3 Books With Neil Pasricha

Chapter 48: Michael Bungay Stanier on massive moons and the magic of metaphor 15.06.2026 1t 11min

On a pair of folding lawn chairs on his front porch in Toronto's Roncesvalles neighborhood, I sat down with my friend Michael Bungay Stanier. Michael's mind is like a box that you open and a whole bunch of springs suddenly fly out in all directions. Here's a bit of his biography to give you a taste of this guy: "I've never quite fit the traditional mold, and honestly, I think that's been the advantage that has shaped my life. Smart and successful don't have to look one way. But making space for that – for different voices, different ambitions, different ways of moving through the world – takes real work. That's my work. That's the mark I want to make on the world: helping people figure out what matters most to them and how to get more of that." Should we stop there? No, I'll keep going. Michael is an Australian who went to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. There, he met a beautiful Canadian woman who he fell in love with and followed back to Canada. He founded a company called Box of Crayons which teaches 10-minute coaching strategies so busy managers can build stronger teams. Most recently, he also founded MBS Works, a digital platform featuring all his books, courses, keynotes, and tools focused on individuals who want to positively change their lives. He has won numerous awards for Coach of the Year and wrote a book called 'The Coaching Habit' which turned into a huge phenomenon with (in only 3+ years) over 700,000 copies sold and over 2000 Amazon reviews. (Sidenote: The book was published by Jesse Finkelstein of Page Two Publishing, our guest in Chapter 23) Michael is also the author of 'Do More Great Work,' 'How to Begin', 'How to Work with (Almost) Anyone', and 'The Advice Trap.' I love Michael Bungay Stanier. He's one of the most fascinating minds in my life, and I feel so grateful and honored to call him a friend. I hope you fall in love with him too. In this chapter, we talk about simplifying complex things, finding curiosity, and of course, his three most formative books. So pull up a lawn chair! And let's flip the page back to Chapter 48 now....

Chapter 161: Yann Martel on rural revelations and reliable writing routines 31.05.2026 1t 22min

Happy blue moon, everyone! Yes, it is indeed the second full moon of the month which brings us a second May chapter of 3 Books. This one features an author I've been hoping to have on our show for years. Join me in welcoming the Booker Prize–winning novelist, deeply philosophical storyteller, and one of Canada's most distinctive literary voices ... Mr. Yann Martel! Yann is best known for 'Life of Pi', the global phenomenon that won The Booker Prize in 2002, sold over 15 million copies worldwide, and was later adapted into an Academy Award–winning film. Born in Salamanca, Spain in 1963, Yann spent his childhood in Spain, Portugal, Alaska, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Canada. Yann's work is deeply shaped by a pulsing curiosity, philosophy, and research. He journeyed through India while developing 'Life of Pi', visited Holocaust memorial sites while writing 'Beatrice and Virgil', and even launched a "guerilla book club" called '101 Letters to a Prime Minister', where he mailed books to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper every two weeks for four years. Yann's newest novel, 'Son of Nobody', is a (new!) ancient retelling of the Trojan War told through the modern lens of a Canadian researcher who discovers this poem while exploring themes of homesickness, regret, ambition, love, and grief. Tune in as we discuss Yann's writing routines, the importance of stories, AI in the world of publishing, racism in Australia, art as a co-creation between writer and reader, the beauty of the prairies, and of course, Yann Martel's most formative books... Let's flip the page to Chapter 161 now...

