3 Books With Neil Pasricha

3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover the 1000 most formative books in the world. 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 and The Happiness Equation. Each chapter of 3 Books uncovers and discusses the three most formative books from one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Judy Blume, David Sedaris, Chris Anderson of TED, and the world's greatest Uber driver. Each of the 333 chapters is dropped on the exact minute of every new moon and full moon until September 1, 2031. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show as well as the world's only podcast by and for book lovers, writers, makers, sellers... and librarians. For more info check out: www.3books.co Jim Levine is the founder of Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. Most of their book titles are published by imprints of the major houses including Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan. Jim's love of books extends to his own writing of seven books and over 100 articles. When he's not working, Jim enjoys listening to music (especially jazz), learning to play piano, golf, photography, travel, and family time. Chapter Description: Jim Levine is a literary superagent. He and his agency LGR Literary represent everyone from Tom Brady to Ray Dalio to Dan Ariely to Allie Brosch to Gillian Flynn to *cough* Neil Pasricha. Jim Levine is an incredibly thoughtful and intentional guy who I've come to look up to in many ways. He has a wise calm mode of operating with a strategic lens that helps authors navigate the publishing world. In his own words, Jim helps people "explode potential." Before establishing his own agency, he taught at Wellesley College and spent almost a decade as Vice President at the Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Jim's written over seven books himself and has appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and Oprah. And, as you may have guessed, Jim is a voracious reader. Welcome to Chapter 34 of 3 Books. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How can you squeeze in more time for exercise and meditation What's a simple way to remedy any argument in order to find a solution? How can jazz musicians help us improve our listening and negotiation skills? What's a fun relationship game you can play with your partner so you can make decisions faster and share your opinions more openly? How can we balance our focus on both the inner journey and the outer journey? What's the easiest way to figure out the perfect job for you to pursue? Leave us a voicemail! Your message may be included in a future episode: 1-833-READ-A-LOT. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/34 Sign up to receive podcast updates here: https://www.3books.co/email-list

3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover the 1000 most formative books in the world. 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 and The Happiness Equation. Each chapter of 3 Books uncovers and discusses the three most formative books from one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Judy Blume, David Sedaris, Chris Anderson of TED, and the world's greatest Uber driver. Each of the 333 chapters is dropped on the exact minute of every new moon and full moon until September 1, 2031. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show as well as the world's only podcast by and for book lovers, writers, makers, sellers... and librarians. For more info check out: www.3books.co Raj Haldar is an artistic polymath who releases rap albums under the names Lushlife and The Skull Eclipses, produces albums, is official stadium DJ of the Philadelphia Eagles, makes science rap videos for Nick Jr, and is co-author of the runaway New York Times bestseller P Is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever. Chapter Description: I recently visited Type Books in The Junction neighbourhood in Toronto and stumbled upon P is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever. So I flip open the book and I discover there's a page for every letter! A is for Aisle. C is for Czar. T is for … Tsunami. It's a beautiful read and has been on the New York Times bestseller list ever week since it's come out. Who's the guy behind wild book? Well, it's the incredibly polyman Raj Haldar aka Lushlife, who's also a rapper, record producer, one half of The Skull Eclipses, the official stadium DJ of the Philadelphia Eagles, and, yes, in his spare time, also makes viral science rap videos for Nick Jr. We break open concepts like: How do we speak out against established societal norms? What does the hustle in side hustle really look like? And, of course, what are Raj Haldar's three most formative books? I hope you enjoy Chapter 33 of 3 Books. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How can we preserve old cultures while creating new norms? How can we think about growing our creativity? How has the democratization of music production and distribution changed the entertainment industry? How can you manage your side hustle with your main job? How can you pursue your passions and dreams even if your parents don't support you? Leave us a voicemail! Your message may be included in a future episode: 1-833-READ-A-LOT. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/33 Sign up to receive podcast updates here: https://www.3books.co/email-list

