In our first ever anti-recommendation episode Ian and Joe pan the 4-hour audiobook The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (1988).

Welcome to our end-of-summer Road Trip Series featuring some of our favorite audiobooks. This week is the 8-hour audiobook Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck (1962).

Ian and Joe share their super hero origin stories, Joe reads his entire book and Nick at one time owned a Buick. From a Buick 8 by Stephen King (2002) VS Deadeye Dick by Kurt Vonnegut (1982).

We laughed, we cried, we discovered Nick is the Devil. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande (2014) Vs A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (1859).

Bust out your homemade swords, large grey beard you've been growing for decades, and sexy specs for this week's episode on Sir Terry Pratchett. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett (1983) vs Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1990).

Another breakout theme in the books this week as we present two new books this week: The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green (2021) VS Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees (1926).

Ian, Joe and Nick achieve their collective maximum potential on this week's episode. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua (2011) vs Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman (2012).

In this abbreviated episode we celebrate the 4th of July by celebrating Canada Day with of course Canada by Mike Myers (2016).

Willy Wonka is the greatest villain ever, Wheelers, and the campaign to make Arnold Schwarzenegger the next Vice President begins. Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl (1972) vs The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum (1904).

Finical advise from two high school English teachers, two more Nicks and name-dropping friend-of-the-show photographer Russel Wong. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (2013) vs The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925).