Chapter 46: Dr. Laura Markham on prioritizing presence to parent peacefully 16.05.2026 1t 8min

Nestled into a beautiful century-old brownstone in Park Slope, Brooklyn, I spoke with the amazing Dr. Laura Markham—a preacher of love, letting love in, sending love out, and using that as a way to deepen our connection with ourselves and our children. Who is Dr. Laura Markham? She's a Columbia-trained clinical psychologist, founder and editor at PeacefulParentHappyKids.com, author of six parenting books including my favorite, Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids, a parenting expert, and a life-changer for many, many families—including mine. (You'll hear what my wife Leslie thinks at the beginning of this chapter!) Dr. Laura Markham translates proven science into practical and simple solutions for living an intentional life. So in Chapter 46, let's pause and choose how we respond to help drive a movement toward love and compassion. I deeply resonate with Dr. Laura Markham's work because I feel like the higher place she leads us toward is the same place I want 3 Books to lead us toward. In this chapter, we chat about the complexities of parenting and how we can be more present as parents. Dr. Laura Markham shares many valuable insights, from communicating through play, navigating our own traumas, mastering the skill of sending love to strangers, and how we need to develop a closer relationship with death. And, of course, we talk about Dr. Laura Markham's 3 most formative books. Let's flip back to Chapter 46 now....

Chapter 160: Nita Prose on mastering manuscripts and making Molly the Maid 01.05.2026 1t 46min

Happy Flower Moon, everyone! Up in Toronto we're experiencing a wonderful blooming, a beautiful bird migration, and lots of slowly-getting-warmer days as we inch towards summer. With this warm spring breeze I'm thrilled to welcome our latest 3 Books guest: a luminous force in publishing, a powerhouse editor-turned-author, and a wonderful storyteller ... the one and only Nita Prose! Today Nita is best known for her Molly the Maid mystery series which features three main titles and a holiday edition—'The Maid,' 'The Mystery Guest,' 'The Mistletoe Mystery,' and 'The Maid's Secret'—which have collectively sold over 2 million copies. Raised in Ontario's Simcoe County, Nita began her career by contributing to literary magazines, became a production editor with HarperCollins, and then became a Senior Editor at Doubleday. She then held the lofty publishing position of Vice President and Editorial Director at Simon & Schuster Canada and oversaw titles by authors like Rupi Kaur (@rupikaur_), Kate Morton (@katemortonauthor), Iain Reid (@tidydissolve), and... me! Nita was the editor of my book on resilience 'You Are Awesome: How To Navigate Change, Wrestle with Failure, and Live an Intentional Life' which came out in 2019 and my book on gratitude and community 'Our Book Of Awesome,' which came out in 2022. Nita has since left publishing to write full-time and today her phenomenal career and perspectives offer a true publishing and writing masterclass. Tune in as we discuss: What does an editor actually do? How do you get a job in publishing? What writing routines structure Nita's stories? Why might you keep the novel you're writing a secret from your long-term partner? How do you write an allegory? And (of course!) which 3 books most shaped her life? We talk about creating characters grounded in emotional truths, measuring success within the labyrinth-like writing industry, the importance of reading across genres, and much, much more. Let's flip the page to Chapter 160 now...

Chapter 45: Rich Roll on wrestling with recovery and running to redemption 17.04.2026 1t 38min

Happy new moon, everybody! Today we fly down to the hills of Calabasas, California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, where I sat behind a microphone at a walnut desk across from the one and only Rich Roll. Rich went to Stanford and Cornell and was a national athlete in swimming before his career was cut short by a decade-long struggle with alcohol—eventually landing him in jail and rehab. On the eve of his 40th birthday, as he walked up the stairs he was left totally winded… and decided it was time to make a change. The next day, Rich overhauled his life. He switched to a 100% vegan, plant-based diet, grabbed his running shoes, jumped back into the pool, and two years later, fueled only by plants and after losing 50 pounds, he became the first vegan to ever compete in the 320-mile ultra-marathon and finished as the 3rd fastest American in the race. Are you kidding me?? He then went on to complete five Ironman Triathlons on five islands of Hawaii in one week! In 2012, he wrote his inspirational memoir 'Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself', which became a bestseller upon its release. It's a fantastic book and memoir. I've read it. I loved it and can't recommend it enough. In 2013, he launched The Rich Roll Podcast which is honestly my favorite podcast on the planet. Rich hangs out at the edge of personal growth and development and offers deep exploration—what he calls "a weekly aural dance"— with guests like Yuval Noah Harari, Malala Yousafzai, and, yes, even me! If you know Rich this classic chat is a way to see him from a new side by learning about which books make him tick ... and if you don't know him yet, well, you're in for a treat. He's a gem and I think after the chat you'll want to keep hanging out with him on YouTube or Instagram. Pull up an extra chair and grab a seat at our table!

