
3 Books With Neil Pasricha
3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 22-year-long quest to uncover and discuss the 1000 most formative books in the world. Each chapter discusses the 3 most formative books of one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Brené Brown, David Sedaris, Malcolm Gladwell, Roxane Gay, Cheryl Strayed, Rich Roll, Soyoung the Variety Store Owner, Derek the Hype Man, Kevin the Bookseller, Shirley The Nurse, Vishwas the Uber Driver, Angie Thomas, David Mitchell, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Mark Manson, Seth Godin, Judy Blume, and Quentin Tarantino. 3 Books is published on the lunar calendar with each of the 333 chapters dropped on the exact minute of every single full moon all the way up to 10:37 PM EST on April 26, 2040. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show and is 100% non-profit with no ads, no sponsors, no commercials, and no interruptions. 3 Books has 3 clubs including the End of the Podcast Club, the Cover to Cover Club, and the Secret Club, which operates entirely through the mail and is only accessible by calling 1-833-READ-A-LOT. Each chapter is hosted live and in-person at the guest's preferred location by Neil Pasricha, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awesome, The Happiness Equation, Two-Minute Mornings, etc.
For more info check out: https://www.3books.co
Latest episodes

Apr 13, 2025 • 1h 8min
Chapter 147: Nickisha the Dog Walker on dangerous drivers and dog doo diligence
Let's go for a walk! I've sometimes imagined 3 Books as a long walk with a friend. So today—let's take one! Nickisha moved to Toronto from Jamaica when she was 16 to reunite with her mom and after working as a travel agent she broke out on her own to run a successful business full of fresh air, exercise, community, and lots of love. I sometimes see Nickisha with five, six, or seven dogs around her—giving them the highlight of their day! Tongues wagging. Skip in their step. Motoring around town clocking 100km on foot each week! One of our traditions on 3 Books is doing podcasts outside from Chapter 27 with Robin the Bartender on the open patio of Bar Raval in Toronto to Chapter 106 with Alok Vaid-Menon in Central Park in New York City to Chapter 131 with J. Drew Lanham while birdwatching in South Carolina... Another tradition here is exploring stories from people who fill our lives but aren't often represented by our screen-based culture full of politicians and billionaires. We vote with our attention so it's fun turning off the same faces to hang with people like Vishwas the Uber Driver, Shirley the Nurse, and Soyoung the Variety Store Owner. So strap on your running shoes! Throw in some headphones! And let's go for a walk with Nickisha to discuss urban density, pedestrian-driver relations, safe supply, the dog walking business, immigration assimilation, Danielle Steele, and, of course, Nickisha's 3 most formative books. Let's flip the page to Chapter 147 now...

Mar 29, 2025 • 49min
Chapter 26: Angie Thomas on righting racist wrongs and remembering radicals
Angie Thomas, New York Times bestselling author known for her impactful young adult novels, joins the discussion to tackle pressing social justice issues. She reflects on the role of literature in understanding race, emphasizing the need for honest storytelling in YA fiction. Angie also delves into the intersection of faith and social justice, critiques media representation, and shares personal connections to Tupac's work, highlighting themes of resilience and empathy. Plus, she reveals her three formative books that shaped her worldview.

Mar 14, 2025 • 2h 58min
Chapter 146: Emily Nagoski on exuberant erotic exploration
Is porn good sex education? Why does body autonomy matter for kids? Does talking about sex kill the mood? Emily Nagoski has the answers! Emily is a sex educator and activist whose mission is to teach us how to live with confidence and joy inside our bodies. She does this as the New York Times bestselling author of 'Come As You Are,' 'Burnout,' and 'Come Together,' as well as through her 3 popular TED Talks including—with over 3 million views—"How couples can sustain a strong sexual connection for a lifetime." Emily began working as a sex educator 30 years ago at the University of Delaware. She has a Master's in Counseling Psychology and she worked at the famous Kinsey Institute. She has taught graduate and undergraduate classes in human sexuality, relationships, communication, stress management, and sex education. She was Director of Wellness Education at Smith College for eight years before starting to write full time. In this deep-dive chapter we talk about neurodiversity versus neurodivergence, maintaining longterm sexual connection, OKCupid, ADHD and Autism, teaching kids about sex, and, of course, Emily's 3 most formative books... For those who want to strengthen and improve their sexual health with themselves and others ... Let's flip the page to Chapter 146 now...

Feb 28, 2025 • 1h 10min
Chapter 25: James Frey on drunk, defiant differentiation
James Frey, the controversial author of 'A Million Little Pieces,' dives deep into the themes of authenticity and literature. He passionately discusses the transformative power of storytelling and the freedom that comes from defying literary norms. Frey shares personal anecdotes on the cultural contrasts between Canada and the U.S., and reflects on the significance of embracing individuality over societal competition. His insights on the philosophical art of walking and the need for genuine life experiences resonate powerfully, urging a celebration of true self-expression.

