2 Pages with MBS
Discover the best bits of the best books read by people you admire. Michael Bungay Stanier hosts the podcast where brilliant people read the best two pages of a favourite book. Listen as authors, leaders, activists, academics, celebrities, and entrepreneurs dig in with MBS to explore the insights and ideas within. Whether it’s books that inspire leadership, change, self-development and growth, power, strategy, ambition, productivity, or creativity and innovation - this is hand-curated wisdom from people who know. These are the books that change minds, shape lives, and inspire great work and worthy goals.
1
Making What Matters Most: Jay Acunzo [reads] ‘K...
Jay Acunzo reading from Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, and discussing tiny stories with big ideas.
45 min
2
[Replay] The Search for Purpose: Arthur Brooks,...
Arthur Brooks reading from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations and discussing the nature of being fully alive.
45 min
3
What’s at the Heart of Being Human? Brian Chris...
Brian Christian reading from Godel, Escher, Bach, and discussing the power and future of AI.
48 min
4
How to Travel Through History: Danie Mellor [re...
Danie Mellor reading from Susan Sontag’s On Photography, and discussing the world through an artist’s gaze.
52 min
5
How to Surrender to Your Heart: Thibault Maneki...
Thibault Manekin reading from Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, and talking about discovering and living your purpose.
45 min
6
To Manage with Courage: Zach First [reads] ‘Man...
Zach First reading from Peter Drucker's Management, and discussing the core principles of management in the present economy.
39 min
7
How to Hold Gifts of Responsibility & Grief: St...
Stephen Jenkinson reading from Seamus Heaney’s From the Republic of Conscience and discussing stepping up in spite of whatever your burdens may be.
50 min
8
#100 Where it All Began: Michael Bungay Stanier...
Reading from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring and discussing how falling in love with reading influenced his life.
18 min
9
The Sacred and The Mundane: Mia Birdsong, autho...
Mia Birdsong reading from Robin Wall Kimmerer’s ‘Braiding Sweetgrass,’ and discussing connecting to what you are longing for.
44 min
10
And the Walls Became the World: Chris West, aut...
Reading from Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, and discussing the magic of your imagination.
33 min
11
[Replay] I Am Disabled But Not Broken: Christa ...
Christa Couture reading from Eli Clare’s Brilliant Imperfection and discussing society’s labels.
36 min
12
Getting Better at Falling Apart: Dr. Robyne Han...
Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe reading from Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, and discussing everyday resiliency.
38 min
13
The Countercultural Leader: Steve Morrow [reads...
Steve Morrow reading from Fred Kofman’s Conscious Business and discussing working towards living a better life, both professionally and personally.
37 min
14
Who do you serve?: Dave Stachowiak [reads] ‘How...
Dave Stachowiak reading from Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People and discussing being a student, rather than a teacher.
49 min
15
How to Be an Outlier on the Inside: Gina Jenero...
Gina Jeneroux reading from Chip and Dan Heath’s Switch and discussing how to maintain your own spirit.
37 min
16
Dancing with Ambition: Eric Zimmer [reads] ‘The...
Eric Zimmer reading from Thich Nhat Hanh’s The Heart of Understanding and discussing triumphing over inner psychological wars.
43 min
17
Civility & Community: Christine Porath, author ...
Christine Porath reading from Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search For Meaning and discussing the effect we have on others.
42 min
18
Rise up!: Todd Kashdan, author of ‘The Art of I...
Todd Kashdan reading from Erving Goffman’s The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life and discussing the power of individual action.
47 min
19
In All Your Messy Glory: Naomi Shragai, author ...
Naomi Shragai reading from David Grossman’s See Under: Love and discussing conscious awareness in the road to making work more human-centered.
42 min
20
The Search for Purpose: Arthur Brooks, Author o...
Arthur Brooks reading from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations and discussing the nature of being fully alive.
45 min
21
How to be Not Perfect: Kate Berardo [reads] ‘B...
