About the show

In-depth breakdowns of some of the worlds most thought-provoking and inspiring books.

Our hosts, Nicolas Vereecke and Sam Harris digest non-fiction books from all centuries and genres.

This podcast is here to help listeners become smarter. To learn about ideas they haven't heard of or to gain more perspectives on the books and ideas they are familiar with.

We dive into topics such as philosophy, business, feminism, psychology, politics, economics and who knows what else. Our goal is to simply explore the best ideas and learn new things. You're most welcome to join us for the ride.

Episodes

  • How to be an antiracist - Ibram X. Kendi

    August 10th, 2020  |  Season 3  |  37 mins 8 secs
    equality, racism

    How to Be an Antiracist is a 2019 non-fiction book by American author and historian Ibram X. Kendi. The book discusses concepts of racism and Kendi's proposals for anti-racist individual actions and systemic changes.

  • White fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism - Robin DiAngelo

    August 5th, 2020  |  Season 3  |  44 mins 8 secs
    equality, racism

    Learn why discussing racism is so taboo and difficult

  • Why I'm no longer talking to white people about race - Rene Eddo-Lodge

    July 3rd, 2020  |  Season 3  |  37 mins 36 secs
    equality, politics, race

    The book that sparked a national conversation. Exploring everything from eradicated black history to the inextricable link between class and race, Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race is the essential handbook for anyone who wants to understand race relations today.

  • Hope in the Dark - Rebecca Solnit

    June 19th, 2020  |  Season 3  |  36 mins 32 secs
    activism, environment, politics

    Radicals have a long, neglected history of transformative victories, that the positive consequences of our acts are not always immediately seen, directly knowable, or even measurable, and that pessimism and despair rest on unwarranted confidence about what is going to happen next.

  • 12. Nassim Nicholas Taleb - Skin in the game

    June 7th, 2020  |  Season 2  |  36 mins 10 secs
    philosophy, statistics, taleb

    Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life. Having a measurable risk when taking a major decision -- is necessary for fairness, commercial efficiency, and risk management, as well as being necessary to understand the world.

  • 11. Nassim Nicholas Taleb - Antifragile

    May 20th, 2020  |  Season 2  |  57 mins 41 secs
    economics, philosophy, self improvement

    Things that Gain from Disorder.

    We discuss the concepts of things that thrive and grow when exposed to volatility.

  • 10. Nassim Nicholas Taleb - The bed of Procrustes

    May 14th, 2020  |  Season 2  |  36 mins 32 secs
    aphorisms, philosophy, wisdom

    Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms

  • 9. Nassim Nicholas Taleb - The Black Swan

    May 7th, 2020  |  Season 2  |  40 mins 4 secs

    The book focuses on the extreme impact of rare and unpredictable outlier events — and the human tendency to find simplistic explanations for these events, retrospectively.
    It was published in 2007, by author and former options trader Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

  • 8. Nassim Nicholas Taleb - Fooled By Randomness

    May 3rd, 2020  |  Season 2  |  33 mins 25 secs
    economy, philosophy, trading

    Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets is a book that deals with the fallibility of human knowledge.

    Nassim Nicholas Taleb explains how we delude ourselves into thinking untrue things due to our love of finding a story or reason when none exists.

  • 7. David Nihil - Do You Talk Funny?: 7 Comedy Habits to Become a Better (and Funnier) Public Speaker

    April 28th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  28 mins 30 secs
    humour, public speaking, self-improvement

    This book shows how the key principles of stand-up comedy can be applied to your speaking engagements and presentations to make you funnier, more interesting, and better looking. (Or at least two of the three.)

  • 6. James P. Carse - Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility

    April 21st, 2020  |  Season 1  |  29 mins 35 secs
    games, life, philosophy

    There are at least two kinds of games. One could be called finite; the other infinite. A finite game is played for the purpose of winning, an infinite game for the purpose of continuing the play.
    A simple concept with oodles of insights that go deeper and deeper. Question everything you think you know and dive into a redefinition of how you approach everything.

  • 5. Caroline Criado Perez - Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men

    April 16th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  30 mins 49 secs
    data, feminism, society

    The gender bias that is in the world around us and affects our daily lives. A brilliant look at the data that shows the facts we need to acknowledge and overcome.

  • 4. Niel Strauss - The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists

    April 8th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  24 mins 59 secs
    love, sales, seduction

    Investigative reporter Neil Strauss chronicles his journey and encounters in the seduction community. An interesting tale into how our minds can be lead in seduction and the dangers of seeking the wrong things.

  • 3. Robert Wright - Why Buddhism is True

    March 31st, 2020  |  Season 1  |  38 mins 12 secs
    buddhism, evolution, meditation, psychology, vipassana

    The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment

  • 2. The Elephant in the Brain - Kevin Simler & Robin Hanson

    March 17th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  40 mins 59 secs
    lying, psychology, social engineering

    A summary of the key ways human beings lie to themselves and others without even realising. There are so many hidden ways we conceal the truth to protect and advance ourselves. But sometimes to our detriment.
    We work out the useful take-home point and consider the knowledge that is perhaps dangerous.

  • 1. Introduction - The Big Plan

    March 5th, 2020  |  Season 1  |  18 mins 53 secs
    introduction

    A short episode about the podcast and the show hosts if you want to know more about the show