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
Oct 17
44. Edward Glaeser Explains Why Some Cities Thrive While Others Fade Away
An expert on urban economics and co-author of the new book Survival of the City, Ed says cities have faced far worse than Covid. Steve talks with the Harvard professor about why the slums of Mumbai function so well, high-quality housing in China sits empty, and declining cities h ... Show More
45m 32s
Oct 10
43. Arne Duncan Says All Kids Deserve a Chance — and Criminals Deserve a Second One
Former U.S. Secretary of Education, 3x3 basketball champion, and leader of an anti-gun violence organization are all on Arne’s resume. He’s also Steve’s neighbor. The two talk about teachers caught cheating in Chicago public schools and Steve shares a story he’s never told Arne, ... Show More
45m 12s
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