Playing Books

Welcome to the Playing Books podcast. We thank you for tuning into the cognitive episode of the podcast.

We discuss Barbara Oakley, PhD’s A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra). Being a human being itself makes everyone highly intelligent and cognitive, far more than imagined. Many students, parents, teachers, bosses, and supposed geniuses have assumed that being smart isn’t for everyone. Only a handful of people are geniuses. But as cognitive researchers and experts like Dr. Oakley would find, intelligence is innate and requires learning how to release it.

That is what this episode explores:

Learn the importance of mindset

Learn the difference between long and short-term memory

Regular exercise is so useful to the brain

Utilize mental techniques like chunking to learn abstract subjects like Physics, Maths, Chemistry, and others.

Understand the power of persistent, focused practice

Dr. Oakley is known to always say, ‘Practice makes permanent.” Which, in reality, is what makes anyone a genius. Just as biological growth takes time, cognitive growth is no different. The nervous system expects human beings to practice and be patient for that wow spark to strike naturally.

It is available on Amazon, in other bookstores, or through your local library.
You are not an unintelligent, dense person. As you allow this episode and Dr. Oakley’s A Mind for Numbers to change your mindset while you make a consistent, diligent, persistent effort to learn how to code, communicate better, and exercise as a lifestyle, you will find out your intelligence is rare, waiting this long to be tapped out and utilized to accomplish significant feats. Please leave your feedback, share this cognitive episode with inquisitive folks, follow the podcast, subscribe for more insights, and recommend the Playing Books podcast.

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We challenge you to disabuse yourself of the belief that math and other abstract subjects and fields are way out of your league and not for your type.

Please, when you start tackling some of the world’s most cognitive problems, remember Barbara Oakley, PhD’s A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra), and this episode.

Thank you again for listening.

Welcome to the Playing Books podcast. We thank you for tuning into the health episode of the podcast.

What if your grocery list could become your first line of defense against disease?

In this week’s episode, we dive into the groundbreaking book Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself by William W. Li, MD, a powerful, eye-opening exploration of how food can do far more than just fuel and fill you; it can heal you or make you sick.

This isn’t another “don’t eat this, avoid that” conversation. Instead, it’s a refreshing shift: a celebration of what you can add to your plate to unlock your body’s natural defense systems. Think every day, accessible foods like plums, cinnamon, jasmine tea, red wine (yes, really), black beans, San Marzano tomatoes, olive oil—and so much more.

We unpack how these foods activate five critical health systems—angiogenesis, regeneration, microbiome, DNA protection, and immunity—helping your body fight cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune conditions, and beyond. It’s science made practical, empowering, and surprisingly delicious.

You’ll hear why this book has been called “groundbreaking” by Mehmet Oz, praised by Cindy Crawford as a total mindset shift, and described by Bono as both entertaining and empowering. But more importantly, you’ll discover how to apply these insights in real life without turning your lifestyle upside down.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your daily meals could be doing more for you, this episode might just change how you shop, cook, and eat forever.

Food is medicine. That is a solid reason to purchase William W. Li, MD’s Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself. 

It is available on Amazon, in other bookstores, or through your local library.
Don’t you feel sick or lively when you eat some food? Food is beyond taking care of hunger; eat to beat disease should come to mind at breakfast, lunch, dinner, or whenever hunger hits. Please, leave your feedback, share this health episode with someone you care about, follow the podcast, subscribe for more insights, and recommend the Playing Books podcast to your health enthusiasts.

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We challenge you to start eating to beat disease and lead a healthier lifestyle.

Thank you for listening and for choosing to grow, learn, and live better with us.

Welcome to the Playing Books podcast. We thank you for tuning into the mystery episode of the podcast.

Do you ever feel like invisible hands manage the world’s stage? Do you suspect that history isn’t a series of accidents, but a carefully scripted play? Humans must never be independent! We must become docile.

In this episode of Playing Books, we discuss Jüri Lina’s "Architects of Deception." Lina didn't just write a book; he beat out an expository blueprint that strips the gold leaf from global power structures, revealing the cold, hard machinery underneath. Many things, including good ones, were founded on deception from many years ago.

Lina moves beyond mere theory. He delivers a chillingly documented exploration of the occult influences and secret societies that quietly steered the course of human events for centuries. We discuss why this eye-opening work remains one of the most controversial texts in modern literature and how its revelations will change the way you view the evening news forever.