Kate Berardo reading from Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, and discussing staying curious in life.
26 min
22
Announcement: One Episode Per Week
2 Pages with MBS is going to be releasing only one new episode per week from now on.
2 min
23
How to Be (& Not Be) Yourself: Steven D’Souza, ...
Steven D’Souza reading from Tom Oliver’s The Self Delusion, and discussing finding a healthy balance between individuality and interdependence.
41 min
24
Vault: Trust is the Key: Jennifer Paylor [reads...
Jennifer Paylor reading from Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Institute and discussing the significance of humility in our lives.
36 min
25
Vault: Killing Your Ego: Riaz Meghji, author of...
Riaz Meghji reading from “Everyone Communicates, Few Connect” and discussing the power of story.
34 min
26
Vault: How to be a Moral Leader: Sandra Sucher,...
Sandra Sucher reading from Richard Rhodes’ The Making of the Atomic Bomb and discussing moral strength and leadership.
44 min
27
Vaults: The Dilemmas of a CEO: Dig Howitt [read...
Dig Howitt reading from “In Search of Excellence”, and discussing failure capacity.
32 min
28
How to Begin VI: Who Are You Travelling With wi...
This is still 2 Pages with MBS, the podcast where brilliant people read the best 2 pages from a favourite book, but now there’s a twist! It’s me reading 2 pages from my new book, and inviting brilliant people to reflect on what they’re hearing.
20 min
29
Why I Wrote How to Begin
Today is January 11th, 2022 - it is the day my new book, How to Begin: Start Doing Something That Matters, actually arrives in the world.
10 min
30
Vaults: How (and why) to be good-ish: Dolly Chu...
Dolly Chugh reading from Jeanne Theoharis’ A More Beautiful and Terrible History: The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History and discussing ways to combat our unconscious biases.
35 min
31
How to Begin V: Remembering Your Best Qualities...
This is still 2 Pages with MBS, the podcast where brilliant people read the best 2 pages from a favourite book, but now there’s a twist! It’s me reading 2 pages from my new book, and inviting brilliant people to reflect on what they’re hearing.
19 min
32
Vaults: You are Predictably Imperfect: Katy Mil...
Katy Milkman reading from Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler's Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness and discussing the nuances of human behaviour.
37 min
33
Vaults: Hope For Tomorrow: Roman Krznaric, Auth...
Roman Krznaric reading from John McPhee’s Basin and Range and discussing how we can be ‘good ancestors.’
35 min
34
How to Begin IV: Taking Small Steps with Ainsle...
This is still 2 Pages with MBS, the podcast where brilliant people read the best 2 pages from a favourite book, but now there’s a twist! It’s me reading 2 pages from my new book, and inviting brilliant people to reflect on what they’re hearing.
19 min
35
Vaults: How to be World-Positive: Swati Mylavar...
Swati Mylavarapu reading from Mary L. Gray and Siddharth Suri’s Ghost Work: How to Stop Silicon Valley from Building a New Global Underclass and discussing a ‘world-positive’ view on investing.
33 min
36
How to Begin III: Pursuing ‘You 2.0’ with Jenny...
This is still 2 Pages with MBS, the podcast where brilliant people read the best 2 pages from a favourite book, but now there’s a twist! It’s me reading 2 pages from my new book, and inviting brilliant people to reflect on what they’re hearing.
31 min
37
A Guide to Empathy: Peter Bregman, author of ‘Y...
Peter Bregman reading from Oriah Mountain Dreamer’s The Invitation and Rumi’s The Guest House, and discussing proper empathy.
33 min
38
How to Begin II: Connect to Your Best Self with...
This is still 2 Pages with MBS, the podcast where brilliant people read the best 2 pages from a favourite book, but now there’s a twist! It’s me reading 2 pages from my new book, and inviting brilliant people to reflect on what they’re hearing.
