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The Book Pile

Latest episodes

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Dec 19, 2022 • 32min

Our Favorite Books of 2022!

Join us as we review our Top 10 books/episodes of 2022! (Plus a few more!) We also answer some frequently asked questions about the podcast (dare we pull back the curtain?!) Thank you so much for listening to us this year! We’re truly so grateful. We can’t wait to come at you with more books in 2023.*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.
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Dec 12, 2022 • 21min

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Do you think Scrooge ever gets annoyed that, even though this is a book about repentance and change, calling someone a “Scrooge” is still only an insult? Like, culturally, we act like he just stayed evil. It’d be like if you called someone an Oskar Schindler, and what you meant was “Nazi." Plus, Dave reads this book’s PG-13 passages and Kellen wants you to watch video of yourself and suffer.*To buy the book, A Christmas Carol, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3qa49rh*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.
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Dec 5, 2022 • 28min

The Righteous Mind, by Jonathan Haidt

This book looks at morality through the lens of evolutionary psychology. Which sounds boring, but we promise, there’s murder and cannibalism! Plus, Kellen sings the REAL Lion King, and Dave is such a Gemini.*To buy the book, The Righteous Mind, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3rLcYZ8*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.
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Nov 21, 2022 • 23min

Mistborn: The Final Empire, by Brandon Sanderson

What if you could swallow certain metals and they gave you POWERS? (Well I guess they do in real life, but only boring powers, like how iron just gives you regular blood.) Anyway, this is our discussion of the high fantasy epic that begins the Mistborn trilogy! Plus, Dave talks about the Soviets again and Kellen wants you to get a night job at a motel.*To buy the book, Mistborn, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3Y9DsiW*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.
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Nov 14, 2022 • 22min

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré

Imagine your favorite spy movie! Okay, now take out the spying, the fighting, the hot people, and the hope. That’s basically this book, which is one of Time’s Top 100 Novels. Plus, Kellen plans his perfect crime and Dave tells you too much about torture.*To buy the book, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3OtIaoD*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.
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Nov 7, 2022 • 24min

Surprise Episode!

It's a surprise.*To buy the book, The Oxford Book of Aphorisms, click here!https://amzn.to/3OzaztC*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 75 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.
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Oct 31, 2022 • 20min

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Today we cover the most classic of the Sherlock Holmes books, complete with fire-breathing dog! (Fun fact: England DID produce entertainment before the BBC was invented!) Plus, Dave finds a truly wonderful blog and Kellen touts his Reader’s Digest credentials.*To buy the book, The Hound of the Baskervilles, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3KfFVTb*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 75 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.
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Oct 24, 2022 • 24min

The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane

Want to become more charming and charismatic so you can achieve your boundless and ruthless ambitions? Us too! Today’s book is a step-by-step guide to charisma. Plus, Kellen discourages you from acting like a gorilla, and Dave uses mantras, but he still believes in vaccines!*To buy the book, The Charisma Myth, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/43JINP2*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 75 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.
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Oct 17, 2022 • 25min

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

At age 18, Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein, the groundbreaking, genre-defining sci-fi book, because she needed more extracurriculars on her college application. Today we cover her seminal masterpiece. Also, Dave begs English teachers to teach something fun and Kellen uses any book as an excuse to talk about Inception.*To buy the book, Frankenstein, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/450CyYd*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 50 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.
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Oct 10, 2022 • 27min

I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

If you like this excellent book about personal finance, then you will love our much more criminal book, I Will Teach You To Inherit an Immense Fortune. Plus, Kellen can’t stop bragging about all his credit cards and Dave's first car has a series of unfortunate events.*To buy the book, I Will Teach You to Be Rich, or listen to it free on Audible AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/3q5qC90*TheBookPilePodcast@gmail.com*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 50 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Kellen was named one of TBS's Top Ten Comics to Watch in 2017. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

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