#493: 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die

The Art of Manliness

Society & Culture, Education, Philosophy

4.7 • 14.5K Ratings

🗓️ 25 March 2019

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There are over a hundred million books in existence. And the average person only has 8 decades in which to read them. So which books should you choose to read over others before you croak? It's a question that's launched scores of lists and many an argument, and my guest today has fired his own missive in the debate. His name is James Mustich, he’s been in the book business for over 30 years as a book seller, reviewer, and editor, and he's created the ultimate book list in his book 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die. Today on the show, James explains his guiding philosophy on the books he decided to include in his list, and how he designed the book to have the feel of browsing through an ideal bookshop. James then makes the case for why book lists are helpful, but should never be seen as strictly prescriptive. We then dig into the surprising genres of books that James includes in his list, including science fiction, detective novels, and children’s books, and one or two of his very top recommendations in each category. At the end of our conversation, James makes a list just for the AoM audience of books every man should read before he dies. Get the show notes, including Jim's list of books for men, at aom.is/1000books.

Transcript

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0:00.0	[♪ INTRO MUSIC PLAYING [♪
0:15.0	Brett McKay here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness Podcast.
0:18.6	There are over 100 million books in existence, and the average personally has eight decades
0:22.6	in which to read them.
0:23.8	So which books should you choose to read over others before you croak?
0:26.7	The question that's lost scores of a list and many an argument in my guest day is fired
0:30.0	as own 900 plus page missing in the debate.
0:32.3	His name is Jim Mustick, he's been in the book business for over 30 years as a bookseller
0:35.7	and a reviewer and editor, and he's created the ultimate book list in his book, 1,000
0:39.8	books to read before you die.
0:41.2	Today on the show, Jim explains his guiding philosophy on the books decided to include
0:44.8	in his list and how he designed the book to have the feel of browsing through an ideal
0:48.5	bookshop.
0:49.5	Jim then makes the case for why book lists are helpful but should ever be seen as strictly
0:52.4	prescriptive.
0:53.4	Jim dig into the surprising genres of books that Jim included in his list including science
0:57.0	fiction, detective novels, and children's books, and one or two of his very top recommendations
1:01.3	in each category.
1:02.4	And that the universe conversation got a nice treat here, Jim makes a list of books just
1:05.9	for the AOM audience of books every man should read before he dies.
1:09.9	After the show's over, check out the show notes at aom.is slash 1,000 books.
1:14.2	And Jim joins me now via clearcast.io.
	...

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