16 min
39
How to Face Resistance: Loran Nordgren, co-auth...
Loran Nordgren reading from Hart Crane’s My Grandmother’s Love Letters and discussing moving from contention to intention.
37 min
40
How to Begin I: Prizes & Punishments with Mark ...
This is still 2 Pages with MBS, the podcast where brilliant people read the best 2 pages from a favourite book, but now there’s a twist! It’s me reading 2 pages from my new book, and inviting brilliant people to reflect on what they’re hearing.
15 min
41
When to Wave the Purple Flag: Kim Scott, author...
Kim Scott reading from Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search For Meaning and discussing changing your behaviour to make the world a better place.
41 min
42
How to Resist Cynicism: Michael Bachelard, Depu...
Michael Bachelard reading from Peter Carey’s Bliss and discussing the world from a journalist’s perspective.
38 min
43
How to Engage with Reality: Susan Weinschenk, A...
Susan Weinschenk reading from Ezra Bayda’s Beyond Happiness and discussing owning your story.
38 min
44
Why Greed is Dead: John Kay, author of ‘Obliqui...
John Kay reading from Joseph Henrich’s The Secret of Our Success and discussing the role of collective intelligence in societal development.
30 min
45
Rebooting Democracy: DeNora Getachew, CEO of Do...
DeNora Getachew reading from Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste and discussing youth activism and systemic change.
38 min
46
How to Love the Unknown: Sarah Stein Greenberg,...
Sarah Stein Greenberg reading from Elizabeth Kolbert’s The Sixth Extinction and discussing creative self-efficacy.
41 min
47
Living in Two Worlds: Tope Folarin, author of ‘...
Tope Folarin reading from Tomas Tranströmer’s The Half-Finished Heaven, and discussing open and honest creativity.
30 min
48
How to Build Something: Seth Levine, author of ...
Seth Levine reading from Carlota Perez’s Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital, and discussing the role of capital in the economy.
45 min
49
The Powerful Pause: Juliet Funt, author of ‘A M...
Juliet Funt reading from Pema Chödrön’s When Things Fall Apart, and discussing getting curious and getting unbusy.
38 min
50
Whose Side Are You On?: David Gardner author of...
David Gardner reading from Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers and discussing the benefits of the enterprise mindset.
39 min
51
Hands and Feet Community: Pamela Slim, author o...
Pamela Slim reading from Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, and discussing human connection and building community.
42 min
52
What Technology Promises: Azeem Azhar, author o...
Azeem Azhar reading from W. Brian Arthur’s The Nature of Technology and discussing growth through commonality.
40 min
53
How to Thrive: Liz Wiseman, author of ‘Multipli...
Liz Wiseman reading from David Brooks’ The Road to Character and discussing the intersection point between need and capability.
42 min
54
How to Remember (and How to Forget): Scott A. S...
Scott A. Small reading from Jorge Luis Borges’ 'Funes the Memorious', and discussing the physics, and metaphysics, of the mind.
42 min
55
How to Hold a Flower: Muriel Wilkins, author of...
Muriel Wilkins reading from Michael Alan Singer’s The Untethered Soul, and discussing being present and seeing things for what they are.
39 min
56
To Read Is to Change: David A. Robertson, autho...
David A. Robertson reading from Philippa Pearce’s Tom’s Midnight Garden and discussing how he creates change through his writing.
36 min
57
Feeling all the Feelings: Kristoffer “KC” Carte...
Kristoffer “KC” Carter reading from Yogananda Paramahamsa’s Autobiography Of A Yogi and discussing the science of spirituality.
37 min
58
How to be a Moral Leader: Sandra Sucher, author...
Sandra Sucher reading from Richard Rhodes’ The Making of the Atomic Bomb and discussing moral strength and leadership.
43 min
59
How to Survive Being Creative: Jessica Abel, au...
Jessica Abel reading from Alexander Chee’s How to Write an Autobiographical Novel and discussing creativity as a career.
