Welcome to the curated archive of all books mentioned by Chris and his guests.
These selections reflect the intellectual and philosophical depth that defines the Modern Wisdom podcast.
Most Mentioned Books








Welcome to the curated archive of all books mentioned by Chris and his guests.
These selections reflect the intellectual and philosophical depth that defines the Modern Wisdom podcast.








Dr Dani Sulikowski is an evolutionary psychologist, professor, and researcher. Female intrasexual competition is more ruthless than most people realize. Just when we think we understand how women compete with one another, the rules shift—and the limits move. So how intense is female intrasexual competition really, and what has social media done to amplify it? Expect to learn what female intrasexual competition is trying to achieve and how it differs from males, why Vogue Magazine said having a boyfriend is cringe now and Dr Sulikowski’s response to that, if reproductive suppression works against men, what some of the more under recognised methods of intrasexual competition that women engage in are, if there are any societal shifts that people are pinning on men that you think are more due to female intrasexual competition and much more… ...
Charlie Houpert is an entrepreneur and YouTuber. Why does life tend to teach its hardest lessons just as we think we’ve arrived? We chase the goals, build the lifestyle, tick the boxes, only to discover that emptiness and insecurity still follow us. Ancient philosophers and writers wrestled with this long before we did, encoding the problem into myths that have endured for thousands of years. So what were they trying to show us? And how can those old stories help us reclaim a sense of identity when we feel most lost? ...
Dave Evans is an entrepreneur, early Apple engineer, former Electronic Arts executive, Stanford lecturer, and author. How does someone genuinely find meaning in their life? We’re often told that when things feel empty, uncertain, or painful, the answer is to “find more meaning”. But what does that actually mean? Is meaning something we discover, like a hidden truth waiting to be uncovered? Or is it something we construct through choice, responsibility, and attention? ...
Oliver Burkeman is a journalist, a writer for The Guardian and an author. How does the insecure overachiever evolve? You think success will quiet the doubt, then you hit 30, and it’s still there. More achievement, more stress. So how do you feel proud of what you’ve built without always fearing it’s not enough? Expect to learn if it possible to be the best in the world and relaxed at the same time, how to deal with uncertainty more effectively, the biggest changes insecure overachievers will face as they age, the cost of constantly asking, “Am I living my best possible life?“, how to know when it’s a good time to settle and much more… ...
Rick Glassman is a comedian, actor, and podcaster. Why do humans act so complicated? We’re simple creatures — farts are funny, everyone does awkward stuff, yet we all pretend we don’t. Maybe life gets better when you lean into the weird instead of hiding it. So how do you embrace being different and find the fun instead of stressing about it? Expect to learn how Rick’s brain works, what his favourite show and jokes are and how they shaped him, the top things that are difficult to look cool while doing, why using “condoms” with friends are useless, how to handle our people pleasing tendencies for good, why humans are so hard to interact with at times, the awkward feelings of becoming intimate with someone, the biggest message Rick Glassman wants to give out in the world and much more… ...
James Sexton is a New York-based divorce attorney and author, known for his expertise in family law and insights on marriage and divorce. What does it actually take to avoid divorce? In a world where most marriages don’t last, it’s easy to assume you’ll be the exception, until reality hits. So how do you prepare for a great marriage… and, if things don’t work out, make sure you’re equipped to handle a clean separation? ...
I hit 4.1 million Subscribers on YouTube!! To celebrate, I asked for questions from YouTube, X, and Instagram, so here’s another 90ish minutes of me trying to answer as many as possible. Expect to learn if Chris ever tried the Carnivore Diet, advice for feeling lost in life, if being sober is really worth it in the long run, the current state of Chris’ health issues, the biggest issues with hustle culture, if there really is a secret forearm routine, if and when Chris will write a book and much more ...
Matthew Hussey is the world’s #1 dating coach, a YouTuber, public speaker and an author. How do you know if you’re with the right person — or if you’re just telling yourself you are? If you’re questioning the relationship more than enjoying it, Matthew Hussey might have the clarity you need. So what does finding your person actually look like, and what signs should you pay attention to? Your browser does not support the audio element. Mentioned Books Anxiously Attached by Jessica Barnes“How do you come to think about advising people on knowing when to leave a relationship? I Coached I there's someone I was coaching recently” ▶ Play at 0:47 Amazon Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl“How do you come to think about advising people on knowing when to leave a relationship? I Coached I there's someone I was coaching recently” ▶ Play at 0:47 Amazon· mentioned in 28 episodes Safe Safe by Jessica Barnes“the Chasing love that feels safe instead of exciting and not assuming that this person isn't sparky right that there's no spark I mean this was a great insight I learned from Jessica Barnes first book anxious tact anxiously attached” ▶ Play at 20:03 Amazon The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric JorgensonThis book collects and curates Naval’s wisdom from Twitter, Podcasts, and Essays over the past decade. The wisdom of Naval Ravikant, created and edited by Eric Jorgenson, with Illustrations by Jack Butcher, and a Forewor… ...
Dr Paul Eastwick is a psychologist, professor, and a researcher. Much of what we think we know about relationships comes from an evolutionary psychology lens, but what if that framework is flawed? In his groundbreaking new research, Dr Paul Eastwock challenges long-held assumptions, turning evolutionary psychology on its head. So where did it go wrong, and what new models replace it? Expect to learn where the Evo Psych community may have been wrong about mating and relationships, the biggest problem with the term “mating market”, how accurate people’s opinions are and ideas at their “type” or mate preferences, what men find appealing in women and visa versa, what Paul’s definition of attachment in adulthood via safe haven (support in adversity) and secure base (support in growth) is, why masculinity needs reimagining and much more… ...
Morgan Housel is a partner at The Collaborative Fund, an investor and an author. Why is spending money well a skill most people never learn? In a world obsessed with saving, why does saying “it’s okay to spend” still feel taboo? What can high performers teach us about investing not just money, but time, energy, and attention wisely? Expect to learn why it’s important to talk about how to spend money well when learning about personal finance, why good financial ideas struggle to spread while bad ones travel effortlessly, what Morgan’s definition of success is, how much modern dissatisfaction comes from comparing ourselves to people we don’t actually want to be like, the real relationship between money and happiness with nuance, why it’s so hard to find people who have managed to be wealthy, successful, happy and peaceful, and much more… ...