Feb 12, 2025 • 2h 32min
Chapter 145: Lindyman leverages long-lasting lessons on living a limitless life
Dive into the intriguing world of the Lindy effect, where the longevity of ideas shapes modern choices. Explore the freedom of reading without guilt, as skipping books becomes a badge of honor. Discover the health implications of ancient practices versus new trends, emphasizing preventive medicine. The discussion also weaves through timeless wisdom in parenting and the power of aphorisms. Plus, unpack societal views on wealth and the connections between community design and personal well-being—all wrapped in a captivating, reflective dialogue.

9 snips
Jan 29, 2025 • 1h 53min
Chapter 22: Tim Urban on shivering in shorts and shifting from sheep to chef
Tim Urban, the mind behind the popular blog Wait But Why and author of What's Our Problem, dives deep into the big questions of existence. He shares humorous insights on why we should embrace quirkiness, like letting kids wear shorts in winter. The conversation meanders through the importance of creativity and rule-breaking in both parenting and storytelling. Tim also tackles the art of simplifying complex topics, from AI to procrastination, blending philosophy with practical wisdom in a way that keeps his audience engaged.

Jan 13, 2025 • 1h 18min
Chapter 144: Nick Sweetman on breaking boundaries with brilliant birds
Nick Sweetman, a prominent Toronto graffiti artist, shares his journey from traditional art to community-focused murals of wildlife. He discusses his creative process in bringing vibrant portrayals of birds and pollinators to life, highlighting the emotional connection between art and nature. Sweetman also touches on the transformative power of imagination, drawing inspiration from childhood literature. The conversation dives into the balance of artistic integrity amidst corporate pressures and the importance of wildlife conservation within urban settings.

Dec 30, 2024 • 1h 32min
Chapter 18: David Sedaris on holding happiness hostage and healing holes in our hearts
David Sedaris, a bestselling author known for his witty and insightful essays, dives deep into the intricacies of aging and artistic integrity. He shares personal anecdotes about his childhood environment's impact on his literary journey and reflects on the balancing act between commercial success and maintaining authenticity. Sedaris also eloquently addresses societal perceptions of wealth and the emotional complexities of writer-audience connections, offering a glimpse into the profound influence of literature on our identities.

Dec 21, 2024 • 49min
Best Of 2024: Neil Pasricha plucks pithy pointers to prime ponderings
Happy Solstice! As we do every December solstice it's time for our 7th Annual "Best Of" episode of 3 Books. 3 Books is our 22-year-long conversation to uncover and discuss the 1000 most formative books in the world. This year we sat with academics at Oxford to bus drivers in St. Louis, with Jonathan Franzen in Santa Cruz to Oliver Burkeman in the North York Moors, with the world's largest bookseller and Amazon union organizers, with Oscar nominees to a guy who dresses up all day as as a duck. This year I've changed tack and made the "Best Of" highly concentrated—under 50 minutes long!—with little snippets from our diverse guests to provide reflection, provoke your thinking, and help to set intentions for 2025 and beyond. Thank you for being a 3 Booker and spending time with this incredible community of book lovers spread across the world. Let’s stop to reflect and then keep enjoying the ride....

Dec 15, 2024 • 1h 39min
Chapter 143: Chris Smalls on anti-Amazon activism and abolishing aristocracy
Amazon is one of the largest companies in the world with over a million employees in the U.S. alone. A monolith responsible for trillions of dollars of revenue through retail, entertainment, and infrastructure. But Chris Smalls took it on anyway. Chris had worked at Amazon for 5 years before he was fired in March 2020 after leading a walkout at Amazon's Staten Island warehouse to protest pandemic working conditions. "We all got radicalized at some point in our lives," he told me. "My life changed forever when I got fired from Amazon." Chris used that motivation to work with his former colleagues to try to unionize the warehouse. The first attempt failed, but in March 2022 the vote passed, and it became the first Amazon warehouse in the United States to be unionized. As of today Amazon has not come to the bargaining table and is pursuing multiple legal actions to avoid recognizing the union, including challenging the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board. What's going on? I flew down to Hackensack, New Jersey to find out. What really happened at that warehouse? And what happens next? Chris filled me in on life after the union drive, why he's been traveling the globe, his experience being under surveillance by Amazon and the police, what it's like leading protests at Jeff Bezos house, and why the Amazon Labor Union has recently affiliated with the Teamsters. Chris calls bullshit on a lot of what we hear about labor organizing and reports on what's happening in the street. What can we learn from socialist countries? Why is the U.S. government reluctant to enforce antitrust regulations? What does fair human work look like in an increasingly algorithmic and AI-dominated society? Pull up a white plastic chair beside us in Chris's backyard as he leans back behind dark shades and plumes of smoke to tell us how working at Amazon is like slavery, what's happening with human jobs as automation skyrockets, whether unions can be effective today, what politicians represent the working class, his 3 most formative books, and much, much more... Let’s flip the page to Chapter 143 now...
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