35 min
60
How to See the World Anew: Sara Hendren, Author...
Sara Hendren reading from Michael Bérubé’s Life as We Know It, and discussing evolving your thinking to become more accommodative.
40 min
61
Humility & Trust: Rachel Botsman, author of ‘Wh...
Rachel Botsman from Susan Cain’s Quiet and discussing the importance of uncertainty in building trust.
33 min
62
How to be *Really* Happy: Stephanie Harrison [r...
Stephanie Harrison reading from Śāntideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva and discussing the pursuit of happiness.
43 min
63
The Law of the Rubber Band: Naphtali Bryant [re...
Naphtali Bryant reading from John C. Maxwell’s The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth and discussing how ‘being stretched’ fuels personal growth.
31 min
64
How to Value Yourself: Stacey Vanek Smith, auth...
Stacey Vanek Smith reading from Alain de Botton’s How Proust Can Change Your Life and discussing power and negotiation.
33 min
65
How to Navigate Failure: Brad Stulberg, author ...
Brad Stulberg reading from Eric Fromm’s The Sane Society and discussing the role of others in becoming grounded.
35 min
66
Cooperation and Competition: Nichola Raihani, a...
Nichola Raihani reading from Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and discussing achieving cooperation through competition.
49 min
67
How to Reinvent Yourself: Jenny Valentish, auth...
Jenny Valentish reading from William Giraldi’s The Hero’s Body and discussing the ups and downs of reinventing yourself.
32 min
68
How to be a Beginner: Tom Vanderbilt, author of...
Tom Vanderbuilt reading from David Epstein’s Range and discussing the art of beginning and learning new skills.
41 min
69
How to Rethink Ambition: Kieran Setiya, author ...
Kieran Setiya reading from Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics and discussing how to cope with experiencing a midlife crisis.
46 min
70
How to Keep Creating: Jessica Hagy, ‘How to be ...
Jessica Hagy reading from The Stranger in the Woods, the Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit, and discussing how to be fearless.
30 min
71
Empathy and Argument: Tamsen Webster, ‘Find You...
Tamsen Webster reading from Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson’s Mistakes Were Made (But not by Me) and discussing how to shape and share your ideas in an irresistible way.
45 min
72
How to Practice Understanding: Pamay Bassey, CL...
Pamay Bassey reading from Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art and discussing overcoming resistance and being willing to learn.
33 min
73
How to Think Straight: Julia Galef, author of ‘...
Julia Galef reading from Eliezer Yudkowsky’s How to Actually Change Your Mind and discussing rational reasoning.
39 min
74
How to Act Like a Leader: Joel Constable, L&D a...
Joel Constable reading from Herminia Ibarra’s Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader and discussing ideal leadership behaviours.
35 min
75
How to Shape the Future of Work: Lisa Gill x ‘L...
Lisa Gill reading from Meg Wheatley’s Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World and discussing how the concept of ‘work’ has evolved.
44 min
76
How to be World-Positive: Swati Mylavarapu x ‘G...
Swati Mylavarapu reading from Mary L. Gray and Siddharth Suri’s Ghost Work: How to Stop Silicon Valley from Building a New Global Underclass and discussing a ‘world-positive’ view on investing.
32 min
77
How to Get to Grips with Reality: Oliver Burkem...
Oliver Burkeman reading from James Hollis’ Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life and discussing how accepting our limitations leads to a fulfilling life.
30 min
78
Joy and Power: Minna Salami x ‘The Sex Lives of...
Minna Salami reading from Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah’s The Sex Lives of African Women and discussing sexual oppression.
36 min
79
How to Keep Curiosity Alive: Martin Reeves x 'R...
Martin Reeves reading from John Kay and Mervyn King's Radical Uncertainty: Decision-Making Beyond the Numbers and discussing the significance of new approaches and imaginative ideas in business.
38 min
80
How to Resist Conformity: Julie Lythcott-Haims ...