3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover the 1000 most formative books in the world. 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 and The Happiness Equation. Each chapter of 3 Books uncovers and discusses the three most formative books from one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Judy Blume, David Sedaris, Chris Anderson of TED, and the world's greatest Uber driver. Each of the 333 chapters is dropped on the exact minute of every new moon and full moon until September 1, 2031. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show as well as the world's only podcast by and for book lovers, writers, makers, sellers... and librarians. For more info check out: www.3books.co Catherine Belknap and Natalie Telfer are best friends, moms of seven children collectively, and the hilarious duo behind the @CatandNat movement to rid the world of mom guilt and mom shame. The pair's hilarious #MomTruths rants and podcast conversations quickly attracted millions of followers all interested in discussing the guilt and expectations surrounding parenting. Cat and Nat are the world's fearless crusaders against the perfection myth and all the gluten-free, sugar-free baking it entails. Every week the pair releases a Mom Truths podcast episode as well as a new recording of their worldwide series Mom Truths. The duo just released their instant bestselling book Mom Truths and regularly tour North America to sold-out audiences. You can find them @catandnat on all social media. Chapter Description: Are you one of the million-plus people who follow Cat and Nat online? (@catandnat on every social.) Cat and Nat are moms of seven (!) children together and they are attempting to give moms permission, help moms be heard, and rid the world of mom guilt and mom shame. Oh! And they're the bestselling authors of Mom Truths: Embarrassing Stories and Brutally Honest Advice on the Extremely Real Struggle of Motherhood. How did I stumble upon these two badass, R-rated, intellectually flamboyant and passionate women? Well, I was wandering around the prairies (Regina, Saskatchewan to be specific) when I stumbled on their show at a casino across from my hotel. Stumbled upon is an understatement given that a thousand women wearing tight leather pants and swishing white wine almost trampled me. I found myself watching their incredible stage show, keeping the audience in stitches, and just putting their finger on this giant invisible stress that so many moms feel … and helping that stress go away. This is the first chapter since Chapter 1 of 3 Books where I have brought my wonderful wife (and mother of three boys!) Leslie. In this chapter, we discuss parenting, motherhood, the pressures we put on ourselves to raise these perfect children, and why those pressures could be harming us and our expectations of our kids. Join me, my wife Leslie, Cat, and Nat as we hang out in Nat's living room to have this important and honest conversation on Nat's beautiful white couch. And, of course, to uncover Cat and Nat's three most formative books. I hope you enjoy this chapter. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why should we empower our children to make their own decisions? How can we teach children about the consequences of their choices? Why should you pursue marriage counselling before getting married? How can we learn to let go of the guilt and shame we feel surrounding parenting? Leave us a voicemail! Your message may be included in a future episode: 1-833-READ-A-LOT. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/32 Sign up to receive podcast updates here: https://www.3books.co/email-list

3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover the 1000 most formative books in the world. 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 and The Happiness Equation. Each chapter of 3 Books uncovers and discusses the three most formative books from one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Judy Blume, David Sedaris, Chris Anderson of TED, and the world's greatest Uber driver. Each of the 333 chapters is dropped on the exact minute of every new moon and full moon until September 1, 2031. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show as well as the world's only podcast by and for book lovers, writers, makers, sellers... and librarians. For more info check out: www.3books.co Juniper is a mother, writer, artist, academic, and a gadfly. She completed a PhD in sociology with a specific focus on gender and sexuality, feminist and queer theories, and experimental methodologies. Her dissertation explored the experiences of sex workers in higher education. Juniper is also the author of numerous essays for VICE, BuzzFeed, Tits and Sass, Pacific Standard, Mutha Magazine, Broadly, and others. Her children's book, How Mamas Love Their Babies, received rave reviews and was even called a "patriarchy smashing children's book" by the editors at Ms. Magazine. It was the first children's book to feature a sex-working parent. She spends as much time as possible with her fabulous, gender-expansive child. Today we are traveling to Omaha, Nebraska, to sit down with former sex worker, PHD graduate, TED speaker, and author of the world's first children's book featuring a sex working parent, Juniper Fitzgerald. How did I get to know Juniper? It all comes back to Chapter 4 of 3 Books with Sarah Ramsey, who recommended the book How Mamas Love Their Babies to me. This book is beautiful and evocative and filled with cut and pasted little pictures … and I was absolutely gripped by it. I was totally sucked in, and the mention of the sex working parent happens so gently and subtly. So I sat down with Juniper in the middle of the Omaha airport and had an extremely educational conversation about important themes like: sex work, the pros and cons of paying for pleasure, decriminalization vs anti-criminalization, the real meaning of 'consent,' how to improve self-esteem, why we should teach children about sex, and so much more. Juniper brings us all sorts of knowledge from her experiences as a mother, a sex worker, and a PhD graduate in sociology with focuses on gender, sexuality, feminist, and queer theories. She was a delight to speak to. I hope you enjoy Chapter 31 of 3 Books. What is sex work? How should we educate children about sex work? Should sex work be decriminalized? How can we improve our self-esteem? Should we teach children masturbation and how to find their pleasure? Why do we need to make mistakes in order to learn and grow? Leave us a voicemail! Your message may be included in a future episode: 1-833-READ-A-LOT. