MMM's Media Recommendations
Here are a few of my recommendations for the new year.
It’s Friday, but I can’t label this “Freakout Friday” because I’m not freaking out about anything at the moment—at least not anything worth posting publicly. (There’s always something to freak out about as long as we’re human.)
I’ve seen other content creators post recommendations, so I figured the lame-duck week between Christmas and New Year’s—where I never seem to know what to do with myself—is the perfect time to send out a (partial) list of recent books I’ve read, TV shows I’ve watched, and podcasts I’ve listened to. I might be back with more if I need more filler content in the future.
Now you’ll know what inspires the madness that I hope you will continue to subscribe to in 2025. Stay tuned. It could get even crazier.
NOTE: I’m not suggesting you purchase any of the following books. (I didn’t.) If you don’t have a library app on your phone yet, you’re missing out. Of course, more power to you if you have the cash to spare.
Enjoy!
Books
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
This is in my top five all-time in the nonfiction department, and I read A LOT of nonfiction books
Essential if you’re a white person living in America
Even if you’re not white (or living in America), Wilkerson weaves in a lot of interesting (and disturbing) descriptions of how caste functions in India and how it used to function in (Nazi) Germany—so it goes far beyond the typical history/analysis of racism in America
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
I’d seen the movie years ago but finally got around to reading Kesey’s masterpiece
If you hate authoritarianism and similar bullshit (and you probably do if you’re reading this), this early-1960s classic is as satisfying as it is tragic
27 Essential Principles of Story by Daniel Joshua Rubin
Very different sort of book than I usually read but easily the best book on the subject of storytelling I’ve ever read
Essential if you’re interested in writing fiction, especially
Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel
I mentioned in the beginning that I don’t spend a lot of money on books and other media—a lot of people think the key to having money is making money, but this book will likely convince you otherwise
Spoiler: The secret is saving and/or not spending money on shit you don’t need. Simple enough but not easy—especially not for Americans
Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
I have my critiques of this book—and the self-help genre more broadly—but this is a lot more scientific and constructive than most self-help books
This book will help you rethink your career—and your life by extension—and take that essential first step toward your goal. (It demands you begin the work while reading and provides activities, which I oddly enjoyed.)
TV Shows
Squid Game
Since I wrote about it two months ago, I’d be negligent if I didn’t endorse it here, especially since season two dropped yesterday
The Day of the Jackal
The star of the show is an impossibly accurate sniper with all the skills of James Bond but none of the womanizing. His main target is some out-of-touch tech bro. Charles Dance is in it. Need I say more?
Matlock
I’ll admit that I didn’t watch the original except when my grandmother gave me no choice, but the reboot is a lot of fun. Kathy Bates is a beast.
Podcasts
Hidden Brain
If you overthink every goddam thing, this will be your favorite podcast
The Gray Area
The host is aligned with me on most things (as an older millennial and intellectual leftist). He also happens to be a damn good interviewer and chooses excellent guests.
Deconstructed
I don’t trust most media, but I trust Ryan Grim. This is another left-leaning podcast that goes deep into politics and current events.
If Books Could Kill
This is a fun one: I LOVE these guys, even when they trash books I like. Pick an episode about a book you’ve read (for starters), and give it a go. I’d be surprised if you don’t laugh out loud at least once.