Chapter 159: Eve Harlow on bolstering bibliophilia and boosting bookish brains 02.04.2026 1t 28min

We welcome global gallivant and raging bibliophile Eve Harlow on 3 Books! Born in Russia, raised in Israel, living in Canada and the U.S., Eve Harlow is a talented actress best known for roles in The 100, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Night Agent, and her current star turn as Dr. Ingrid Derian in Watson, the medical-mystery thriller inspired by stories of Sherlock Holmes. Somehow between her busy acting schedule, Eve finds time to read a book a week. She's a library junkie, a reading phenom, and posts stacks of her latest reads @eveharlow between red carpet shots and behind-the-scenes clips from her shows. This is a conversation for all of us who aspire to grow our love of reading books amidst the digital deluge. We live in worlds designed to tease our brains into shallow skimming. So how does Eve do it? What systems does she use? How does she think about her reading life? And (of course!) which 3 books shaped her more than any others? We talk about reading habits, magic realism, identity in a politically robust and privacy-eroded world, deliberate daydreaming, building resilience, and much, much more. Pull up a chair and join us in this bookish conversation. Let's flip the page to Chapter 159 now...

Chapter 42: Molly Bloom on poker princess privileges and pushing past pomposity 19.03.2026 54min

Join me on the couch in Molly Bloom's hotel room at the Four Seasons in downtown Toronto. Molly began her career as a world-class skier, but while training as a pre-teen was diagnosed with severe scoliosis. Her doctor told her she could never ski again, but even as a pre-teen Molly had incredible strength of mind and she ended up back on the slopes only a year after her surgery. By age 21, she was ranked #3 in North America. She then took off to LA and began running one of the most exclusive, high-stakes, underground poker games in the world, featuring players like Alex Rodriguez, Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, and was raking in millions of dollars per year. Then what happened? The feds went after her! The mafia went after her! And there was a dramatic takedown. While awaiting sentencing, she wrote her life's story in her memoir, Molly's Game. That book became a bestseller and was turned into a movie written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, writer of The West Wing and The Social Network, starring Jessica Chastain (as Molly), Idris Elba, and Kevin Costner. Molly has been featured on Ellen, NPR, LA Times, VICE, and many more. But beneath the surface is a story that, as she says in this chapter, has never been shared before. There was a journey happening inside Molly that forced her to look at the downsides of her ambition and addictive personality. So get into something comfy, grab a seat between us, and let's talk about life altering public defeat, how a memoir transforms into an action-packed Hollywood feature, the liberty in losing everything, finding the 'monetizable asset' in your life, and Molly's 3 most formative books. Let's flip the page back to Chapter 42 now....

Chapter 158: Sonja Lyubomirsky helps harness happiness by honing hearty habits 03.03.2026 1t 27min

Sonja Lyubomirsky is one of the most influential happiness researchers of our time. Sonja moved to the United States from Moscow at age 9 in the 70s. She went to Harvard and Stanford in the 80s and began studying happiness in 1989 ... longer than almost anyone else alive! Positive psychology wasn't "founded" by Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi for another decade. Sonja has published hundreds of papers including her Most Cited 2005 paper which defined the field by flipping a long-held assumption on its head: That happiness doesn't follow success but causes it. Sonja is now following up her bestsellers 'The How of Happiness' and 'The Myths Of Happiness' with a new book called 'How to Feel Loved', a joint effort co-written with relationship expert Dr. Harry Reis, which is a culmination of 30 years of research that all point to one central truth: that feeling loved (not just being loved!) is a crucial ingredient of happiness. In this conversation we talk about the four horsemen that can ruin a marriage, what MDMA does to our brains, why small talk doesn't build connection, the best advice for dating, how our brains respond to love, the single best way to feel happier today, and, of course, the eminent Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky's 3 most formative books. Let's flip the page to Chapter 158 now...