There are groups in the underworld determined to control what people see, think, eat, read, hear, and where they live. The attempts to create a New World Order go beyond rumors, controversies, fear-mongering, or ignorance. This episode and Lina’s book, Architects of Deception, should at least challenge your mind to recognize that something dark, more than imagined, is going on, and that it is not for the good of the people; it is for the evil interests of a few, primarily to accomplish satan’s mission for humans, animals, places, and things. Please, we beg you to share this episode and recommend the book Architects of Deception at your Church, workplace, business, and to your family, relatives, friends, significant other, neighbors, colleagues, roommate, classmates, schoolmates, buddies, and others.

Deception in any sense deserves caution, a proactive one at that. Don’t just take our word for it; examine the evidence yourself. Purchase your copy of "Architects of Deception" on Amazon, at your local library, or visit your favorite local bookstore. After reading the book and listening to this episode, you may reexamine what you think of Napoleon, Lenin, Trotsky, Hitler, Mao Zedong, Roosevelt, Truman, and others.

Watch out for the elites' ancient desires of microchipping every human being as their puppets.

Have you encountered anything secretive at this level that Lina exposed in Architects of Deception? Do you belong to any of one or all of these secret societies? What do you think of your fate as JESUS CHRIST is on His way? Please, comment, share, follow, tag us, and subscribe to the Playing Books podcast.

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Thank you for your time and for tuning in to this episode of the Playing Books podcast.

Thank you for tuning in to the Playing Books podcast. Welcome to the character episode of the podcast.

What if the fastest way to real success, truly loving, mutual relationships, and lasting influence isn’t grinding harder or posting louder, but getting smaller on purpose?  

In this fresh, no-fluff episode of Playing Books, we crack open Humility: True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney, a foundational, expository book that quietly dismantles every cultural myth about what “winning” actually looks like.  

We explore why humility isn’t weakness or false modesty; it’s the hidden engine behind every truly great leader, parent, friend, and dreamer. Through sharp biblical insight and disarmingly practical steps, Mahaney shows how pride sneaks in wearing success’s clothes and how choosing humility instead unlocks freedom, favor, and fruit that self-promotion can never touch.  

If you’re tired of the highlight-reel life, craving something real, and ready to trade ego for impact, this episode will hit you right where you live.  

Purchase the book today on Amazon, at any bookstore, or library, and start applying these truths immediately. Your next level of greatness might be one humble choice away.  

Does humility make sense to you? Does the idea of God opposing the proud scare you or encourage you to be humble? Comments, text it to that one friend who needs it most. Please, connect with other art and literature advocates on our social media: 

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Thank you for your time and for tuning in to this episode of the Playing Books podcast.

Thank you for tuning into the Playing Books Podcast. Welcome to the writing episode of the podcast.

 Have you felt it, that sinking moment when you reread something you wrote and thought: this isn't it? The idea was there. The feeling was real. But somehow, between the brain and the page, something leaked out, leaving behind a sentence that works but doesn't sing.

"Most writers know what they want to say. Fewer know how to actually say it. That gap? That's where Neal Allen and Anne Lamott live."

In this episode of Playing Books, we discuss Neal Allen and Anne Lamott’s Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences, a small, precise, and genuinely revelatory book that treats the sentence not as grammar homework but as the fundamental unit of human thought. Thirty-six techniques. No fluff. And co-authored by a writing teacher whose structural insight cuts like a scalpel, alongside Anne Lamott, one of the most beloved writing voices of the last thirty years.

We talk about why so many writers unknowingly bury their strongest words in the middle of their sentences. Why passive voice isn't always villainous, but usually is foul. Why clarity and beauty are not opposites, and how the space between a comma and a period can change everything a reader feels.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and growing technological advancements are making writing a necessity for survival. Everyone, even in developing countries, has to write emails, send texts, or reply to lead a normal life. Since writing is essential, why not learn how to write well? 

This episode would help you avoid those awkward feelings about your essays, novels, blog posts, or just long messages that somehow never land the way you meant them to, especially in an embarrassing way, giving the impression that you are not an intelligent person. 

Neal Allen and Anne Lamott’s Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences addresses everyday situations. It’s practically useful, and a reliable reference to consult at your key moment of getting a writing out, and you don’t want to come short. Consider purchasing Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences on Amazon, borrowing it from your library, or purchasing it from your favorite bookstore.

This is a relevant episode you want to share with your family, friends, colleagues, and other significant people in your life. Please, comment, follow, like, and subscribe to the Playing Books Podcast.

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Thank you so much once again for your time and for listening.

Thank you for tuning in to the Playing Books Podcast. We welcome you to the biography episode of our podcast.

