Book Wise

On this episode of Book Wise, our host Britt Brewer AKA “Dr. Books” reviews Nancy Pelosi’s new book, The Art of Power.

But fear not dear listeners, this is NO snooze fest book report. Dr. Books will explore the title through 3 of the biggest, boldest, most bada$$ power broker trade secrets as shared by Nancy Pelosi — one of the greatest power brokers of American political history.

We’ll learn how Madame Speaker wielded power for DECADES, and how YOU can ascribe to some the same core tenets of leadership and influence — even outside of a career in politics.

So hear ye, hear ye (see what I did there? Audio comedy!) order, order, order, and queue the (figurative) gavel pounding. This podcast is IN session!

Books mentioned:

• “The Art of Power” by Nancy Pelosi

Unlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.

On this episode of Book Wise, Britt opens up her third eye, dusts off her heart chakras, and delves into the meaning of life with radio veteran Gary Scott, currently a producer of the hit true crime series Small Town Dicks, and former longtime Program Director at KCRW — LA’s iconic public radio station. This cat knows his stuff.

And Britt and Gary don’t shy away from heady topics — like the prose of Joan Didion, or the secret machinations of power in America.

This one’s for the tru heads, ’cause tru heads know best. Can ya dig it mannnnnnn?

Books mentioned:

• “Light in August” by William Faulkner

• “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” by Joan Didion

• “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Ken Kesey

• “Wildland” by Evan Osnos

• “Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus” by Ludwig Wittgenstein

Unlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.

On this episode of Book Wise, Jonathan Munk talks to Britt Brewer about a book that made a huge impact on both his life and career, “How Will You Measure Your Life?” by Clayton Christensen.

As always, our Book Wise hosts dig into the weeds — from death bed confessions, to what truly matters in life, and how the U.S. presidential race between Obama and McCain had a level of civility, and well, not-weirdness, that’s increasingly harder to come by these days.

Oh, and Britt even treats Munk to an impromptu Broadway audition he definitely did NOT see coming, or even ask for at all. Ever.

So go ’head and lock the gate, ’cause things are about to get…. Not exactly weird, per se, maybe more entertaining? Thought-provoking? Sporadically humorous, and…? You know what, just listen, okay, it’s good, we swear.

Unlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.

The term sociopath has long been considered a label given only to those living in the shadows of society — typically hardened, violent criminals. But those are the sociopaths who acted on their disorder. What about the sociopaths who don’t? The ones who perform surgery? Or get elected to office? Or hover a wee bit too close to you in line at Sweetgreen, just insistent upon extra arugula?

On this episode of Book Wise, Britt Brewer AKA Dr. Books recommends a buzzy new memoir, "Sociopath," to a caller who’s worried they might just be one.

Throughout the book, author, PhD, and self-identified sociopath Patric Gagne traces her early life into adulthood; from a nascent murmur of anti-social thoughts, to a slew of petty crimes, to a startling diagnosis, and yes, even to love.

And Dr. Books doesn’t just review the book — she answers some very big questions about the nature of sociopathy, and even shares a few jaw-dropping statistics.

So pull up a chair, pop that corn, and In the eternal words of Eve, “let me blow ya mind.”

Unlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.

Before J.D. Vance catapulted into the spotlight, he was a bestselling author. On this episode, we’ll give you the scoop on his 2016 book, “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis.”

Britt Brewer is joined by BookClub CEO Jonathan Munk, who sets the scene for Vance’s upbringing in a small Ohio town hit hard by the decline of American manufacturing. How does Vance rise against so many odds to become Trump’s running mate? What does his story tell us about the hardships that so many Americans face? And what role do housing policy and privilege play in all of this?

For a quick download on Vance and a deeper understanding of life in the Rust Belt, this Book Wise episode is for you.

Unlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.

On this episode of Book Wise, host Britt Brewer, A.K.A. “Dr. Books,” takes a call from a listener debating one of the timeless questions: is success more about talent or hard work?

