Books for Men

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...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the book A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. The book gained popularity due to an endorsement from Oprah Winfrey, but later faced controversy when it was revealed that a large portion of the story was fabricated. Vigliotti explores the questions raised by this controversy, including the relationship between books, mo...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, Douglas Vigliotti recaps the month of November 2023, expresses gratitude to listeners for their support, and encourages them to spread the word about the podcast. He then proceeds to summarize the three books discussed in the previous month's episodes. The first book is Vigliotti's own novel, Tom Collins , which explores the theme of consumption versus...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, Douglas Vigliotti discusses a novel called City of Thieves by David Benioff. Vigliotti describes the book as a historical fiction that doubles as a coming-of-age story about two young men’s quest to find a dozen eggs for a Russian colonel during the Nazi siege of Leningrad in World War II. He praises the novel for its unique, well-constructed story, co...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast , Douglas Vigliotti discusses a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware. The book is based on Ware's experiences as a former palliative care nurse and explores the top five regrets expressed by people on their deathbeds. Vigliotti highlights the importance of living a life true to oneself, not working too hard, expressing feelings,...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, Douglas Vigliotti discusses his novel, Tom Collins , which was released (almost exactly) two years ago. The book follows the story of a 30-year-old salesperson named Christian Ballantine who sleeps with an older woman, only to later discover that she is his new boss's wife. The book explores the theme of consumption versus creation and raises questions...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, Douglas Vigliotti expresses gratitude to listeners and encourages them to continue supporting the show. He also announced that interviews with other writers will be returning in 2024. Vigliotti then provides a summary of the books discussed in October 2023, including Chronicles by Bob Dylan, I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron, Ham on Rye by Charles Buko...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, Douglas Vigliotti discusses the (somewhat) controversial book Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. Vigliotti acknowledges that the subject matter of the book, which involves an older man's obsession with a young girl, is disturbing and hard to read at times. However, he praises Nabokov's writing style, describing it as lyrical, beautiful, and unique. Vigliotti...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, Douglas Vigliotti discusses the book I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron. The book is a collection of essays and memoirs by Ephron, a prominent screenwriter known for movies like When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle . Vigliotti praises Ephron's wit and sensibilities and describes the book as a meditation on life and death. He highlights the bala...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, Douglas Vigliotti discusses the book Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski. Vigliotti acknowledges that Bukowski's work may be controversial and not for everyone, but he appreciates the honesty and truthfulness in his writing. Vigliotti also highlights Bukowski's career as a writer and his journey to success. He describes Ham on Rye as a semi-autobiographical...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, Douglas Vigliotti discusses the book Chronicles: Volume One  by Bob Dylan. Vigliotti highlights Dylan's influence on American music and his role as a cultural icon. He also mentions Dylan's unique writing style, his ability to blend fiction with reality, and his use of words in a captivating and thought-provoking way. Vigliotti recommends reading the b...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti gives a quick rundown of the previous month's episodes. He expresses gratitude to listeners for their support and encourages them to rate, review, and share the podcast. Vigliotti also invites listeners to connect with him on his website or Instagram @douglasvigliotti for personalized book recommendations. He then provides a reca...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the novel The Killing Hills by Chris Offutt. He mentions that the book is often marketed as a thriller, but he believes it falls more into the mystery genre. Vigliotti praises Offutt's minimalist prose style and well-crafted plot. He describes the book as a detective PI-type mystery set in a small town in Kentucky, with...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the rock memoir genre and highlights Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen as one of the best rock autobiographies he has read. He praises Springsteen's longevity and cultural relevance, noting that he continues to release new music and put on captivating live shows. Vigliotti shares his personal experience of seeing Springs...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses Quentin Tarantino's novelization of his film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood . Vigliotti explains that Tarantino wrote the novel because he had so much material on the lead characters that he wanted to further explore and flesh out. He also mentions that the ending of the book is different from the film. Vigliotti discuss...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti expresses gratitude to the listeners, recaps the month of August 2023, and emphasizes that the show is not exclusive to men, despite its title. He shares his experience of being in Croatia and how traveling reminds him not to judge people, places, and things based on appearances but to embrace curiosity and let people, places, an...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the memoir Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, the creator of Nike. The book covers the period from 1962 to 1980 and tells the story of how Knight turned a small idea into a multi-million-dollar company. Vigliotti praises the book for exemplifying the American Dream and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the American ethos....