Books to Start a Cult: Elephant, Brain

Summer is peak reading season, so it only made sense for Michael, author of “The Comfort Crisis” & “Scarcity Brain,” to sit down with Alex Wieckowski of Alex & Books, the man who has read two books a week for the past decade. Together they build a list of some of their favorite books, including one hidden gem from Tolstoy, “A Calendar of Wisdom.” Alex tells the true survival story that made complaining impossible for him. He also reveals the classic novel that scared him into cleaning up his habits.

Then they play overrated or underrated with the biggest self-improvement books ever written: Atomic Habits, Man's Search for Meaning, 12 Rules for Life, The 4-Hour Workweek and more. Alex then reveals the skill that helps him remember every book he reads, turning its lessons into actions. They also get into lifting weights with Alex Hormozi, the trap of "next book syndrome," and whether AI will ever replace real writing.

Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today’s episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. This episode was edited by Ryan Mulhern. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager.

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Chapters:

00:00 Cold Open

00:50 Welcome to Two Percent + Meet Alex (Alex & Books)

01:32 How to Pick Your Next Book

02:08 Hidden-Gem Self-Improvement Books (Tolstoy & The Power of Myth)

05:56 The Forgotten Highlander: The Wildest True Survival Story

08:26 Why Evolution Kept Anxiety & Depression

10:47 The Picture of Dorian Gray: The Novel That Fixes Habits

13:35 East of Eden & Having Agency

14:39 Pure-Entertainment Picks (Disappointing Affirmations & A Confederacy of Dunces)

18:42 Overrated or Underrated: Atomic Habits, Man's Search for Meaning & More

24:52 The Cult Question: The Elephant in the Brain & The True Believer

28:11 Books for Athletes: Mindset & Zen Shooting

31:18 How to Actually Remember What You Read

34:28 A Day With Alex Hormozi (and Getting Called Weak)

36:49 What Self-Improvement Gets Wrong: "Next Book Syndrome"

39:52 The Comfort Crisis Lessons Alex Uses Daily

40:54 Will AI Replace Books?

42:23 Wrap-Up

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