Books for Men

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti explores Eric Hoffer's thought-provoking nonfiction book, "The True Believer." Uncover the secrets of extremism, fanaticism, and mass movements as Douglas unravels Hoffer's life and aphoristic writing style, showcasing the book's timeless relevance and lasting influence on political thought. Discover Hoffer's intriguing insights on hope, the power of collective unity, the role...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti dives into the gripping world of Nicolas Ferraro's foreign crime novel, "My Favorite Scar." Originally published in 2021 and making its English debut in 2024, the story follows Ambar, a young girl entangled in a life of crime with her father, as she navigates trauma and personal growth. Vigliotti praises Ferraro's lean style and emphasis on the emotional journey of his protagon...

🎙 In this Special Edition episode, Douglas Vigliotti shares "10 Random Quotes That Will Inspire You to Create Boldly” from influential artists and writers like Leonard Bernstein, Francis Ford Coppola, and Jerry Seinfeld. Vigliotti discusses their relevance to the creative process and emphasizes embracing creativity, persistence, and authenticity. The episode aims to inspire listeners to pursue the...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti delves into the nonfiction anthology "Letters of Note: Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience," compiled by Sean Usher. Vigliotti highlights the anthology's significance, featuring letters from writers, artists, and historical figures like Hunter S. Thompson, Ernest Hemingway, Albert Einstein, and Queen Elizabeth. He shares his connection to the book and discusses some of...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti explores Liz Moore's crime novel, "The God of the Woods." Vigliotti provides an overview of the book's plot, which centers on the mysterious disappearance of a young girl at a summer camp and her little brother, who disappeared years earlier. He delves into the novel’s themes of trauma, loss, entitlement, wealth, power, and family secrets, but most importantly, praises Moore's...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti discusses "Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence" by Dr. Anna Lembke, unraveling the intricate ties between dopamine addiction, mental health, and its outsized influence on our daily lives. Vigliotti breaks down Lembke's innovative "DOPAMINE" strategy for achieving balance, beating addiction, and breaking bad habits. He shares his own journey as a recovering...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti delves into Bret Easton Ellis's novel "American Psycho" and its film adaptation by Mary Harron for another edition of “Novel vs Movie”. He discusses the book's themes, controversies, and the challenges of translating its provocative narrative to the screen. Vigliotti emphasizes the importance of understanding satire and metaphor, particularly in relation to the character Patric...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti discusses Gertrude Stein's "The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas,” highlighting Stein's life, her literary contributions, and the vibrant artistic community of early 20th-century Paris. Vigliotti delves into the book's unique perspective, written from Toklas's viewpoint, and its structure covering pre-war, wartime, and post-war periods. He reflects on Stein's relationship with...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti delves into Hubert Selby Jr.'s "Last Exit to Brooklyn," a transgressive novel from 1964, discussing the book's raw portrayal of 1950s lower-class Brooklyn, its controversial themes of drug use, sexual abuse, homophobia, prostitution, and domestic violence. Vigliotti also shares his big takeaways, reflecting on Brooklyn's transformation, Selby's unique prose style, and the novel...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti discusses the witty enlightening book "Poor Charlie's Almanack" by Charles T. Munger, who some consider the modern-day equivalent of Benjamin Franklin. Vigliotti highlights Munger's role as Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, his close relationship with Warren Buffett, and many of Munger's philosophies, such as inversion thinking, worldly wisdom, and the Lollapalooza effect. H...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti dives into the timeless allure of John Fante's 1939 classic, "Ask the Dust." He unpacks the novel's profound themes of loss, love, poverty, and the pursuit of life’s meaning, highlighting its semi-autobiographical nature, and its lasting impact on the literary cult hero Charles Bukowski and iconic screenwriter Robert Towne. Vigliotti also offers insights into Fante's career, De...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti explores the differences between Ken Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and its film adaptation by Milos Forman, as part of the "Novel vs Movie" series. Vigliotti discusses Kesey's influence on the counterculture of the 60s and the novel's themes of institutionalization, individualism, and social conformity. He highlights the unique narrative perspective of Chief Bromden...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti explores David Foster Wallace's non-fiction work "This Is Water," originally a 2005 commencement speech at Kenyon College. Vigliotti delves into Wallace's life, his literary impact, and the speech's key themes: awareness, compassion, and the power of choice, underscoring the importance of recognizing the "totally obvious" aspects of life, being open-minded, and consciously deci...

