Books for Men

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....

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the book Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. He praises the book for its effortless read and immersive storytelling. The book is a love story that follows the lives of Sam and Sadie over 30 years (but not the kind of love story you think it is.) It’s about friendship and partnership. Vigliotti highl...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the book The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz. He explains that the book argues that while having more choices may seem like a good thing, it can actually be detrimental to our psychological and emotional well-being. The author contends that increased choice leads to increased paralysis and decreased satisfaction. Vi...

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti expresses gratitude to listeners and highlights the one-year anniversary of the podcast. He shares the top three most downloaded episodes, which are all book episodes, mentioning he plans to focus on more book episodes moving forward. Vigliotti discusses the intimate nature of podcasting and the global reach it provides. He then...

This episode of Books for Men features Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney. A literary novel about a twenty-something writer who resorts to the hedonism of 1980's Manhattan—cocaine, nightclubs, etc—to cope with his hapless life. It's told using a second-person point of view, placing you in the shoes of the unnamed protagonist. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supp...

This episode of Books for Men features an edition of "From the Vault." It’s the second great chat I had on my previous pod, It's Not What It Seems , with Annie Duke, author of Thinking in Bets , How to Decide , and most recently, Quit . Listen for more! (Original publish date: 10/14/18.)  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast. Any of the three things below will help p...

This episode of Books for Men features an edition of "From the Vault." It’s part one of a great chat I had on my previous pod, It's Not What It Seems , with Annie Duke, author of Thinking in Bets , How to Decide , and most recently, Quit . Listen for more! (Original publish date: 8/26/18.)  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast. Any of the three things below will help...

This episode of Books for Men features The Poet by Michael Connelly. A crime novel about a small-time reporter trying to solve the murder of his homicide detective twin brother. It turns into a secret FBI hunt for a serial killer who always leaves a line or two from Edgar Allen Poe with each of his victims. It's dark and propulsive. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sup...

This episode of Books for Men is a short recap of all the episodes from June '23. There was (1) nonfiction book, (1) work of fiction, and (1) edition of From the Vault. I also share my current vision for the podcast. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast. Any of the three things below will help provide awareness for the initiative—inspiring (more) men...

This episode of Books for Men features The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. A psychological thriller about a sputtering mid-list novelist who embarks on a wild goose chase to discover the truth behind a plot he stole from one of his deceased MFA students. It doubles as a satire on writing and the publishing world. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast. An...