Chapter 40: Comedian Pete Holmes on infinite infinities and the insanity of is-ness 17.02.2026 1t 12min

A few years ago I was in LA and I went with my friend Chad to a "Judd Apatow and friends" comedy show where I was blown away by the lineup he brought out. Ray Romano! Zach Galifianakis! And, of course, the incredible Pete Holmes. Pete was my favorite comic that night. I have loved his comedy for years! And his book 'Comedy Sex God' was a wonderful read. My parents are Hindu but I grew up in the secular suburbs of Toronto being exposed to many different religions. Pete was very religious, and then wasn't, and now is again ... in this thoughtful, examining, spiritual way. His book, which is essentially his memoir, chronicles his journey through faith with lots of laughs and his trademark mind-expanding insights along the way. Pete's podcast You Made It Weird is a comedic exploration of the meaning of life, with guests ranging from Ryan Holiday to Mayim Bialik to Ben Stiller. Pete also starred in the HBO show Crashing which he executive produced with Judd Apatow. And, big news, he is currently touring! He's in Miami, LA, Royal Oaks, Irving, Madison, and Denver before the summer. Check out his comedy specials: Impregnated with Wonder (2011), Nice Try, The Devil (2013), Faces and Sounds (2016), Dirty Clean (2018), and I Am Not For Everyone (2023). So flip the page back to Chapter 40 of 3 Books and talk about why we withhold love, why myths are always true and sometimes really happen, why our brains want certainty but our hearts are comfortable with mystery, the salty sweet conundrum of life, and, of course, Pete's 3 most formative books. I hope you enjoy this classic chapter with Pete Holmes.

Chapter 157: Paul Hawken junks jargon to jolt generations 01.02.2026 2t 16min

Paul Hawken is a brilliant thinker, author, activist, and elder who masterfully distills wisdom about our planetary home. I remember hearing Paul's 2009 commencement speech called "You Are Brilliant and The Earth is Hiring" where he said "You are going to have to figure out what it means to be a human being on Earth at a time when every living system is declining and the rate of decline is accelerating." Paul is the author of nine bestselling books including 'Drawdown', 'Regeneration', and his latest book 'Carbon, The Book of Life'—an incredible book that came out in 2025 and masterfully distills endless planetary wisdom into simple truths we all need to hear. (I included it in 'The Very Best Books I Read in 2025.') Grab a seat between us and let's talk about how nature cooperates, why fighting climate change is the wrong metaphor, why the climate crisis is a human crisis, how jargon disconnects, and what decades of activism have taught Paul about being human. This conversation with a sage of sages stuck with me and I think it'll stick with you. Let's flip the page into Chapter 157 now ...

Chapter 38: Ryan Holiday bashes beachy books and builds a balanced base 19.01.2026 1t 14min

