that.

Thanks to Emi Nietfield, Keith Cox, Lisa Starr, Richard McNally, Kevin McGuire and everyone else who helped us research and fact-check this episode! 

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Think And Grow Rich21 mai 202601:03:04

Peter and Michael discuss "Think And Grow Rich," the 1937 classic written by a lifelong fraudster who finds his final mark: You.

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Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Grit30 avr. 202601:19:02

In 2013, education reformers tried to help poor students the using the best tool at their disposal: The 16th most popular Ted Talk.

Special thanks to Marcus Credé! 

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

CROSSOVER EVENT: Tim Ferriss’s "The 4-Hour Body"16 avr. 202601:08:18

Peter went on Mike's other show, Maintenance Phase, to revisit a biohacking diet book for the boys.

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Bullshit Jobs05 mars 202601:00:22

Peter and Michael discuss "Bullshit Jobs" by anarchist anthropologist David Graeber. The result: two professional podcasters debating which jobs are real and which jobs are fake.

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

The Millionaire Next Door05 févr. 202601:11:25

It turns out that the key to wealth is buying the right kind of watch, marrying the right kind of wife and being the right kind of white.

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

The Worst Takes of 2025 [TEASER]29 déc. 202500:50:05

The boys catalog the definitive worst takes of the year, from the pundits who misunderstood our political moment to a guy who wants to have sex with a computer.

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

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

Elon Musk Part 218 déc. 202501:31:15

The boys continue their discussion of Walter Isaacson's "Elon Musk." This is the part where Elon loses his mind. 

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!


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

Elon Musk09 déc. 202501:28:25

A biography that dares to ask: Is a lifetime of worker abuse and narcissism worth it to experience robot butlers?

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Sapiens20 nov. 202501:38:17

How do you tell the entire history of humanity in a single book? Whatever you do, do not open a browser window. 

Thanks to Dorsa Amir, Duncan Stibbard Hawkes and David Perry for help researching and fact-checking this episode!

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

How To Win Friends And Influence People02 oct. 202501:10:00

Live like Dale Carnegie, neg like Calvin Coolidge.

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Sources:


Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Thomas Chatterton Williams' "Summer of Our Discontent"11 sept. 202501:31:42

Peter and Michael discuss a book that's light on facts and long on sentences.

Where to find us: 

Sources:


Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

He's Just Not That Into You31 juil. 202501:00:09

How one comedian's offhand advice launched a decent TV episode, a mediocre book and a terrible movie.

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink"17 juil. 202500:57:44

Did you know that in the split-second it took you to read the title of this episode, your subconscious already figured out that it was going to be extremely good?

Peter and Michael talk about Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink," a book that is mostly cute scientific anecdotes but also indirectly resulted in millions of taxpayer dollars being wasted on fraudulent science.

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

The Supreme Court Goes Full TERF [TEASER]01 juil. 202501:01:53

This is most of the episode but if you want to hear the last 20 minutes, support us on Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

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

"In Covid's Wake" Part 2: Wrong About The Right19 juin 202501:10:19

Last episode we met two Princeton political scientists who are bad at virology. Today we learn that they are also bad at political science.

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

"In Covid's Wake" Part 1: Lying About Lockdowns17 juin 202500:57:47

Two political scientists look back at a deadly pandemic and ask, "could we have done even less?"

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Bonus: The Lab Leak Goes Mainstream05 juin 202501:21:09

By popular demand we are releasing last month's Patreon bonus episode on the main feed! We chart the transformation of the lab leak from an unfounded theory promoted by right-wing cranks to an unfounded theory promoted by liberal journalists.

Where to find us: 


Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

The Let Them Theory23 avr. 202500:53:44

Peter and Michael discuss The Let Them Theory, a self-help guide to seeking bliss through unmitigated complacency.

Where to find us: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Josh Hawley's "Manhood" [TEASER]31 mars 202500:53:11

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

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

Steve Harvey's "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man"28 mars 202500:58:53

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: 

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Of Boys And Men06 mars 202501:22:42

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: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

You Are A Badass23 janv. 202500:58:58

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: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

What's The Matter With Kansas?06 déc. 202401:05:33

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: 

Sources:

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Sam Harris's "The End of Faith"04 nov. 202401:09:58

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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Who Moved My Cheese?10 oct. 202401:09:12

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: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

UNLOCKED: Eric Adams26 sept. 202400:59:28

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

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

Glenn Kessler Retire B*tch [TEASER]26 sept. 202400:36:08

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




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

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother24 sept. 202400:55:37

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!

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

The Anxious Generation08 août 202402:00:18

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!

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

Breaking News Re-Release: "Hillbilly Elegy"16 juil. 202400:51:12

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

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

Richard Hanania's "The Origins of Woke"11 juil. 202401:01:54

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!

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

The Columbia Protests [TEASER]16 mai 202400:27:17

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

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

"Going Infinite": Michael Lewis Takes On Sam Bankman-Fried02 mai 202401:15:44

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!

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

"The Better Angels of Our Nature" Part 2: Campus Lies, I.Q. Rise & Epstein Ties11 avr. 202401:24:12

2 Better 2 Angels

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

Where to find us: 

Sources:

 Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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

Who's Afraid of Naomi Wolf? [TEASER]28 mars 202400:30:17

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

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

Lean In14 mars 202400:57:00

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!

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

"The Better Angels of Our Nature" Part 1: You're Not Wrong, Pinker. You're Just An *sshole22 févr. 202401:37:45

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!

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

The Art of the Deal11 janv. 202400:52:22

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!

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

The Worst Takes of 2023 [TEASER]21 déc. 202300:28:15

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


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

The Identity Trap14 déc. 202301:47:03

"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!

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

Pundit Portraits: Kathleen Parker and Chris Cillizza [TEASER]28 nov. 202300:29:42

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

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

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck21 nov. 202300:45:44

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!



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

The 48 Laws of Power02 nov. 202301:05:56

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!

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

The "Organized Retail Crime" Panic [TEASER]26 oct. 202300:31:12

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

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

San Fransicko19 oct. 202301:00:43

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!

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

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