Some thoughts on the difference between ignorance and stupidity, competing authority figures, the corruption of institutions, and the role of common sense in navigating all of the above. Music: "Watch it Fall," by Billy Strings.

This commercial-free episode of What Makes This Book Great? includes listener responses to "Cat Person," and a reading of Ursula K. LeGuin's story, "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas," written in 1974.

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Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range.

Jake and Belinda are close friends of mine and have been married to each other since before either of them can remember. This is what happens when the three of us hang out WITHOUT wine.

Belinda's show on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram.

Jake on Twitter, Instagram.

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Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "Making Do," by Lake Street Dive; "Smoke Alarm," by Carsie Blanton.

TK Coleman is a writer, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, teacher, and a few other things -- but that's enough to give you the idea. He's smart, funny, thoughtful, and overflowing with optimism. We talk about race, Muhammed Ali, and whether the free market can save us from the free market. Learn more about TK and what he's up to at fee.org/rev1.

TK on Instagram and Twitter.

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Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "Sometimes," by Daniel Lanois; "Smoke Alarm," by Carsie Blanton.

Miguel has become a good friend, due to his always-smart comments on many episodes of this podcast, his help with editing and graphic design, and his insights on everything from UFOs to Mexican culture and history (which can be found at The Daily Grail). I always enjoy our conversations, and am thrilled we finally got around to recording one!

Miguel's graphic design site, and his Twitter.

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Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "God's Child," by Selena and David Byrne; "Smoke Alarm," by Carsie Blanton.

Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it. Too bad it’s usually boring as sh*t. Enter Kyle Creek, aka "The Captain," the ultimate storyteller who brings history to life (and to your life) in this hilarious, intelligent, brutally honest, and crude compendium to events that happened before any of us were born.

Find F*cking History on Amazon here, and The Captain on Twitter and Instagram.

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Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "Contract on the World Love Jam," by Public Enemy; "Smoke Alarm," by Carsie Blanton.

Beth Ryan, my younger sister, has lived in a multitude of places and now resides in Los Angeles. She attended college in Boston and worked for two start-up computer companies. Wanting to get a better work-life balance, she took a year off and traveled around the world. This trip allowed her to find her passion and her voice.  She now runs a non-profit called Stepping Forward LA (www.steppingforwardla.org) supporting foster youth who age out of the foster care system. She was my first "listener" and probably has more embarrassing stories of me than anyone else.

Stepping Forward LA Instagram feed.

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Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "I Wish," by Stevie Wonder; "Smoke Alarm," by Carsie Blanton.

Julie Carr married my dad, Frank Ryan in 1960, and had me two years later. My sister, Beth, was born four years after that. While raising us, she worked as a teacher in Middle and High Schools and in various administrative positions. She's smart, sweet, and a hell of a mom. She doesn't do social media, bless her heart, but you can leave her messages when you order swag from "the cottage," as many of you have done over the years -- much to her delight.

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Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "All Along the Watchtower," by Bob Dylan; "Smoke Alarm," by Carsie Blanton.

Daoist Monk Yun Rou (his name means Soft Cloud) has been called the new Alan Watts for his Daoist teachings and the zen Gabriel Garcia-Marquez for his works of magical realism set in China. Born Arthur Rosenfeld in New York City, he received his academic education at Yale, Cornell, and the University of California. He was ordained a monk at the Chun Yang (Pure Yang) Daoist Temple in Guangzhou, China. His award-winning books, optioned for film in both Hollywood and Asia, bridge spirituality, philosophy, and history. From 2010 – 2013, he hosted the national public television show "Longevity Tai Chi with Arthur Rosenfeld."

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Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "Smoke Alarm," by Carsie Blanton.

Callie is the original bada$$. She spends months at a time alone in the wilderness with her goats, living off the land. She was among the last three people on this season's "Alone," on the History Channel, lasting 89 days before frostbite ender her run.

(This episode is co-hosted with Anya Kaats, host of A Millennial's Guide to Saving the World.)

Learn more about Callie at caprakhan.com // Instagram: caprakhan

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Intro music: “Brightside of the Sun,” by Basin and Range; "Long Time Coming," by Leela James; "Smoke Alarm," by Carsie Blanton.