The Armchair Expert Book Guide
Dax reads. His guests write. Monica fact-checks the page numbers. Here's every book that came up in the conversations — the guest's own work, Dax's recommendations, and the ones that got name-dropped along the way.
Attached
The guest's first book, the one that became a viral phenomenon through COVID and TikTok, applying attachment theory to adult romantic relationships — the foundation for the current conversation.
Confessions
Harden cites Augustine's Confessions as the model for her memoir-plus-ideas structure — if he could write a memoir as a serious book of ideas, so could she.
Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will
Dax references it directly by name when the conversation turns to determinism, saying 'This is very Sapolsky Determined, that book' and then accurately summarizing its argument before pushing back.
Girl, Interrupted
Harden mentions it when describing McLean Hospital — the Angelina Jolie film adaptation was shot there, including in the real tunnels where her intern office was located.
Never Enough
Harden's undergraduate mentor and lab boss wrote this memoir about her own cocaine addiction and recovery; Harden mentions it when explaining she didn't know about her mentor's history until after she'd left as a student.
Open
Andy calls it his favorite sports book of all time and Dax enthusiastically agrees he has to read it; they discuss Agassi's famous opening line about hating tennis.
Original Sin: On the Genetics of Vice, the Problem of Blame, and the Future of Forgiveness
The guest's new book, the primary subject of the interview; Dax brought the UK edition as a gift because it has a cooler cover.
Secure: The Revolutionary Guide to Creating a Secure Life
The guest's new book, the primary reason for the visit — addresses the follow-up question everyone asked after Attached: can I change my attachment style?
The Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality
Harden's previous book, mentioned by Dax in the introduction and referenced during the discussion of the NBA player and polygenic height.
The Intimate Animal: The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die for Love
The guest's own book, the primary subject of the episode; Dax reads from it and uses its chapter structure to organize the conversation.
The Spider and the Fly
Claudia's previous book — a true crime memoir about her five-year correspondence with a serial killer in Poughkeepsie who murdered eight women, intertwined with her own story of obsession.
Thirst: Twelve Drinks That Changed My Life
Mentioned in the pre-roll ad for John Robins's How Do You Cope podcast on Wndri; not discussed in the main episode.
Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care
The primary reason for the interview — Claudia's new book about the foster care to prison pipeline, told through six main characters including Maryanne.
13 books from 6 episodes. Updated automatically as new episodes are synthesized.