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
Not Wasting Time: Andri Snær Magnason, author o...
Andri reading from Alan Lightman’s Einstein’s Dreams, and discussing his author’s journey, shedding light on being a product of his society and life experiences.
34 min
2
The Ethical Revolution: Robert Chesnut, author ...
Robert Chesnut reading from his bestseller Intentional Integrity and outlining the steps that leaders can take to create and maintain an integrous environment.
14 min
3
Where Empathy & Activism Meet: Loretta Ross, co...
Loretta Ross reading from Jamil Zaki’s book, The War for Kindness, and discussing compassion fatigue, connecting with others, and how the activism landscape has changed over the past 50 years.
32 min
4
Whose Heart Did You Break?: Simon Alexander Ong...
Simon Alexander One reading from Brianna Wiest’s book The Mountain is You, and discussing resilience, self-mastery, and expanding your comfort zone.
36 min
5
A Woman’s Guide to Surviving Entrepreneurship: ...
Nathalie Molina Niño reading from her own book Leapfrog, and discussing finding courage as a woman in the entrepreneurial world.
18 min
6
Why We’re All Entrepreneurs: Asheesh Advani, au...
Asheesh Advani reading from Safi Bahcall’s Loonshots, and discussing investing in the mindset and skill set to nurture a vibrant community.
34 min
7
The Doorway to Shared Meaning: Haesun Moon, aut...
Haesun Moon reading from David Bohm’s On Dialogue, and discussing the importance of open communication.
41 min
8
Wrestling with Your Monsters: Richard Winters, ...
Richard Winters reading from David Whyte’s The Heart Aroused, and discussing confronting the fears that may be stopping you from getting things done.
39 min
9
How to be Alive: Madeleine Dore, Author of ‘I D...
Madeleine Dore reading from Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, and discussing unlearning the ‘rules’ of life.
34 min
10
Your Hero-Making Brain: Will Storr, author of ‘...
Will Storr reading from David Eagleman’s Incognito, and discussing status & storytelling.
34 min
11
Explore or Expire: Tom Wiese [reads] ‘I’m Scarr...
Tom Wiese reading from Michael Bungay Stanier’s essay “I’m Scarred” from the book, End Malaria, and discussing the choice of your own story.
40 min
12
The Power of The Underdog: Bobby Herrera [reads...
Bobby Herrera reading from his book The Gift of Struggle, and discussing welcoming the journey of navigating life’s challenges.
19 min
13
A Beginner’s Guide to Ambiguity: Andrea Small, ...
Andrea Small reading from Patrik Svensson’s The Book of Eels, and discussing finding comfort in ambiguity.
43 min
14
Moving from Outside to Insider (and back again)...
Dominic Packer reading from Kwame Appiah’s Experiments in Ethics and discussing finding your own identity through dissent.
36 min
15
Ever Find Yourself Distracted?: Nir Eyal, autho...
Nir Eyal reading from his book Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life, and discussing the road to becoming just that.
15 min
16
Fighting For the Life You Want: Jen Louden, aut...
Jen Louden reading from Why Bother?, and discussing transforming your life through letting go of the outcomes and making room for the future.
20 min
17
Have We Canceled Our Future?: Pascal Finette, a...
Reading from Uwe Schütte’s Kraftwerk, and discussing our responsibility to construct a better world.
31 min
18
Weighing the Price of Ambition: Shellye Archamb...
Shellye Archambeau reading from Wayne Baker’s All You Have to Do Is Ask and discussing the complexity of an ambitious mind.
39 min
19
Seeking Deep Connection: Kevin Ashton, Author o...
Kevin Ashton reading from Suzanne Simard’s Finding the Mother Tree, and discussing finding the thing you can’t resist.
46 min
20
(Re)Learning How to be White: Garrett Bucks [re...
Garrett Bucks reading from Hanif Abdurraqib’s They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us and discussing the harm of the white savior complex.
49 min
21
Make it Magical, Make it Meaningful: Amantha I...
Reading from Chip and Dan Heath’s The Power of Moments, and discussing making the most out of the moments we’re given.
43 min
22
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
23
[Replay] The Search for Purpose: Arthur Brooks,...
Arthur Brooks reading from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations and discussing the nature of being fully alive.
45 min
24
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
25
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
26
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
27
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
28
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
29
#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
30
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
31
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
32
[Replay] I Am Disabled But Not Broken: Christa ...
Christa Couture reading from Eli Clare’s Brilliant Imperfection and discussing society’s labels.
36 min
33
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
34
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
35
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
36
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
37
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
38
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
39
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
40
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
41
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
42
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
43
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
44
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
45
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
46
Vault: Killing Your Ego: Riaz Meghji, author of...
Riaz Meghji reading from “Everyone Communicates, Few Connect” and discussing the power of story.
34 min
47
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
48
Vaults: The Dilemmas of a CEO: Dig Howitt [read...
Dig Howitt reading from “In Search of Excellence”, and discussing failure capacity.
32 min
49
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
50
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
51
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
52
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
53
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
54
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
55
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
56
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
57
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
58
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
59
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
60
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
61
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
62
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
63
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
64
How to Engage with Reality: Susan Weinschenk, A...
Susan Weinschenk reading from Ezra Bayda’s Beyond Happiness and discussing owning your story.
38 min
65
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
66
Rebooting Democracy: DeNora Getachew, CEO of Do...
DeNora Getachew reading from Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste and discussing youth activism and systemic change.
38 min
67
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
68
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
69
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
70
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
71
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
72
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
73
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
74
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
75
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
76
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
77
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
78
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
79
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
80
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
81
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
82
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
83
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
84
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
85
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
86
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
87
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
88
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
89
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
90
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
91
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
92
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
93
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
94
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
95
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
96
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
97
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
98
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
99
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
100
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