If Books Could Kill
Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri
Publishing Details
About This Podcast
Podcasting 2.0 Features
Social Media
Explore Statistics
Recent Episodes
Think And Grow Rich
Peter and Michael discuss "Think And Grow Rich," the 1937 classic written by a lifelong fraudster who finds his final mark: You.Where to find us: Our PatreonOur merch!Peter's newsletterPeter's other…
Grit
In 2013, education reformers tried to help poor students the using the best tool at their disposal: The 16th most popular Ted Talk.Special thanks to Marcus Credé! Where to find us: Our PatreonOur…
CROSSOVER EVENT: Tim Ferriss’s "The 4-Hour Body"
Peter went on Mike's other show, Maintenance Phase, to revisit a biohacking diet book for the boys.Where to find us: Our PatreonOur merch!Peter's newsletterPeter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other…
Bullshit Jobs
Peter and Michael discuss "Bullshit Jobs" by anarchist anthropologist David Graeber. The result: two professional podcasters debating which jobs are real and which jobs are fake.Where to find us: Our…
The Millionaire Next Door
It turns out that the key to wealth is buying the right kind of watch, marrying the right kind of wife and being the right kind of white.Where to find us: Our PatreonOur merch!Peter's…
The Worst Takes of 2025 [TEASER]
The boys catalog the definitive worst takes of the year, from the pundits who misunderstood our political moment to a guy who wants to have sex with a computer.To hear the rest of the episode,…
Elon Musk Part 2
The boys continue their discussion of Walter Isaacson's "Elon Musk." This is the part where Elon loses his mind. Where to find us: Our PatreonOur merch!Peter's newsletterPeter's other podcast,…
Elon Musk
A biography that dares to ask: Is a lifetime of worker abuse and narcissism worth it to experience robot butlers?Where to find us: Our PatreonOur merch!Peter's newsletterPeter's other podcast,…
Sapiens
How do you tell the entire history of humanity in a single book? Whatever you do, do not open a browser window. Thanks to Dorsa Amir, Duncan Stibbard Hawkes and David Perry for help researching and…
How To Win Friends And Influence People
Live like Dale Carnegie, neg like Calvin Coolidge.Where to find us: Our PatreonOur merch!Peter's newsletterPeter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance PhaseSources:Self-help Messiah:…
Thomas Chatterton Williams' "Summer of Our Discontent"
Peter and Michael discuss a book that's light on facts and long on sentences.Where to find us: Our PatreonOur merch!Peter's newsletterPeter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance…
He's Just Not That Into You
How one comedian's offhand advice launched a decent TV episode, a mediocre book and a terrible movie.Where to find us: Our PatreonOur merch!Peter's newsletterPeter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other…
Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink"
Did you know that in the split-second it took you to read the title of this episode, your subconscious already figured out that it was going to be extremely good?Peter and Michael talk about Malcolm…
The Supreme Court Goes Full TERF [TEASER]
This is most of the episode but if you want to hear the last 20 minutes, support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod
"In Covid's Wake" Part 2: Wrong About The Right
Last episode we met two Princeton political scientists who are bad at virology. Today we learn that they are also bad at political science.Where to find us: Peter's newsletterPeter's other podcast,…
"In Covid's Wake" Part 1: Lying About Lockdowns
Two political scientists look back at a deadly pandemic and ask, "could we have done even less?"Where to find us: Peter's newsletterPeter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast, Maintenance…
Bonus: The Lab Leak Goes Mainstream
By popular demand we are releasing last month's Patreon bonus episode on the main feed! We chart the transformation of the lab leak from an unfounded theory promoted by right-wing cranks to an…
The Let Them Theory
Peter and Michael discuss The Let Them Theory, a self-help guide to seeking bliss through unmitigated complacency.Where to find us: Peter's newsletterPeter's other podcast, 5-4Mike's other podcast,…
Josh Hawley's "Manhood" [TEASER]
To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod
Steve Harvey's "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man"
Are you a single lady struggling to find love with a man? Don't fret! A twice-divorced game show host who thinks conversation is for women is here to help.Where to find us: Peter's newsletterPeter's…
Frequently Asked Questions
If Books Could Kill has published 76 episodes since November 2022, covering topics in Arts, Books.
If Books Could Kill is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 59m.
Similar Podcasts
Pop Culture Happy Hour
NPR
300 episodes
Good Noticings
Vox Media Podcast Network
288 episodes
The New Yorker Radio Hour
WNYC Studios and The New Yorker
1,037 episodes
MuggleCast: The Harry Potter Re-Read Podcast
Harry Potter
774 episodes
Book Riot - The Podcast
Book Riot
907 episodes
Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx
348 episodes