Thirteen years ago I was surfing online when I stumbled on a blog post called "How To Read More — A Lot More" by someone I'd never heard of named Ryan Holiday. I started reading the post and got sucked in. He had a point! Many great points, actually. And he was young. 26 years old! A 26-year-old young man telling the world to read more books? In an era where most twenty-something men read, uh, none? I found Ryan to be a breath of fresh air. I immediately began to copy everything he did! He launched a monthly book club. I launched a monthly book club! (With his blessing, of course.) He was talking about reading fifty then a hundred and then hundreds of books a year. Well, I started reading five books and then ten books and then fifty books a year. I began cancelling news subscriptions and consciously put my phone away. I installed a bookshelf at my front door. I moved my TV to the basement! And, of course, I started this podcast—all about reading. In a way 3 Books would not exist without Ryan Holiday. In some ways I can probably trace my rediscovered passion for reading all the way back to that 2013 blog post. But Ryan is not just a blogger anymore. He's not just a writer guy on the internet anymore. Ryan Holiday has sold over 10 million books (!) and essentially leads the repopularization of stoic philosophy. Some of his books include 'The Obstacle Is The Way', 'Ego Is The Enemy', 'Stillness Is The Key', 'Discipline is Destiny', and his new book, out just a few months ago, 'Wisdom Takes Work'. Ryan also runs DailyStoic.com, the consulting company Brass Check, Daily Dad, and The Painted Porch indie bookstore in Bastrop, Texas. He and his wife Sam live with their two sons in nearby Austin. He's become a friend and I have definitely caught his bug. So in Chapter 38 of 3 Books we're going to fly down to Ryan's home in Austin and get 4 of his most formative books. (You'll hear why on the show.) Among other things Ryan shares how to decide who to trust, how he got fired from his first job, and why we shouldn't turn parenting into a job. I hope you enjoy this classic chapter of 3 Books with Mr. Ryan Holiday.

Chapter 156: Salim Amin chronicles courage and compassion in crisis and conflict 03.01.2026 1t 46min

Africa is the world's second largest continent—by land and population! One and a half billion people spread across fifty-five countries. It's huge! Even a trip there, even many trips there, can only scratch the surface. But we're trying! My mum was born in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1950, and I recently returned from my first journey to Africa where I met incredible people and heard remarkable stories. In this third African chapter of 3 Books I sat down with Salim Amin where we discuss what it means to be a great citizen in the world today and how leading with compassion and curiosity can be some of the balm the world needs. As some background Salim's father Mo Amin lived from 1943 to 1996 and at his peak was the single most well-known photographer ... in the world! His photos of the 1984 Ethiopian famine were the basis of the famous Live Aid concert and directly responsible for saving millions of lives. Salim is going to share some of the most memorable stories from his dad's remarkable career and legacy ... all of which happened before he tragically died in a hijacked plane that crashed into the Indian Ocean. Today Salim is the CEO of Camerapix, the legendary (and first-ever!) African media agency, which owns all his dad's photos—of dictators, wildlife, assassinations, and more—and he's become a documentary filmmaker, producer, author, journalist, and TV host in his own right. Salim's documentary "Mo & Me" won over a dozen prestigious awards including the "Grand Jury Prize" at the New York Film Festival and I loved his stunning photo book "Kenya: Through My Father's Eyes". I was thrilled to sit down in-person—in Nairobi!—with Salim, at the Camerapix office, to discuss legacy, identity, fatherhood, purpose, and formative books. There are some absolutely wild stories in this chat you won't soon forget! Let's flip the page into Chapter 156 now...

The Best Of 2025: Neil Pasricha mines memorable, mind-shifting moments and messages 21.12.2025 1t 17min

Happy Solstice, everyone! In the northern hemisphere today we have the least amount of daylight of any day of the year. Below the equator it has the most! And as we do every December solstice it's time for our annual "Best Of" episode of 3 Books. 3 Books is our award-winning 22-year-long conversation to uncover and discuss the 1000 most formative books in the world ... 3 books at a time. This year we recorded shows in Nairobi, Ottawa, Del Mar, and even a few on the street ... journeying to collect stories and lessons that can help us all live richer lives of meaning and intention. Featuring clips from... Nick Sweetman - Street muralist Lindyman - Lindy Effect evangelist Emily Nagoski - Sex educator Nickisha - Dog walker Ginny Yurich - Founder of '1000 Hours Outside' John and Alison - Booksellers, Camino Books, Del Mar, CA Jean Chrétien - Former Canadian Prime Minister The Holderness Family - YouTubers and authors 'ADHD is Awesome' Robin Sloan - Novelist, 'Moonbound' / 'Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore' Carl Honoré - Author, 'In Praise of Slowness' Peter Kimani - Novelist, 'Dance of the Jakaranda' Abdullahi Bulle - Bookseller, Nuria Books, Nairobi, Kenya Thank you for being a 3 Booker and spending time with our incredible community of book lovers spread across the world. Listen on your walk, drive, or workout, on your own, or with a friend, and let's continue to celebrate the awe in this world while striving to live our lives the best we can...