Dr. Books’ top recommendation to settle the debate is Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. We break down success stories and answer questions like: What led to Fleetwood Mac's record-breaking success? Could Mozart rely solely on his prodigious talent? And in the end, was all that hard work worth the brain injury for Rocky?

If you're intrigued by what truly drives success, you won't want to miss this episode!

Books mentioned:
• “Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell
• “The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference" by Malcolm Gladwell
• “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" by Angela Duckworth
• "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" by Daniel H. Pink

Unlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.

On this episode of Book Wise, our host Britt Brewer A.K.A. “Dr. Books” takes a caller from the request line in search of an aspirational, hardscrabble, up-from-the-boot-straps type of book.

Dr. Books’ ultimate suggestion is “Educated” by Tara Westover. But the good doctor pairs her final pick with some outstanding, aspirational memoir genre-type runner-ups.

So, if you’re a reader who’s heart swells when reading about the triumph of the human spirit, then this episode of Book Wise is most definitely for you!

Books mentioned:

• “Educated” by Tara Westover

• “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls

• “The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates” by Wes Moore

Unlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.

On this episode, Britt Brewer welcomes popular BookTok influencer John-Paul Kunrunmi (@jpreads6) to discuss groundbreaking titles on queerness by some of the most thought-provoking BIPOC authors of our time.

What did bell hooks have to say about queerness? Is being queer really a revolutionary act? And what does sex have to do with politics? Britt and John-Paul open up about their own experiences, contemplate climbing Mount Everest, and even summon the voice of wisdom from none other than James Baldwin.

Tune in for some vulnerable real talk that will bring you a new perspective on queerness that you can bring to your work and community at large.

Books mentioned:

• “Revolutionary Acts: Love & Brotherhood in Black Gay Britain” by Jason Okundaye

• “Punch Me Up to the Gods” by Brian Broome

• “The Sex Lives of African Women” by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah

• “In the Shadow of the Mountain” by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado

• “Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin

Unlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.

In this exciting first edition of “Paging Dr. Books,” host Britt Brewer A.K.A “Dr. Books” opens up the request line to a book-loving caller on the hunt for an inspirational read.

You can probably surmise from the name of the episode what title Dr. Books will ultimately recommend. However, before we delve into the Becoming of it all, let Dr. Books guide you through a tour of some thought-provoking, noteworthy books that standout in the First Lady Memoir genre.

So, sharpen your pencil and dust off that pad — ’cause Dr. Books is in the house, and she’s ready to recommend your next favorite book!

Books mentioned:

• “Becoming” by Michelle Obama

• “Living History,” “Hard Choices,” and “What Happened” by Hillary Clinton

• “The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt” by Eleanor Roosevelt

• “The Personal Memoirs of Julia Dent Grant” by Julia Dent Grant

• “The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty” by Susan Page

Unlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.

On this episode, Britt Brewer sits down with the CEO of Degreed and Founder of BookClub, David Blake, to discuss the 5 books that defined his career, and helped to ignite his entrepreneurial spirit.

The two engage in a wide-ranging discussion covering everything from polarizing tech disrupters, to late 90s alt-rock, to the very essence of human development and learning. And, yup, you guessed it: they also trade questionable JFK impressions.

So if you’re curious to learn the essential reading list of a successful entrepreneur, disrupter, founder, and leader — this Book Wise ep is most definitely for you.

Books mentioned:
• “Successful Intelligence: How Practical and Creative Intelligence Determine Success in Life” by Robert Sternberg
• “The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz
• “Profiles in Courage” by John F. Kennedy
• “The Millionaire Next Door: The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy” by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko
• “Elon Musk” by Walter Isaacson

Sources:
Audio clip featuring Walter Isaacson's Elon Musk commentary: The Diary of a CEO podcast

Unlock unlimited learning for your team. Learn more at bookclub.com.