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/31 Sign up to receive podcast updates here: https://www.3books.co/email-list

3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover the 1000 most formative books in the world. 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 and The Happiness Equation. Each chapter of 3 Books uncovers and discusses the three most formative books from one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Judy Blume, David Sedaris, Chris Anderson of TED, and the world's greatest Uber driver. Each of the 333 chapters is dropped on the exact minute of every new moon and full moon until September 1, 2031. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show as well as the world's only podcast by and for book lovers, writers, makers, sellers... and librarians. For more info check out: www.3books.co For 36 years, Jerry Howarth was the radio broadcaster for the two-time World Series-winning baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays. Howarth had shared the play-by-play duties with his late longtime broadcast partner Tom Cheek from 1982 until 2005, and then served as the play-by-play announcer until announcing his retirement before the start of spring training 2018. Jerry graduated with a degree in Economics from the University of Santa Clara in 1968, then served two years as an officer in the U.S. Army, and then finally began his decades-long career as a sportscaster. Chapter Description: My friend Drew Dudley once told me that, other than his parents, he hadn't heard anyone speak to him more in his life than Jerry Howarth … The voice of the Toronto Blue Jays. I can relate. Growing up I would listen to Jerry Howarth call the Blue Jays games on the radio on long summer drives, with my friends at the park, or just on my clock radio with the "Sleep" timer on as I fell asleep. I was thrilled to visit the Skydome in downtown Toronto to sit down with Jerry Howarth for Chapter 30 of 3 Books. We get comfy watching batting practice together with some reggae and dance music in the background. Why do I love Jerry? Because for thirty-six years he was a local leader and community-builder who created trust with millions of baseball fans… In addition to discussing his book Hello Friends, Jerry and I talk about: How do we build a community? How do we develop authentic connections? How can we learn the art of being objective? And how do we learn to coach leaders from the ground up? So come join me and Jerry in the front seats of the Skydome just before the game begins. Welcome to Chapter 30 of 3 Books. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How can you become a "glass overflowing" kind of person? How can we lose with integrity and grace? What's most important when it comes to public speaking and emceeing? How can we develop more empathy? How can death unite and connect us with others? Why shouldn't you wear your religion on your sleeve? Why should you keep background noise in recordings and tapings? How do you take a stand with integrity? What can major league coaches learn from coaching children? What's the only thing capable of hiding talent? Leave us a voicemail! Your message may be included in a future episode: 1-833-READ-A-LOT. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/30 Sign up to receive podcast updates here: https://www.3books.co/email-list

3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover the 1000 most formative books in the world. 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 and The Happiness Equation. Each chapter of 3 Books uncovers and discusses the three most formative books from one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Judy Blume, David Sedaris, Chris Anderson of TED, and the world's greatest Uber driver. Each of the 333 chapters is dropped on the exact minute of every new moon and full moon until September 1, 2031. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show as well as the world's only podcast by and for book lovers, writers, makers, sellers... and librarians. For more info check out: www.3books.co Michael Harris is the bestselling author of The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We've Lost in a World of Constant Connection, which won the 2014 Governor General's Award for English-language non-fiction, and his latest book, Solitude: In Pursuit of a Singular Life in a Crowded World. Harris is a former staff editor for Vancouver Magazine and Western Living, and his writing has also appeared in Wired, Huffington Post, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, and The Walrus. He has been nominated for both the Western Magazine Awards and the National Magazine Awards for his writing. Michael lives with his husband in Vancouver, Canada. Chapter Description: Loneliness rates have doubled since the 1980s and Vivek Murthy, former US Surgeon General, says loneliness