Chapter 37: Malcolm Gladwell on strangers, spies, and silencing the system 20.12.2025 41min

Who we are is a function of where we are. Do you agree with that? Who you are depends on where you are. We're different people in different places, right? You're different in the board room than you are on vacation. You're different with your parents than you are with your kids. I'm different hanging out with Malcolm Gladwell in his West Village apartment than I am sitting in my basement as I type up a little note about it. That theme is one that we get to open up in this chapter of 3 Books with the one and only Malcolm Gladwell. I flew down to New York and joined Malcolm at his place where we settled around a table surrounded by books. Top to bottom! Floor to ceiling! And, no big deal, all hardcovers. "This is a fraction of my books, I should say," he told me as we began the chat. We talk about raising nerds in a world forcing us into being average, how to find tribes where we truly fit in, who Malcolm thinks is the best non-fiction author alive, why thrillers are instructive, what Malcolm's biggest advice is for aspiring authors, and, of course, his 3 most formative books. It was a rare treat to sit down with Malcolm Gladwell in this classic chapter of 3 Books...

My Book 'Canada is Awesome' | Full Audiobook 12.12.2025 58min

This podcast is me reading a little book I put out earlier this year: CANADA IS AWESOME It's an audio book about all the weird, wonderful, beautiful things that make Canada ... Canada. Did you ever notice Canadians speak in the collective? "What do you think of the weather we're having?" "Shall we grab a Timmy's before the meeting?" "Think we have a shot at the playoffs?" We, we, we. We use the word we so much. Why do we feel like such a collective? I don't think it's complicated. I think it's because we are one. We all toss around half of everything we make into a big glass jar and use it to pay for everyone's health care, education, and services. Sure, the system's never perfect, but if you shatter your ankle in an icy Canadian Tire parking lot, need a dozen years of free school for five kids in Kamloops, or want to drive on freshly snowplowed roads from Comox to Cornwall to Cape Spear, well ... we got you. We got you. We got everyone. This is a different type of book than I've done before—in addition to this audiobook (totally free, right here) I also posted in its entirety on my blog (totally free) in HTML and PDF: HTML: https://www.neil.blog/canada-is-awesome PDF: https://www.neil.blog/s/NP_CIA_wCOVER.pdf I also made a 78-page, bright red, self-published hardcover (with colour photos) and paperback (available on Prime, but black and white photos.) HARDCOVER: https://a.co/d/8vjssD3 PAPERBACK: https://a.co/d/aCYDAh6 I made these books at cost so the price you see on your local Amazon page is the same as it costs me to make them. This book was designed by a Canadian in Ottawa (Steve St. Pierre) and the audio and video edited by a Canadian in Toronto (Dave Boire), and even the T-shirt I'm wearing in the YouTube video was designed and manufactured by a Canadian in Toronto (Daniel Torjman), who was also a past guest on the pod: https://www.3books.co/chapters/94 If you're Canadian I hope this holiday season this books help you feel pride in who we are. If you're not Canadian, I hope this helps you see Canada a little clearer. Maybe it will inspire you to visit ... or to move here! (My hood is filling up with Americans like mad these days.) Flip this on for your long road trip and let's let ourselves get inspired by what's possible when grit, determination, and kindness come together across culture and language. Let's reflect on shared goals of spending time with loved ones, hitting best-in-world education rates, and, of course, kicking back by the lake with a Moosehead and a bowl of ketchup chips. This is a piece of writing close to my heart and something I have been working on for over a decade. I hope you like it. And, if you do, share it with someone else. Happy holidays, eh! Neil

