The entire episode is an interview with Robert Axelrod, the book's author. Host Steve Levitt describes reading it as assigned reading for a college economics course, calling it one of the few things that ever blew his mind and changed how he thought about the world—inspiring him to consider academic research for the first time. The conversation then works through the book's central ideas on game theory, the Prisoner's Dilemma, and the tit-for-tat strategy.
Michelle Goldberg recommends The Feast of the Goat by Mario Vargas Llosa, a novel about the assassination of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo. She calls it brutal with unforgettable scenes, and says its depiction of an all-encompassing dictatorial presence and its sudden disappearance has echoes of the current political moment, though not in a violent way. She adds it is a book you cannot stop reading.
Michelle Goldberg recommends Good People by Patmeena Sabit, a novel about an assimilated Afghan family in Virginia whose teenage daughter is killed in what may or may not have been an honor killing. Goldberg calls it heartbreaking, praises its page-turning thriller elements, and says she was surprised more people weren't talking about it. She describes it as a deeply felt exploration of assimilation and its limits.
Michelle Goldberg recommends The Man Who Loved Dogs by Leonardo Padura, a large historical novel about the assassination of Leon Trotsky. She notes she is only halfway through but says she feels it should be more of a classic than it is. She describes it as a Russian novel-style work covering a fascinating and wild historical event, and says she was surprised she had not heard of it before.
In this No Mercy / No Malice essay, the speaker cites Richard Reeves's book while making the case for redshirting boys in school — holding them back a year to allow their later-maturing brains to develop. The book is called a 'landmark,' and the speaker notes that Reeves appeared on the podcast and has since left Brookings to found the American Institute of Boys and Men.
Richard Dawkins is identified as the author of The Selfish Gene only in passing, as context for noting that he wrote an effusive preface for a later edition of Axelrod's The Evolution of Cooperation—one described as "one of the most over-the-top" ever seen, reportedly declaring that it should replace the Gideon Bible. Nothing is said about The Selfish Gene itself.
Mentioned as a book the host has recommended frequently, used as a yardstick to illustrate how much more heavily he pushed Co-Intelligence. James Clear's AI-assisted writing method is briefly discussed following a personal encounter at Craft & Commerce, but the content of Atomic Habits itself is not described.
Mike and Corey discuss Mollick's AI book, covering his transparent use of AI in writing, the jagged edge concept, three work modes (centaur, cyborg, conjurer), four human advantages, and AI's effects on work, education, and society. The final chapters on superintelligence and the eschaton are described as unsettling. Corey rates it five stars as the most intelligent AI commentary he has encountered; Mike gives it four, finding the ending less satisfying.
Praised by both hosts as one of the best, most grounded books written on AI. The host says he recommended it more than any other book, including Atomic Habits. It introduced the jagged edge concept and outlined four possible AI futures, two of which Mollick now considers ruled out in his follow-up. The hosts say it remains worth recommending today.
Terry Bouricius, a former Burlington politician who served alongside Bernie Sanders, is interviewed about his newly published book throughout the episode. He argues that electoral politics structurally rewards narcissism and partisanship, and that sortition—randomly selected citizen assemblies—would produce more representative governance. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, hearing of the book from the host, says she is intrigued and may read it.