Books for Men

🎙 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...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti introduces Big Swiss by Jen Beagin. He describes the book as a literary novel that falls under women's fiction, a genre that centers around female life experiences and is marketed toward female readers. Vigliotti believes the lack of a genre called “men’s fiction” is a market effect over time—as in, men don’t read fiction today....

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the book The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli. Vigliotti, who admits to having failed a physics class in college, finds the book enjoyable and accessible even for those with little knowledge or interest in physics. He appreciates Rovelli's ability to simplify complex topics without oversimplifying them, making them unders...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti expresses gratitude for the support of listeners and discusses the concept of Books for Men . Vigliotti explains that while the show is aimed at inspiring more men to read, it is not exclusive to men and women may also enjoy the featured books. He then provides a recap of the books featured in January 2024, which included a nonfi...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the book Dead Girl Blues by Lawrence Block. Vigliotti highlights the unconventional nature of the book and the fact that Block chose to self-publish it. He shares a quote from Block in which the author acknowledges that the book may not be commercially appealing and may put off some readers, but he believes it is one of...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the importance of free speech and its role in society. He introduces the book Free Speech and Why It Matters by Andrew Doyle, which explores the current attack on free speech and the hypocrisy surrounding it. Vigliotti emphasizes that free speech is a foundational element of a free society and that no other liberty can...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the book American Tabloid by James Ellroy. He acknowledges that Ellroy's writing style can be challenging at times, but admires his ability to depict the world as he sees it without pandering to the reader. He believes that Ellroy accomplishes what he intends to do with his writing, even if readers may disagree with his...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti recaps the month of December 2023 and expresses his gratitude to listeners for their support throughout the year. He encourages them to rate, review, or subscribe to the podcast and to share it with family and friends during the holiday season. Vigliotti announces that there will be no new episode next week and that the episode s...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. He explains that while self-help is often dismissed, and for good reason in many cases, it is a genre that encompasses a wide range of topics and can still benefit personal growth. Vigliotti shares his own spiritual journey and how he finds solace in Eastern philosophical thou...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses a new novel called Obvious in Hindsight by Bradley Tusk. The book follows the story of Lisa Lim, an underling of Nick Denevito, the owner of a political consultant group, as they try to legalize flying cars in three cities—New York, Austin, and LA. Vigliotti describes the book as reading like a piece of autofiction, a g...