Chapter 155: Bulle the Bookseller broadens borders and births bibliophiles 04.12.2025 1t 19min

We're back to Africa! Last month we kicked off a little Kenyan series on 3 Books and today I'm thrilled to share another chapter recorded in the heart of pulsing downtown Nairobi in the country's top bookstore. I landed after an overnight flight and immediately filled my belly with fresh samosas, pakoras, curried goat tripe, and fresh tamarind juice ... for breakfast! ... and then, after seeing the city I hopped into a car with Perlexy, who works with our guest in Chapter 104 and current Kenyan Presidential nominee Boniface Mwangi, and drove downtown... We parked the car and met up with Boniface and his son before walking up together to the second floor of a busy plaza. Tucked inside was a 1000-square-foot bookshop that happens to be one of the most influential literary hubs in the country: Nuria Bookstore. That's where I met Bulle (pronounced "Boo-lay") who is of Somalian descent and born 700km north of Nairobi where he was largely raised by his wise camel-herding grandmother (who is 101 today!). Bulle took a business path early in life but as we'll hear his plans changed and now he runs what many consider the most successful bookstore in Kenya and is a huge champion and evangelist for African authors and African literature. Let's hang out upstairs in the Nairobi bookshop and talk about amplifying African voices, growing up among camels, the winding path of purpose, Bulle's 3 most formative books, and so much more … Let's flip the page to Chapter 155 now …

Chapter 36: Two teenage Mormon missionaries on missing mom to make miracles 20.11.2025 1t 23min

So one day I'm out taking one of my magical life-changing long walks when suddenly two guys are like "Hi! How are you?!" And I look up kind of stunned because I'm walking around downtown Toronto where no one really pops out of the woodwork to shout a "Hi! How are you?!" at you … What do I see? Two young men smiling back at me. Like, big smiles! Gigantic smiles. Dressed up, too. It takes me a minute to piece it together but turns out they're Mormon Missionaries living away from home for two years with the sole purpose of teaching people about their church. They asked me what I'd heard about Mormonism and I said, uh, well, they don't drink much and they have a lot of kids. Oh, and there's a play called The Book of Mormon! Super ignorant. I got to talking to them and my fascination with these guys deepened. They are teenagers. They go by Elder Cox and Elder Corona. They are living away from home for two years while most of their peers go to college. They get no TV, no music, no books, no booze, no bars, no dating, and no… well, no anything most teenagers would be interested in. Do they have doubts? Do they have fears? What if no one believes in them? How successful are they? How do they even define success? So, we are sitting down with two teenage Mormon Missionaries to discuss their three most formative books and what it's like devoting your life to one sole mission, purpose, and faith. I found this conversation enlightening and inspiring on many levels. I hope you do, too.

Chapter 154: Peter Kimani on conquering the curse of choreographed colonialism 05.11.2025 2t 22min

We're heading to Africa! Over the years we have taken the 3 Books podcast on the road many times ... from recording in Judy Blume's bookstore in Key West to to the back of Jackie's Uber in St. Louis to Jonathan Haidt's kitchen in New York we've gone where the stories take us. And for the first time we are going to the 55-country and 1.5 billion person continent of Africa. I am so excited to share the first of three chapters of 3 Books recorded in Nairobi, Kenya. I landed there and went whizzing down busy streets with colourful stalls, wandering goats, people pulling carts full of eggs, women carrying baskets on their heads, endless whizzing bodas (motorcycles). I visited the lovely home of novelist and professor Peter Kimani — where he lives with his wife Anne and their two boys. Peter is a huge mind and talented writer whose work spans New York Times Notable novels such as 'Dance of the Jakaranda' to writing a poem for Barack Obama's presidential inauguration. Peter has studied at the University of Iowa—the Harvard of writing schools, perhaps!—and earned his doctorate at the University of Houston. He was awarded the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature, Kenya's highest literary honor, and is a professor at Aga Khan University in Nairobi. Let's sit down outside in his backyard garden, near the mango and orange trees, below the calls of the Pied Crows, and discuss normalizing abnormalities, decolonizing our minds, The Hardy Boys, writing as an extension of living, whitewashing conservation, Peter's 3 most formative books, and much, much more... Let's flip the page to Chapter 154 now...