🎙 In this episode of "From the Vault", host Douglas Vigliotti reshares a conversation from his previous podcast “It’s Not What It Seems" with Bob Roth, CEO of the David Lynch Foundation and a seasoned meditation teacher. They delve into the transformative power of Transcendental Meditation (TM), discussing its benefits for personal growth and well-being, highlighting the physiological and psycholo...

🎙 In the wake of David Lynch’s recent passing, Douglas Vigliotti delves into the iconic filmmaker’s nonfiction book "Catching the Big Fish,” sharing nine standout quotes on creativity, meditation, and consciousness. He reflects on Lynch's legendary career, highlighting films like "Eraserhead," "Blue Velvet," "Mulholland Drive," and the TV series and movie, "Twin Peaks,” emphasizing the visionary a...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti introduces the new segment "Novel vs. Movie," focusing on the violent world of Cormac McCarthy's "No Country for Old Men" and its faithful film adaptation by the Coen brothers. Vigliotti discusses the strengths and differences between the novel and movie, highlighting the depth of the book, particularly through Sheriff Ed Tom Bell's monologues, and the bone-chilling antagonist,...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti discusses the thriller novel "Tell No One” by Harlan Coben, where a doctor's world is upended by an email hinting that his murdered wife of eight years ago may still be alive. Vigliotti unpacks the suspenseful narrative, praises Coben's accessible and conversational writing style, and challenges common misconceptions about the thriller genre and genre fiction in general. Tune i...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti explores "Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich” by Norman Ohler, a history book that reads like a novel and offers a unique and fresh perspective on World War II. Discover the hidden role of cocaine, opiates, and methamphetamines in Nazi Germany and on the German military strategy, blitzkrieg, propelling the Wehrmacht’s early successes of the war. Vigliotti also shares intriguing...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti takes you on a journey through Samantha Harvey's 2023 novel "Orbital," a thought-provoking piece of literary fiction and a love letter to Earth. Discover how Harvey's meditative prose beautifully captures the essence of human achievement and our cosmic connection, all from the unique vantage point of space. Vigliotti also shares key insights and quotes from the book, emphasizin...

🎙 In this year-end episode, Douglas Vigliotti reflects on 12 notable quotes from various books throughout 2024, sharing one for each month. He announces changes to the podcast, including a new segment called "Movie or Novel?" Vigliotti discusses the nature of adaptations and emphasizes the importance of reading. The episode serves as a wrap-up for the year, offering inspiration and insights for li...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti discusses the emotional and powerful biography "The Chris Farley Show" by Tom Farley Jr and Tanner Colby, providing insights into the tragic life of the celebrated comedian and actor Chris Farley. The book explores the contradictions and complexities of Farley's persona, from his immense talent and popularity to his deep-seated insecurities and addiction struggles. This episode...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti explores the powerful short story collection “Reasons to Live” by Amy Hempel, highlighting her masterful use of minimalism as a shining example of what is possible by using “less” to magnify human emotion and complexity. Her lean yet evocative prose challenges readers to uncover a deeper meaning within her stories, emphasizing what isn’t there over what is, and ultimately leavi...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti discusses the fun book “Write About Now” by Jonathan Small. It is a captivating collection of interview excerpts from the author’s hit podcast that reveals how successful writers overcame obstacles to launch their creative careers. Discover the universal themes that link the winding paths of literary success. If you're a writer, creative, or simply fascinated by the journeys of...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti dives into the classic coming-of-age novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, exploring the iconic character of Holden Caulfield and the timeless themes of phoniness, loneliness, and the desire for human connection. Discover how this 1951 literary masterpiece has captivated readers for generations and left an indelible mark on pop culture. Whether you're a longtime fan...

🎙 In part four, Douglas Vigliotti closes out the series by outlining the final three Principles #13, #14, and the 15th Principle from his new book, "Aristotle for Novelists: 14 Timeless Principles on the Art of Story,” an adaptation of the timeless principles from Aristotle’s esteemed “Poetics” to be used by novelists. Discover the tried-and-true principles used since antiquity to craft stories fo...