If Books Could Kill

By: Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri
  • Summary

  • The airport bestsellers that captured our hearts and ruined our minds
    © 2025 If Books Could Kill
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Episodes
  • Josh Hawley's "Manhood" [TEASER]
    Mar 31 2025

    To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon:
    https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

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    53 mins
  • Steve Harvey's "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man"
    Mar 28 2025

    Are you a single lady struggling to find love with a man? Don't fret! A twice-divorced game show host who thinks conversation is for women is here to help.

    Where to find us:

    • Peter's newsletter
    • Peter's other podcast, 5-4
    • Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase

    Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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    59 mins
  • Of Boys And Men
    Mar 6 2025

    Who's to blame for the crisis of American masculinity? On the right, politicians tell men that they being oppressed by feminists and must reassert their manhood by supporting an authoritarian regime. And on the left, users of social media are often very irritating to people who write airport books.

    Where to find us:

    • Peter's newsletter
    • Peter's other podcast, 5-4
    • Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase

    Sources:

    • Conscientiousness as a Predictor of the Gender Gap in Academic Achievement
    • Gender Differences in Scholastic Achievement: A Meta-Analysis
    • Early Childhood Behavior Problems and the Gender Gap in Educational Attainment in the United States
    • Where The Boys Aren’t
    • The gender achievement gap in grades and standardised tests
    • The State of Gender Equality for U.S. Adolescents
    • Highlights of women’s earnings in 2023
    • The gender gap in educational outcomes in Norway
    • Social Influences And The Gender Gap In Disruptive Behavior
    • Family Disadvantage and the Gender Gap
    • What might interrupt men's suicide?
    • As Women Take Over a Male-Dominated Field, the Pay Drops
    • The Cost of Caring
    • Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?
    • Age of Entry to Kindergarten and Children’s Academic Achievement
    • The Effect of Age at School Entry on Reading Achievement Scores
    • Beyond the Pros and Cons of Redshirting
    • Self- Control and the Developing Brain
    • Importance of Sex Differences in Impulse Control and Addictions
    • It is a myth that boys lag behind in brain development

    Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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    1 hr and 23 mins

What listeners say about If Books Could Kill

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I laughed, I seethed, I learned, I was in awe…

I don’t normally listen to podcasts but saw a friend recommend this so I gave it a listen and I’m so glad I did! It’s so entertaining and both hosts are hilarious, engaging and very knowledgeable. I just genuinely enjoyed listening to them and learned so much about these books that really shocked and fascinated me. Please keep this series going!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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cutting, funny but really insightful

writing words so I can submit my review without having to think anymore about this

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Like being on the couch listening to your bestbuds

I love the tone and content of this podcast; the hosts have great chemistry, it's clever, well-researched and hilarious; and even though they have a capital P Position on the works, you genuinely feel they try to be fair in critiquing them. I also love how contemporary the show is (I am sure this will age well). Binge listening at the moment, and discovering works I might not otherwise have considered. Love love it.

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