Chapter 35: Jen Agg on fussy feminism and ferocious fastidiousness 21.10.2025 1t 13min

"Whatever Jen Agg says is worth listening to," said Anthony Bourdain. I fully agree! If you live in Toronto you probably know Jen Agg. If you don't, let me tell you she runs the best restaurants in town! Come visit and try them! Her most recent stunner is a two-story converted auto-body shop turned Toronto Life #1 ranked restaurant called "General Public" and it is a feast for the senses. Jen describes the place as "part Narnia, part fancy British pub, and part '80s cocaine dream" which gives you a sample of her incredible way with words on top of dishes on top of lighting on top of music on top of ... vibe. I was at General Public last week with my friend Agostino and we split Rainbow Trout Tartare, Hiramasa Crudo, Chicory Salad, and Popcorn Clams and Mussels. And those were just our appetizers! And precisely none of the items fully described the depth of surprising and fresh ingredients leading to the full-body sensory experiences we had when taking our first bites... Jen Agg has opened many other award-winning restaurants including Bar Vendetta, Grey Gardens, Le Swan, Rhum Corner, Hoof Cocktail Bar and, famously, The Black Hoof (RIP), where I still remember my friend Drew ordering a Spicy Raw Horse Sandwich with raw egg on top many years ago. His verdict? "Delicious!" Of course that place turned the restaurant scene in the city sharply sideways! And sharply sideways is such a great way to live... I admire Jen Agg's sharply sideways ways and also highly recommend her bestselling memoir "I Hear She's A Real Bitch" (perhaps the best memoir title of all time?) Now there is of course no where else to sit down with Jen than one of her restaurants so for this one we slip into the front booth at the delectable "french diner" that is Le Swan. Btw, if you go you might find yourself making a new Spotify playlist like I did to remember the great music you're hearing—"Ooh la la" by Ronnie Lane followed by "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison followed by "Everybody's Talkin'" by Harry Nilsson followed by "Tangled Up In Blue" by Bob Dylan! Of course it's hard to pay attention to the music when you're gobbling Smoked Trout Rillette, Steak Tartare, and the city's best Corn Dogs! Let's sit down and talk about fussiness as a virtue, the art of dining alone, having a healthy marriage with someone much older than you, the brilliant Jen Agg's 3 most formative books, and much, much, MUCH more... It was an honour and privilege to talk to Jen Agg in this classic chapter of 3 Books.

Chapter: 153: Carl Honoré imparts illuminating insights into intentional idleness 07.10.2025 1t 52min

The pace of living is accelerating. I often feel like things are happening too quickly to process ... the reels are going too fast, the scrolls have too many colors, the information feed feels like a flood. I just can't process it all! Do you feel the same way? If so you need this conversation as much as I did. Carl Honoré is the godfather of the "slow movement" — a Canadian born, UK-based author, journalist, and popular TED speaker whose first book, the 2004 long-running bestseller 'In Praise of Slowness', sparked a global conversation about time, speed, and how we live. What's happened since 2004? Life has gotten even faster! Which makes his ideas and insights even more valuable. I love Carl's work so much I've read 'In Praise of Slowness' three times and enjoyed his tangential books on parenting in an era of hyper pressure ('Under Pressure') and making the most of our longer lives ('Bolder'). Carl is a warm, sagacious soul who oozes kindness and wisdom and in this conversation we talk about the best way to cook risotto, why you should read Orwell to your kids even in their 20s, how social media is changing travel, the benefits of learning new languages, the meaning of the phrase "tempo giusto", mindful ways to slow down our busy lives, and, of course, his 3 most formative books... Let's flip the page to Chapter 153 now...