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If Books Could Kill

If Books Could Kill

Written by: Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri
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About this listen

The airport bestsellers that captured our hearts and ruined our minds© 2026 If Books Could Kill Art Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • The Millionaire Next Door
    Feb 5 2026

    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 Patreon
    • Our merch!
    • Peter's newsletter
    • Peter's other podcast, 5-4
    • Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase

    Sources:

    • Uneasy Street
    • A Century of Wealth In America
    • Family, Education, and Sources of Wealth among the Richest Americans, 1982–2012
    • Wealth Elite Moralities
    • The insane growth of America’s millionaire class
    • The Extraordinary Rise In The Wealth Of Older American Households
    • Planning & Progress Study 2025
    • Striking Out on Their Own: The Self-Employed in Bankruptcy
    • How Many Households Meet The Net Worth Guidelines Of The Millionaire Next Door?
    • Paying Tribute to Thomas Stanley and His ‘Millionaire Next Door’
    • Pity the Billionaires
    • What Rich Women Want
    • The deserving or undeserving rich?
    • The Evolution of Top Incomes

    Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • The Worst Takes of 2025 [TEASER]
    Dec 29 2025

    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, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

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    50 mins
  • Elon Musk Part 2
    Dec 18 2025

    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 Patreon
    • Our merch!
    • Peter's newsletter
    • Peter's other podcast, 5-4
    • Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase

    Sources:

    • From self-proclaimed ‘socialist’ to Team Trump and DeSantis: Elon Musk’s curious politics revealed
    • The Quiet Political Rise of David Sacks, Silicon Valley’s Prophet of Urban Doom
    • Elon Musk biographer admits suggestion SpaceX head blocked Ukraine drone attack was wrong
    • Elon Musk's Daughter on Dad's Biography: 'Sad Excuse for a Puff Piece'
    • Character Limit
    • Twitter fulfilling more government censorship requests under Musk
    • Elon Musk booed for nearly 5 minutes straight at Dave Chappelle show in San Francisco
    • New CNN Chief Trying to Please GOP Elite
    • Research finds more than 14 million preventable deaths by 2030 if USAID defunding continues, including more than 4 million children under five
    • What the data says about Social Security
    • Trump Administration, DOGE Activities Risk SSA Operations and Security of Personal Data

    Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!


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    1 hr and 31 mins
All stars
Most relevant
I love the narrators and the tone they chose for this podcast. Eagerly awaiting whatever books they're gonna cover (even though I stay far far away from this genre of non-fic and self help)

So entertaining !!!!

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