In this episode of the Playing Books Podcast, we discuss Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, a book that strips away the myth, the marketing fog, and the glossy hero stories to reveal the real human behind Apple’s iconic glow. This isn’t just a biography; it’s a brutally honest autopsy of genius, ambition, obsession, and the messy edges of creativity.

If you’ve ever felt torn between your ideas and your reality, if you’ve wrestled with perfectionism, or if you’ve wondered whether passion can coexist with peace, Jobs’s story hits harder than expected. 

Isaacson doesn’t glorify him; he exposes him. And in that exposure, we find lessons we can actually use: how to build, how to think, how to simplify, how to dream audaciously, and how not to treat people along the way.

We’re unpacking what makes the book unforgettable, what makes Jobs magnetic and maddening at the same time, and how you can take these lessons into your own creative, entrepreneurial, or personal journey. If you want to read along, you can grab the book on Amazon, at your favorite local bookstore, or library.

After you listen, tell us what resonated with you. Please, comment, share this episode with another curious mind, follow the show, subscribe for more book-deep-dives, and recommend the podcast to a friend who needs a spark of inspiration today.

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Thank you so much once again for your time and for listening.

Thank you for tuning in to the Playing Books Podcast. We welcome you to our episode about animals.

"Ever wondered what truly awakens when the sun dips below the horizon? Most of us live our lives bathed in daylight, oblivious to the vibrant, mysterious world that thrives under the cloak of night. In this captivating new episode of the Playing Books podcast, we plunge into the shadows with Dani Robertson's eye-opening book, 'Creatures of Darkness: 100 of the Planet’s Weird and Wonderful Animals That Come Out at Night.'

Prepare to embark on a global journey to the planet's most exclusive nightclub, our nocturnal world. Dani Robertson, a masterful storyteller, peels back the darkness to reveal astonishing creatures you never knew existed. From the tiny, armored Pink Fairy Armadillo to the majestic African Leopard, the enigmatic Aye-aye, and even the bioluminescent Starry Night Octopus, you'll meet 100 incredible animals that call the night their home. Discover the silent flight of the Barn Owl, the surprising intelligence of the Raccoon, the perplexing Night Parrot, and the vital role of the humble European Mole. You'll even encounter stargazing beetles navigating by the Milky Way!

But this isn't just a fascinating exposé of wildlife; it's a vital call to action. Dani reveals how our artificial lights are threatening these delicate nocturnal habitats, pushing many species to the brink. Learn how light pollution impacts everything from the navigation of dung beetles to the mating rituals of sea turtles, and how we can all 'embrace the dark side' by simply flicking a switch. This book is a revealing, expository look at the hidden rhythms of our planet and our profound connection to them. It's not generic; it's a compelling, original, and enjoyable read that will skillfully transform your perception of the dark.

Dani Robertson’s Creatures of Darkness: 100 of the Planet’s Weird and Wonderful Animals That Come Out at Night is an unconventional book. Robertson didn’t just discuss a few animals. He wrote extensively on one hundred animals. This is fascinating and deserves reading.

Consider purchasing Creatures of Darkness on Amazon, at your local library, or at other fantastic bookstores worldwide.

We love hearing from you. Please comment below with your favorite nocturnal animal, share this episode with fellow night-owls, and don't forget to follow, subscribe, and recommend the Playing Books podcast for more literary adventures.

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Thank you so much once again for your time and for listening.

Thank you for your time and for tuning in to our expository episode of the Playing Books podcast. In this new episode of the Playing Books Podcast, we sit down with Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin’s Why the Jews? The Reason for Antisemitism (An Examination of Antisemitism), a book that doesn’t tiptoe around the hard questions. Instead, it walks straight into them with clarity, realism, and a kind of expository honesty that feels rare today.

You may have asked this question yourself: Why the Jews? Welcome to your long-awaited answers or attempts to ask further questions and clarify the mysteries surrounding this question. There are compelling data, research, and books that Why the Jews used to discuss this question. It is an interesting and enlightening episode, and the book should be unputdownable.

The conversation isn’t abstract or academic. It’s grounded, relatable, and deeply human. The episode explores why antisemitism has persisted across centuries and cultures, why it mutates but never disappears, and what this says about human nature, identity, envy, morality, and the stories societies tell themselves. Prager and Telushkin don’t just diagnose a problem; they illuminate patterns that help us understand our world with sharper eyes.

Learn the sequences that are consistent with oppressing the Jewish people. These sequences are close to those employed in hating and oppressing Christians, women, blacks, children, the elderly, albinos, and other marked minorities or isolated groups.

Wherever you are with Jewish history or approaching this topic for the first time, this episode invites you to think, question, and reflect.

Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin’s Why the Jews? The Reason for Antisemitism (An Examination of Antisemitism) deserves a deeper and reflective read. Please consider purchasing the book on Amazon, at a major bookstore, or at a local library. You will learn all the different types of antisemitism and other interesting aspects of hate and how it is perpetrated and sustained.

Please comment, share, follow, subscribe, and recommend the Playing Books Podcast with folks who always want to go beyond the surface of any prevailing issue.

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Thank you so much once again for your time and for listening.

Thank you so much for tuning in to the Playing Books podcast. Welcome to yet another episode to honor women in this International Women's Month.  This episode explores the conversation we’ve all been avoiding until now.

We discuss Laura Bates' Men Who Hate Women: From Incels to Pickup Artists: The Truth about Extreme Misogyny and How it Affects Us All (Essential Book for Women's History Month), one of the most unflinching voices of our time rips the lid off the online rabbit holes where “nice guys” morph into incels, where pickup artists train men to treat women like targets, and where everyday misogyny quietly poisons dating apps, offices, bedrooms, and even friendships.

This isn’t theory. It’s real screenshots, real stories, and real data that will make your stomach drop, then make you nod because you’ve felt it. Whether you’re a woman exhausted by the “not all men” debate, a man who wants to do better but doesn’t know where to start, or anyone who just wants relationships to feel safe again, Laura Bates hands you the flashlight.

We’re talking about the book everyone’s quietly recommending to their group chats right now; the one that feels like essential Women’s History Month reading because it’s not about the past. It’s about right now.

Bates' book isn't about women as it seems on the surface; it is about freedom. Men consumed with sexual drive are in spiritual, social, biological, and psychological bondage; hating women only shows their in-depth frustration. On the other hand, women are seen to be people who can't have their say, even on issues about their bodies and when to have sex. Women exist, according to men who hate women, for sex and other errands. We recommend the book for you. Consider purchasing it on Amazon, at your favorite bookstore, or at your local library. 

Have you read Bates' Men Who Women before? Are her expository ideas relatable? Please, comment with the one sentence that stayed with you. Please, share the episode with the friend who needs to hear it (you know exactly who), and among men's groups dedicated to hating women.

Please subscribe, follow, and recommend Playing Books to help us keep pushing books about freedom to every ear possible.

Thank you for listening with open hearts and braver minds. Please, connect with other art and literature advocates on our social media: 

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Thank you so much once again.

Thank you for your time and for tuning in to the Playing Books podcast. Welcome to the spycraft episode of the Playing Books podcast. 

In this episode of Playing Books, we discuss Operation Ajax: The Story of the CIA Coup that Remade the Middle East by Mike de Seve, illustrated by Daniel Burwen, with a foreword by Stephen Kinzer, and ask a simple question: what really happened in Iran in 1953, and why does it still shape every headline you scroll past today?

This episode and the book, Operation Ajax, remind us that history repeats itself. What we see going on in Iran today follows the pattern of the CIA operation in Iran in 1953. The use of protests, attacks on Iran’s autonomy, CIA dirty operations in foreign governments, and how the West interferes in foreign countries for its own interests. The U.S. government complains of Islamic tyranny in Iran, but they forget that it laid the foundation for Iran to become an extreme Islamic country.

This isn’t a dry history class. It’s a graphic, true-life spy thriller where oil prices are soaring, British and American agents are playing chess with a sovereign nation, and a democratically elected leader, Mohammad Mossadegh, is caught between popular hope and secret backroom deals. We talk about how this story of propaganda, paid mobs, and a hidden CIA–MI6 operation didn’t just topple a government—it helped script the next seventy years of Middle East politics and Western foreign policy.

We also dig into why telling this story as a graphic novel hits differently: the panels, the pacing, and the way de Seve and Burwen turn declassified documents and historical research into a visual narrative you actually feel in your gut. If you’ve ever wondered why Iran’s relationship with the West is so fraught, or how our global addiction to oil became “just the way things are,” this book—and this conversation—will stay with you long after you hit pause.

This is an intense spy story. The book is packed with many applicable lessons. Learn from the book, apply its lessons to how you read the news, and consider purchasing a copy of Operation Ajax on Amazon, from your favorite bookstore, or from your library.

If you enjoy this conversation, please comment with your thoughts, share the episode with a friend who loves history or graphic novels, follow and subscribe to Playing Books, and recommend the podcast to someone who needs a fresh way into serious topics. Your support helps us keep turning powerful books into unforgettable, real-world conversations.

Remember that the CIA prevented the success of true democracy in the Middle East through Operation AJAX in Iran in 1953.

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Thank you for your time and for listening.