Outlier Academy

Outlier Book Club Episodes

In our Book Club series, we sit down with NYT bestselling authors to decode the big ideas in their books. We decode the ideas, frameworks, and strategies they used to write them, as well as the ways we can all put them into use in our work and lives. Past profiles include Deep Survival, Philosophy for Polar Explorers, The Wires of War, The Laws of Creativity, Vanishing Asia, and many other incredible books.
#152 The Founders (Book Summary): The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley from Elon Musk to Reid Hoffman to Peter Thiel | Jimmy Soni, Bestselling Author & Former Huffington Post Managing Editor
March 28, 2023

#152 The Founders (Book Summary): The Story of Paypal and the Entrepr…

On the latest episode of Great Books Distilled, we explore Jimmy Soni’s bestselling book, The Founders.

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All-Time Top 10 Guests – #3 Verlyn Klinkenborg (Several Short Sentences About Writing: A Masterclass on Becoming a Better Writer)
Dec. 28, 2022

All-Time Top 10 Guests – #3 Verlyn Klinkenborg (Several Short Sentenc…

We explore becoming a better writer. We’re joined by Verlyn Klinkenborg, author and Yale professor. We cover learning from farm life and work, finding rhythm in writing, and debunking writing cliches.

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All-Time Top 10 Guests – #6  Laurence Gonzales (Deep Survival: The Incredible Neuroscience of Survival, Who Lives, and Who Dies)
Dec. 23, 2022

All-Time Top 10 Guests – #6 Laurence Gonzales (Deep Survival: The In…

We explore Deep Survival: The Incredible Neuroscience of Survival, Who Lives, and Who Dies. We’re joined by Laurence Gonzales, best-selling author. We cover habits during emergencies, practicing for disaster, and safety in the airline industry.

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All-Time Top 10 Guests – #6 Laurence Gonzales (The Chemistry of Fire: Stories from the Top of Mount Washington to 12,000 Feet Beneath the Ocean to Night Assaults with the 82nd Airborne Division)
Dec. 23, 2022

All-Time Top 10 Guests – #6 Laurence Gonzales (The Chemistry of Fire:…

We explore The Chemistry of Fire: Essays with the author, Laurence Gonzales. We cover an adventure story of ice climbers on Mount Washington, the importance of rules and systems for decision making, and Laurence’s work with the Santa Fe Institute.

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All-Time Top 10 Guests – #10 Kevin Kelly (On Technology's Origins, What Technology Wants, and Advising Steven Speilberg on Minority Report)
Dec. 19, 2022

All-Time Top 10 Guests – #10 Kevin Kelly (On Technology's Origins, Wh…

We explore technology's origins, what technology wants, and advising Steven Spielberg on Minority Report. We’re joined by Kevin Kelly, founding executive editor of WIRED. We cover what technology wants, Magic Leap and virtual worlds, and Kevin’s work on Minority Report.

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All-Time Top 10 Guests – #10 Kevin Kelly (Vanishing Asia: A Masterclass on the Past, Present, and Future of Asia)
Dec. 19, 2022

All-Time Top 10 Guests – #10 Kevin Kelly (Vanishing Asia: A Mastercla…

We explore the past, present, and future of Asia with Kevin Kelly, author of Vanishing Asia: A Masterclass on the Past, Present, and Future of Asia. We cover Kevin’s travel in Asia and how he viewed its changes over time, …

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Best Books & Authors in 2022 – Joey Cofone (The Laws of Creativity: How to Unlock Your Originality and Awaken Your Creative Genius)
Dec. 9, 2022

Best Books & Authors in 2022 – Joey Cofone (The Laws of Creativity: H…

Learn how to unlock your originality and awaken your creative genius as we break down The Laws of Creativity by Joey Cofone, award-winning designer and Founder & CEO of the much loved “Tools for Thinkers” brand Baronfig.

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Best Books & Authors in 2022 – Marc Champagne (Personal Socrates: On Self-Reflection, Self Improvement, and the Socratic Method)
Dec. 8, 2022

Best Books & Authors in 2022 – Marc Champagne (Personal Socrates: On …

We explore self-reflection, self improvement, and the Socratic Method. We’re joined by Marc Champagne, author of Personal Socrates. We cover building a mental fitness practice, simplifying the Socratic method, and the writing process.

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Best Books & Authors in 2022 – Brian Scudamore (Willing to Fail [WTF]: How Failure Can Be Your Key to Success)
Dec. 7, 2022

Best Books & Authors in 2022 – Brian Scudamore (Willing to Fail [WTF]…

We explore how failure can be your key to success. We’re joined by Brian Scudamore, Author & Founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK. We cover embracing competition, bouncing back from struggles, and turning down a buyout offer.

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Best Books & Authors in 2022 – Jacob Helberg (The Wires of War: The Fight Between Democracy and Autocracy for the Future of the Internet)
Dec. 6, 2022

Best Books & Authors in 2022 – Jacob Helberg (The Wires of War: The F…

We explore the fight between democracy and autocracy for the future of the internet. We’re joined by Jacob Helberg, author of The Wires of War. We cover the definition of autocracy, watershed moments in geopolitics, and how the physical infrastructure …

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Best Books & Authors in 2022 – Jason Crawford (Roots of Progress: On Technological Progress and How Innovation and Invention Happens)
Dec. 5, 2022

Best Books & Authors in 2022 – Jason Crawford (Roots of Progress: On …

We explore technological progress and how innovation and invention happens. We’re joined by Jason Crawford, Founder of Roots of Progress. We cover nurturing progress as a moral imperative, the growth of progress studies, and how bureaucracy can slow progress.

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#142 The Laws of Creativity: How to Unlock Your Originality and Awaken Your Creative Genius | Joey Cofone, Author & Founder of Baronfig
Oct. 19, 2022

#142 The Laws of Creativity: How to Unlock Your Originality and Awake…

Learn how to unlock your originality and awaken your creative genius as we break down The Laws of Creativity by Joey Cofone, award-winning designer and Founder & CEO of the much loved “Tools for Thinkers” brand Baronfig.

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#140 Snow Leopard: How Legendary Writers Create a Category Of One | Nicolas Cole, Author and Co-Founder of Category Pirates
Oct. 12, 2022

#140 Snow Leopard: How Legendary Writers Create a Category Of One | N…

Learn the art of category creation and why it’s your key to avoiding infinite competition as we break down Snow Leopard: How Legendary Writers Create a Category of One with Nicolas Cole, Author and Co-Founder of Category Pirates.

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Replay – #13 Erling Kagge: The Famed Norwegian Explorer on Silence, Philosophy, and Summiting Mount Everest
Sept. 21, 2022

Replay – #13 Erling Kagge: The Famed Norwegian Explorer on Silence, P…

In this Replay episode, we explore silence, philosophy, and summiting Mount Everest. We’re joined by Erling Kagge, famed explorer and author, who [guest background]. We cover Erling’s expeditions across the Atlantic and to the North and South Poles, how he …

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#133 Experiment Without Limits: Achieving Peak Performance Through Experimentation | Chris Sparks, Author & Founder of Forcing Function
Sept. 14, 2022

#133 Experiment Without Limits: Achieving Peak Performance Through Ex…

In Episode #133, we explore achieving peak performance through experimentation. We’re joined by Chris Sparks, author of Experiment Without Limits and Founder of Forcing Function. We cover productivity vs. peak performance, eliminating dissonance between goals and reality, and writing your …

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