#3589

Mentioned in 12 episodes

A Prayer for Owen Meany

Book • 1989

A Prayer for Owen Meany, written by John Irving, is a novel that follows the lives of two childhood friends, Owen Meany and John Wheelwright, growing up in the fictional town of Gravesend, New Hampshire, in the 1950s and 1960s.

Owen, despite his small stature and high-pitched voice, possesses extraordinary spiritual strength and wisdom.

After accidentally killing John's mother with a foul ball during a Little League game, Owen becomes convinced he is God's instrument and destined for a higher purpose.

The novel explores themes of faith, destiny, and the socio-political upheavals of America during the 1960s, including the Vietnam War. As the story unfolds, Owen's unwavering faith guides him through various challenges, ultimately leading to a heroic and tragic conclusion that deeply affects John and the community of Gravesend.

Mentioned by

Angela Duckworth

Mathieu Stéphanie

Mentioned in 12 episodes

Mentioned by

Theo Von

as one of his favorite books.

E503 Robert Greene

Mentioned by

Ken Shigematsu

in a humorous aside about the possibility of supernatural conception.

Joy (ft. Ken Shigematsu) | Advent 2025 E3

Mentioned by

Angela Duckworth

as a book she disliked as a teenager.

180. What Makes Some Objects Feel Special?

Mentioned by

Eric Zimmer

as one of the books in his "secret shelf".

Choosing Love Over Fear: Finding Joy, Confidence, and Self-Trust with Emma Gannon

Mentioned as one of John Irving's books to which

Mike Rowe

asks

Chuck

Klausmeier to find the last paragraph.

449: Theo Von—A Troubled White

Mentioned by

Nate

in the context of a scene where an army NCO stops an attempted mass shooting.

Episode 366 - The Order: Part 1

Mentioned by

Kirk Honda

as a novel that was assigned in graduate school.

Leftover 17th Anniversary Questions #2

Mentioned by

Ken Shigematsu

while discussing the possibility of supernatural conception, referencing a book with a similar theme.

Joy (ft. Ken Shigematsu) | Advent E3

Mentioned by Jon Hamm as the first book that deeply affected him.

Jon Hamm asks about impactful books

Mentioned by

Katie Salzmann

as her favorite book.

Episode 57: The Wittliff with Lead Archivist Katie Salzmann

Mentionné par

Mathieu Stéphanie

comme un livre qui l'a marqué, un roman en anglais.

#321 - Georges-Olivier Reymond - Pasqal - Et si le leader mondial du Quantum Computing était Français ?

Read by

Paul Wells

while backpacking through Europe in the summer of 1992.

The Summer Reading Episode

Mentioned by

Chris Whitaker

as a highly recommended special book.

July 2025: Chris Whitaker’s All The Colors of the Dark

Referenced by Hillary Myers when introducing the author John Irving.

Late Night Lit: Playwright Bess Wohl | Author Zadie Smith | Hilary Meyers

Mentioned by

Matt Galloway

as one of

John Irving

's novels.

John Irving on the power of reading

Mentioned by

Jake Johnson

as a life Bible, stating everything makes sense in the end, but we're not sure why in the middle.

231: Wearing Garbage & Scooter Cooter

Referenced in the lyrics of Jimmy Eat World's song Goodbye Sky Harbor, inspiring the line “I am but one small instrument”.

Jimmy Eat World with Chris Ryan

Mentioned by

Brad Meltzer

as a novel that had a character who spoke in all caps, breaking what a novel could do.

Brad Meltzer on Plot Twists, Product Placement, and Violating Rules on Purpose

Mentioned by

Jon Lovett

during a discussion about books.

"New Phone, Coup Dis?" (with Stacey Abrams!)

Mentioned by

Toby Howell

as a book he read in high school.

Special Mailbag Episode with Neal and Toby

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!

App store banner

Play store banner