will be the next major epidemic. So if loneliness is being alone and sad … then what's being alone and happy? Solitude. Last year, I picked up an incredible book called Solitude by Michael Harris, bestselling author and winner of the Governor General's Award for his writing. It completely blew me away. Why? Because in our era of endless machine-gun blasts at our brains, I feel strongly that the ability to be alone, and to be alone well, is a muscle that is quickly atrophying. Michael shares why we need to develop the strength and capacity to live and be by ourselves and how exactly we go about cultivating a rich interior life. I think after this conversation you'll agree the benefits are enormous and this true "strength of mind" is a crucial aspect of living an intentional life. For Chapter 29 of 3 Books, I flew to Michael's home in Vancouver, BC. We discuss: How do we cultivate the area between wakefulness and sleep? What does a healthy media diet look like? Why shouldn't you talk about anything serious over texts? And how do parents and children navigate the conversation about coming out of the closet? Welcome to Chapter 29 with Michael Harris. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: What's the difference between solitude and loneliness? How do you find love and intimacy in a world of pornography? How can we help children become more self-sufficient? Why can't you improve your connection with other people until you improve your connection with yourself? How can you prime your brain for creativity? How can we learn to live more intentionally? What is the gateway to help people get into different genres of books? Why is it important to invite 'weirdness' into our cultural consumption? Why should you never trust Netflix's recommendations? How can we avoid miscommunication with people online? Should any books be banned from children, and should we censor content from kids? Leave us a voicemail! Your message may be included in a future episode: 1-833-READ-A-LOT. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/29 Sign up to receive podcast updates here: https://www.3books.co/email-list

3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover the 1000 most formative books in the world. 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 and The Happiness Equation. Each chapter of 3 Books uncovers and discusses the three most formative books from one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Judy Blume, David Sedaris, Chris Anderson of TED, and the world's greatest Uber driver. Each of the 333 chapters is dropped on the exact minute of every new moon and full moon until September 1, 2031. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show as well as the world's only podcast by and for book lovers, writers, makers, sellers... and librarians. For more info check out: www.3books.co Mark Manson is the New York Times and international bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, with over 6 million in sales in the US alone. His blog, markmanson.net, attracts more than two million readers per month. Mark just released a brand new book titled Everything is F*cked: A Story About Hope, and will be publishing another book, Will Smith's memoir, later this year. Chapter Description: Have you by chance heard of a book called The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck? I'm guessing you have since it's sold, oh, no big deal, over six million copies over the past three years in the US alone. Is there a bigger book in the world right now? No. There is not. And there hasn't been a non-fiction book this big and this disruptive in a long, long time… So: Is Mark Manson a one-hit wonder? A one-trick pony? Was the success of his book a total random fluke? His fifteen minutes of fame? I'm gonna say it straight up. No. Absolutely not. Mark's first book, and it's meteoric success, is the ultimate product of an unbelievably large mind which has mastered the art of taking the biggest, densest books on the planet and then simmering, simmering, and simmering them down into beautifully simple, profanity-laced models and stories that hit you like a ton of bricks. The world is so loud! So busy. So full. Everything is screaming at us to buy this, buy that, do this, do that. And you know what we need in this wild crazy world? We need guides. We need clear voices. We need people to give us simple and practical advice that we can follow and put into place… Mark Manson is one of those guides for me and millions of others. So in his cramped hotel room at The Drake Hotel in Toronto, on the eve of his release of his second book Everything is Fucked: A Book About Hope (which is mind-expandingly beautiful), Mark and I go deep, really deep, on how to build trust in an era of clutter, why he swears so much in his writing, why he poo-poos self-help gurus, what is the root problem with the "advertising model", why Mark played video games for months straight after the success of his first book, and what his writing routines and principles are… Welcome to Chapter 28 with Mark Manson. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why is it important to be selfish when it comes to your writing? Why is swearing an important form of self expression? What is the root problem with the "advertising model"? How do we make the most of our time in our short, tiny lives? How are science and spirituality interrelated? How does knowledge from ancient philosophers relate to modern psychology? How do we choose the path that's most aligned with our morals instead of most profitable? Why is there no such thing as atheism? Why do we need to be more comfortable with quitting? How can you chew on and digest huge, complicated topics? Why should you consider unfollowing all news? How can you read more without losing your free time? Leave us a voicemail! Your message may be included in a future episode: 1-833-READ-A-LOT. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/28 Sign up to receive podcast updates here: https://www.3books.co/email-list/

