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.

Business
Books
Self-Improvement
51
130. The Art of a Tender Conversation: Kathryn ...
Kathryn Mannix reading from Oliver Sacks’ Gratitude, and discussing the satisfaction of helping others.
47 min
52
129. How to be an Artist: Chadney Everett [read...
Chadney Everett reading from José Ortega y Gasset’s The Dehumanization of Art, and discussing the importance of authenticity and integrity when creating art in order to connect with others.
40 min
53
128. Not Wasting Time: Andri Snær Magnason, aut...
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
54
127. The Ethical Revolution: Robert Chesnut, au...
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
55
126. Where Empathy & Activism Meet: Loretta Ros...
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
56
125. Whose Heart Did You Break?: Simon Alexande...
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
57
124. A Woman’s Guide to Surviving Entrepreneurs...
Nathalie Molina Niño reading from her own book Leapfrog, and discussing finding courage as a woman in the entrepreneurial world.
18 min
58
123. Why We’re All Entrepreneurs: Asheesh Advan...
Asheesh Advani reading from Safi Bahcall’s Loonshots, and discussing investing in the mindset and skill set to nurture a vibrant community.
34 min
59
122. The Doorway to Shared Meaning: Haesun Moon...
Haesun Moon reading from David Bohm’s On Dialogue, and discussing the importance of open communication.
41 min
60
121. Wrestling with Your Monsters: Richard Wint...
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
61
120. How to be Alive: Madeleine Dore, Author of...
Madeleine Dore reading from Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, and discussing unlearning the ‘rules’ of life.
34 min
62
119. Your Hero-Making Brain: Will Storr, author...
Will Storr reading from David Eagleman’s Incognito, and discussing status & storytelling.
34 min
63
118. Explore or Expire: Tom Wiese [reads] ‘I’m ...
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
64
117. The Power of The Underdog: Bobby Herrera [...
Bobby Herrera reading from his book The Gift of Struggle, and discussing welcoming the journey of navigating life’s challenges.
19 min
65
116. A Beginner’s Guide to Ambiguity: Andrea Sm...
Andrea Small reading from Patrik Svensson’s The Book of Eels, and discussing finding comfort in ambiguity.
43 min
66
115. Moving from Outside to Insider (and back a...
Dominic Packer reading from Kwame Appiah’s Experiments in Ethics and discussing finding your own identity through dissent.
36 min
67
114. Ever Find Yourself Distracted?: Nir Eyal, ...
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
68
113. Fighting For the Life You Want: Jen Louden...
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
69
112. Have We Canceled Our Future?: Pascal Finet...
Reading from Uwe Schütte’s Kraftwerk, and discussing our responsibility to construct a better world.
31 min
70
111. Weighing the Price of Ambition: Shellye Ar...
Shellye Archambeau reading from Wayne Baker’s All You Have to Do Is Ask and discussing the complexity of an ambitious mind.
39 min
71
110. Seeking Deep Connection: Kevin Ashton, Aut...
Kevin Ashton reading from Suzanne Simard’s Finding the Mother Tree, and discussing finding the thing you can’t resist.
46 min
72
109. (Re)Learning How to be White: Garrett Buck...
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
73
108. Make it Magical, Make it Meaningful: Aman...
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
74
107. Making What Matters Most: Jay Acunzo [read...
Jay Acunzo reading from Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, and discussing tiny stories with big ideas.
45 min
75
106. [Replay] The Search for Purpose: Arthur Br...
Arthur Brooks reading from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations and discussing the nature of being fully alive.
45 min