She might not be a household name, but Suzanne Gluck is one of the most powerful people in the book industry. Her slush pile is a key entry point to the biggest publishers in the U.S., and the authors she represents have sold more than 100 million books worldwide. Steve Levitt talks with Gluck — his own agent — about negotiating a deal, advising prospective ... Show More
Today
31. Peter Leeson on Why Trial-by-Fire Wasn’t Barbaric and Why Pirates Were Democratic
He’s an economist who studies even weirder things than Steve. They discuss whether economics is the best of the social sciences, and why it’s a good idea to get a tattoo of a demand curve on your bicep. This episode originally aired on June 11th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an Ad ... Show More
45m 40s
Jul 11
30. Dambisa Moyo Says Foreign Aid Can’t Solve Problems, but Maybe Corporations Can
The African-born economist has written four bestselling books, including Dead Aid, which Bill Gates described as “promoting evil.” In her new book about corporate boards, Dambisa uses her experience with global corporations to explore how they can better meet society’s demands. A ... Show More
43m 33s
Sep 2023
Colleen Hoover: "Make Every Book Better Than the One Before It"
<p>Colleen Hoover is a publishing phenomenon. While she didn’t necessarily set out for fame, she has achieved literary super-stardom, becoming one of the bestselling authors in the world and the top-selling author in the United States. In 2022, she outsold the Bible. She continue ... Show More
32m 31s
Nov 2023
Chiki Sarkar on Becoming a Juggernaut
Masaba Gupta talks to the legendary publisher Chiki Sarkar about her long and storied career (which included time as editor-in-chief at Random House India, and publisher at Penguin), and about everything from her view on the evolving reading trends in India, her process of decidi ... Show More
31m 34s
Apr 2025
Life in Five Senses | Gretchen Rubin
<p dir="ltr">Gretchen Rubin is one of today's most influential observers of happiness and human nature. Her book, "Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World," is a story of discovery, filled with thoughtful insights and hands-on sugges ... Show More
1 h