3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover the 1000 most formative books in the world. 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 and The Happiness Equation. Each chapter of 3 Books uncovers and discusses the three most formative books from one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Judy Blume, David Sedaris, Chris Anderson of TED, and the world's greatest Uber driver. Each of the 333 chapters is dropped on the exact minute of every new moon and full moon until September 1, 2031. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show as well as the world's only podcast by and for book lovers, writers, makers, sellers... and librarians. For more info check out: www.3books.co Robin Goodfellow, founder of Little Bones Beverage company is part owner of Bar Raval, Prettyugly, and Harry's in Toronto with many new projects on the go. He started Bartending 16 years ago in Toronto and boasts about the constant need to change and evolve. His passion belongs to training new bartenders, fine tuning his existing establishments, helping new proprietors develop their bar programs, and throwing unique and creative events that push the beverage industry to new territory. Bar Raval was named #1 in the 2018 Canada's Best Bars list and Prettyugly Bar was #8. Bar Raval is currently #70 Best Bar in the World. Chapter Description: A few years ago my friend Rita was raving to me about Bar Raval, a new bar in downtown Toronto, and took me there one night. She said the interior was this unreal Antoni Gaudí-inspired pattern of curved mahogany which I had to see to believe. So we get there and I go up to the bar and come face to face with this bartender completely covered in tattoos and say, "Can I grab a drink?" And he shoots back, "What do you want?" And I say, "Well, what do you have?" and he says "No, what do you want?" And I say "Well, I don't want anything sweet." And he does this sort of slow swivel to look back at the huge display of glass jars full of colorful tinctures behind him and then stares back and me and says, "Does it look like a fucking sweet place to you?" I was taken aback. But he kept challenging me to say what I wanted, what I felt like, what I was going for … and so finally … I did. I exploded in this giant passionate diatribe about how I wanted to feel optimistic and refreshed and nostalgic … and then he gets to work. He begins smashing ice cubes, picking glasses from fridges, shaving limes, adding drops of who knows what to my glass and then finally puts down in front of me a bubbling neon green concoction like I'd never seen. And you know what? The drink was optimistic… and refreshing … and nostalgic. It was like a magic trick! I couldn't believe it. Over the years I got to know and fall in love with this fiery, passionate bartender named Robin Goodfellow. Turns out he owned the place together with some partners. As well as other bars including PrettyUgly and Harry's. In 2018, Bar Raval was ranked #1 of Canada's top bars and PrettyUgly was ranked #8. Also, Bar Raval is currently ranked #70 best bar in the world. Robin has been bartending for sixteen years and spent eight years studying social theory. Robin and I go deep into the purpose of a bar, what everyone is looking for in life and how we can find it, what underpins all great service, how to become more mindful eaters, the paradox between authenticity and quality, and why the farm-to-table movement is over. I hope you enjoy Chapter 27 of 3 Books with my favorite bartender Robin Goodfellow. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How do we find what we are looking for in an era of loneliness, separation, and anxiety? What should bosses never say to employees? What's the paradox between authenticity and quality? Why should you try to sell a feeling rather than a product? How can eating animals and certain plants be seen as exerting power over nature? How has the 'ideal body image' changed over centuries? Does cultural appropriation exist within the food industry? What's the difference between 'good' and 'bad' traditions, and when should we argue against tradition? Leave us a voicemail! Your message may be included in a future episode: 1-833-READ-A-LOT. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/27 Sign up to receive podcast updates here: https://www.3books.co/email-list/

3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover the 1000 most formative books in the world. 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 and The Happiness Equation. Each chapter of 3 Books uncovers and discusses the three most formative books from one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Judy Blume, David Sedaris, Chris Anderson of TED, and the world's greatest Uber driver. Each of the 333 chapters is dropped on the exact minute of every new moon and full moon until September 1, 2031. