Books for Men

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti dives into the timeless wisdom of "Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius. With a focus on the core tenets of his philosophy and Stoicism, Vigliotti explores the principles of willing acceptance, unselfish action, and objective judgment in navigating life's challenges. Join him as he uncovers practical insights, philosophical gems, and key quotes that will inspire men to live with pur...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti recaps the month of July 2024, discussing the memoir "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion, the novels "Be Brief and Tell Them Everything" by Brad Listi and “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt, and a special edition episode that delves into the debate of listening to audiobooks versus reading books. With quick summaries and key quotes from the episodes, this recap is a...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti delves into the captivating world of "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt. He explores the book's mysterious and suspenseful narrative, masterful characterization, and pitch-perfect embodiment of a Greek tragedy. With insightful takeaways on the dangers of longing for elite status and the duality of beauty, this episode is a thought-provoking exploration of a literary masterpiec...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti delves into the modern debate of listening to audiobooks versus reading books. With seven compelling reasons why listening is not the same as reading, Vigliotti challenges listeners to consider the unique qualities and intimate experience that only reading books can provide. From novels to nonfiction, prepare to question your own reading habits and gain a deeper appreciation fo...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti discusses the National Book Award-winning memoir “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion. Drawing on Didion’s heartfelt story of losing her husband and daughter in the same year and her subtle yet piercing writing style, Vigliotti delves into themes of grief, loss, and the idea that stories we tell ourselves shape our perceptions, emotions, and lives, raising the importan...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti dives into the book "Be Brief and Tell Them Everything" by Brad Listi. With a focus on brevity and honesty, Listi, host of the literary podcast Otherppl, explores the uncertainty of a creative life, parenting a child with disabilities, and the challenges of writers and artists living in a modern overexposed world. Join Vigliotti as he shares three key takeaways from this though...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti recaps the month of June 2024, discussing the novel "Trust" by Hernan Diaz, which explores themes of wealth, power, and the distortion of truth, the biography "Leonardo da Vinci” by Walter Isaacson, highlighting 20 life lessons that can be learned from the iconic Renaissance artist, and lastly, an interview “From the Vault” of his previous podcast, with negotiation expert Herb...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti shares an interview “From the Vault” of his previous podcast “It’s Not What It Seems”, with negotiation expert Herb Cohen, who has advised US Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Cohen shares his insights and experiences negotiating everything from personal relationships to business deals, like mergers and acquisitions, to terrorist and host...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti explores the biography “Leonardo da Vinci” by Walter Isaacson, delving into Leonardo’s art, theories, techniques, and 20 life lessons we can learn from the creative genius himself. From embracing curiosity and retaining a childlike sense of wonder to relying on experience and avoiding silos, Vigliotti shares the secrets behind Leonardo's artistic brilliance and most famous work...

🎙 Douglas Vigliotti dives into the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "Trust" by Hernan Diaz. With themes of wealth, marriage, and the distortion of truth, Vigliotti discusses the captivating exploration of power, influence, and the super-rich’s ability to bend reality, warp relationships, and shape history. Discover the intricate structure, unique style, and thought-provoking questions that make this n...

🎙 Host Douglas Vigliotti recaps the month of May 2024, discussing the nonfiction book "Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness" by William Styron, the novel "Sugar Street" by Jonathan Dee, and a special edition episode that features 5 key questions to help you read like a writer. With engaging quotes and insightful commentary, this recap episode is a great starter for new listeners and book enthusia...

🎙 Host Douglas Vigliotti shares five key questions to help you read like a writer. From novels to memoirs, these story and writing questions will deepen your appreciation and understanding of any work fiction or nonfiction. Learn the difference between fans, critics, and writers, and discover the importance of story versus writing, a protagonist’s journey, narrative layers, point of view, tense, w...

🎙 Host Douglas Vigliotti delves into the dark and powerful memoir "Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness" by William Styron. With raw honesty, Styron recounts his harrowing battle with major depression, shedding light on the often unseen and misunderstood nature of mental health issues. Through his gripping account, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the importance of addressing and supporti...

🎙 Host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the sparse but scintillating novel "Sugar Street" by Jonathan Dee. As the unnamed protagonist settles in a new town, he grapples with the question of whether it is possible to truly lose one's identity in today's society. With thought-provoking insights and a focus on small stakes, this book explores themes of shame, guilt, identity, and the search for self. ✓ Si...

🎙 Host Douglas Vigliotti recaps the month of April 2024. He discusses the nonfiction books "The Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli and "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott, as well as the novel "Every Man a Menace" by Patrick Hoffman. He also shares a special edition episode on how to read more, offering three strategies for building a reading habit. Overall, it was a diverse and engaging month of book discu...

🎙 Host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the inspiring yet practical writing reference book "Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life" by Anne Lamott, emphasizing the importance of taking small steps over time and placing truth at the center of one's work. Listeners will learn valuable writing techniques and philosophy to help them become better writers and overcome the challenges of perfecti...

🎙 Host Douglas Vigliotti shares his insights on how to read more and make it a habit using three key strategies. He emphasizes the importance of following your interests and only reading books that truly engage you. But with a subtle mindset shift and the three methods you’ll learn in this episode, you'll discover how easy it is to accumulate pages, build a reading habit, and explore the world of...

🎙 Host Douglas Vigliotti dives into the edgy yet fun crime thriller "Every Man A Menace" by Patrick Hoffman. With his experience as a private investigator, Hoffman brings a realistic and unpretentious writing style to this modern take on classic noir and crime fiction, filled with shady characters, drug trafficking schemes, and a shocking ending. Join Douglas as he explores the juxtaposition of a...

🎙 Host Douglas Vigliotti dives into the enduring relevance of "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli, a controversial Florentine Renaissance classic, and its complex nature as both satire and straightforward advice. Exploring the dark side of humanity and the unsavory aspects of power, influence, and persuasion, Vigliotti delves into what makes someone or something Machiavellian. Whether you agree or...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti expresses gratitude to the listeners, asks for their support in spreading the word about the podcast, and recaps the episodes from March 2024. In the first episode, he focused on women reading more than men, with the host discussing the rise of women in the publishing industry and the data that supports this trend. Vigliotti also...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the work of author George Pelecanos, particularly his book Owning Up . Vigliotti praises the author’s unpretentious writing style, his focus on realism, and his ability to depict the impact of various societal issues from multiple perspectives. He also compares the work’s thematical elements to The Deuce , a TV Show tha...

In this Special Edition episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the 10 reasons why men should read fiction. He acknowledges that the publishing industry and writers do not cater to male readers due to a lack of an economic incentive, leading to an ever-widening gap of men not reading fiction. Vigliotti introduces his value proposition theory on why most men prefer no...

In this Special Edition episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti explores the question of whether women “really” read more than men. Vigliotti discusses the macro data and research that supports the idea that women are reading more than men, particularly in the fiction genre. He also delves into the reasons behind this trend, including but not limited to societal factors, natur...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti expresses gratitude to listeners for supporting the show and spreading the word about it. He mentions that he plans to bring back interviews later in the year and introduces the concept of "Special Edition” episodes that will focus on art, entertainment, and books. Vigliotti then provides a recap of the books featured in February...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the book Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD. Vigliotti explains that the book has gained tremendous popularity due to Attia's large following and widespread promotion, but in no way, does that lower the importance of the work itself. He describes Outlive as “required reading” for anybody seriou...