Julie Lythcott-Haims reading from Tara Westover's Educated and discussing the emotional suffering that follows shame and following the crowd to fit in.
47 min
81
You are Predictably Imperfect: Katy Milkman x '...
Katy Milkman reading from Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler's Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness and discussing the nuances of human behaviour.
36 min
82
How to focus on what matters: John Zeratsky x '...
John Zeratsky reading from Winifred Gallagher's Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life and discussing the power and importance of where you place your attention.
39 min
83
How to Deconstruct Yourself: Luke Burgis x 'Thi...
Luke Burgis reading from René Girard's Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World and discussing the importance of business aims beyond mere profit-making potential.
41 min
84
How to be 100% Yourself: Jordan Dinwiddie x 'Nu...
Jordan Dinwiddie reading from L.L. McKinney's Nubia: Real One and discussing being a woman of colour in the world of advertising.
33 min
85
What To Do With Power: Matthew Barzun x ‘Toward...
Matthew Barzun reading an essay from his grandfather, Jacques Barzun’s A Jacques Barzun Reader and discussing how to use power mindfully.
50 min
86
One Way to be an Activist: Dr. Caroline Heldman...
Dr. Caroline Heldman reading James Baldwin’s essay On Being White ... And Other Lies and discussing how to facilitate social change.
38 min
87
The Power of Being a Generalist: Vikram Manshar...
Vikram Mansharamani reading from Laurence J. Peter’s The Peter Principle and discussing holistic development.
41 min
88
How (and why) to be good-ish: Dolly Chugh x A M...
Dolly Chugh reading from Jeanne Theoharis’ A More Beautiful and Terrible History: The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History and discussing ways to combat our unconscious biases.
34 min
89
How to Overcome Loneliness: Ximena Vengoechea x...
Ximena Vengoechea reading from Sherry Turkle’s Reclaiming Conversation and discussing the essence of healthy communication.
38 min
90
Do We Want the Other Half to Fail?: Indra Adnan...
Indra Adnan reading from Ken Wilbur’s A Theory of Everything and discusses the growing chasm in society.
51 min
91
I am disabled but not broken: Christa Couture x...
Christa Couture reading from Eli Clare’s Brilliant Imperfection and discussing society’s labels.
36 min
92
Goes to 11: A.J. Jacobs x ‘The Bible’
A.J. Jacobs reading from Ecclesiastes and discussing four lessons that can be learned from the passage.
38 min
93
Scaling Learning: Magdy Karam x ‘Dare to Lead’
Reading from Dare to Lead by Brené Brown and discussing his leadership tactics.
36 min
94
Transformed by Failure: Ashley Good x ‘The Rise’
Reading from ‘The Rise’ by Sarah Lewis and discussing the positive elements of failure.
41 min
95
Freedom in Constraints: David Nour x ‘The Lords...
Reading from Walter Keichel’s The Lords of Strategy and discussing how relationships facilitate growth in life.
40 min
96
Trust is the Key: Jennifer Paylor x “Leadership...
Reading from Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Institute and discussing the significance of humility in our lives.
35 min
97
Conflict & Curiosity: Ian Leslie x ‘Revolution ...
Reading from Revolution in the Head: The Beatles’ Records and the Sixties by Ian MacDonald and discussing the power of conflict in creativity.
40 min
98
Lead Care Win: Dan Pontefract x 21 Letters on L...
Reading from Charles Handy’s 21 Letters on Life and Its Challenges and discussing the importance of humanity in organizations.
37 min
99
Brave Choices: Shannon Minifie x “A Supposedly ...
Reading from David Foster Wallace’s essay “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again” and discussing the challenges surrounding decision making.
40 min
100
Heart of Abundance: Nell Edgington x “Playing Big”
Reading from Tara Mohr’s Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak up, Create, and Lead and discussing putting an abundance mindset at the heart of social change.
35 min