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show as well as the world's only podcast by and for book lovers, writers, makers, sellers... and librarians. For more info check out: www.3books.co Angie Thomas was born, raised, and still lives in Jackson, Mississippi. A former teen rapper, she holds a BFA in creative writing from Belhaven University. Her award-winning, acclaimed debut novel, The Hate U Give, is a #1 New York Times bestseller and major motion picture from Fox 2000, starring Amandla Stenberg and directed by George Tillman, Jr. Her second novel, On the Come Up, is on sale now and is already a #1 New York Times bestseller as well. Chapter Description: No one gets it like Angie. Her books are putting their fingers right on the pulse of America today. Racial tensions, police shootings, citizen uprisings. Does this sound like the setting of a YA novel? How about two of them? Well, as I write this her debut The Hate U Give and her sophomore release On The Come Up are #1 and #2 on The New York Times bestseller list. We sat down together at the busiest hotel in downtown Toronto on the tail end of Angie's 15-city book tour to discuss how we find the truth for ourselves, when do we bring up harsh realities to kids, and what place media and religion have in society today. We dive deep into the heightened racial and political tensions today and we search for a way out… And, as always, we get to learn Angie Thomas's three most formative books. I hope you enjoy. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How and when do we expose children to harsh political realities Why can we no longer trust the media to give us the honest truth? How can we build BS-meters to filter out fake news? What lawsuit did Martin Luther King Jr's family win against the US government? Was Jesus a radical? What's the potential first step needed in the US today to help start to sow deep racial divisions? Leave us a voicemail! Your message may be included in a future episode: 1-833-READ-A-LOT. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/26 Sign up to receive podcast updates here: https://www.3books.co/email-list/

3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover the 1000 most formative books in the world. 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 and The Happiness Equation. Each chapter of 3 Books uncovers and discusses the three most formative books from one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Judy Blume, David Sedaris, Chris Anderson of TED, and the world's greatest Uber driver. Each of the 333 chapters is dropped on the exact minute of every new moon and full moon until September 1, 2031. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show as well as the world's only podcast by and for book lovers, writers, makers, sellers... and librarians. For more info check out: www.3books.co James Frey is the author of the international bestsellers A Million Little Pieces, My Friend Leonard, Bright Shiny Morning, The Final Testament of the Holy Bible, and his latest hit, Katarina, and has sold over 20 million copies of his books in 42 languages. In 2009, Frey founded the publishing company Full Fathom Five, through which he wrote and released The Lorien Legacies series under the pseudonym Pittacus Lore as well as the YA series Endgame. Frey is well-known for writing about his struggles with substance addiction and his path to sobriety. Chapter Description: What do you know about James Frey? Or what do you think you know about James Frey? I'm guessing it's not nothing. Everyone has an opinion! When I first spotted A Million Little Pieces on my wife's bookshelf when we were moving in together I was like "Oh? Really? That book? The Oprah guy?" And she was like "Have you read it?" And I was like "No, no idea what it's even about. Just that it's not real or whatever." She looked at me with disappointed eyes. Understandably so! I hadn't bothered to go below the surface. To read about it on my own. I had just soaked in some distant fumes off the story. "Read it," she said, and pushed the book into my hands. That night I opened A Million Little Pieces and was completely pulled into this pulsing, frenetic, endlessly climactic story of addiction, growth, and finding yourself. The book shook me. It was a masterpiece. I couldn't believe it existed. I almost felt anger towards the Oprah saga because it headfaked me into thinking I knew what the book was about… when I couldn't have been more off. I went deeper into James Frey's catalogue and found myself similarly seduced by books like Bright Shiny Morning and Katerina. His stories have a pace and staccato to them that's perfect for distracted brains like mine. He doesn't mince words, he doesn't shy away, and his characters always punch you in the gut. I sat down with James with a lot of questions and I loved our discussions around fatherhood and living an intentional life. We talk about teaching children to read, the importance of secular bibles, and why (and how) we can slowly stop comparing ourselves to others. We talk about critics and he shares an incredible story on what true pain really is. (Hint: It's not getting yelled at on TV.) We explore what getting drunk really means and talk about how to step outside and learn to fall in love with whatever you see. I hope you enjoy Chapter 25 of 3 Books with James Frey. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How can 'getting drunk' help you enjoy life more? How do we avoid comparing ourselves to others in the age of social media? Why should writers focus less on following rules and expectations of the literary world? How can we learn to live more in alignment with our morals and what we think is right? How can different activities be forms of meditation? How do we learn to accept ourselves? Leave us a voicemail! Your message may be included in a future episode: 1-833-READ-A-LOT. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/25 Sign up to receive podcast updates here: https://www.3books.co/email-list/