Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 14 hours ago
Jonathan Franzen is one of the most successful, accomplished, and decorated writers in the world. He is a Fulbright Scholar, National Book Award Winner, Pulitzer Prize Finalist, PEN/Faulkner Finalist, and 2x Oprah’s Book Club Pick. There is just nothing like a Jonathan Franzen novel and it was sheer delight going deep with the deep-master to discuss writing advice, the magic of the written word, what heroes look like today, competing with David Foster Wallace, the best thing we can do for the climate, Jon’s 3 most formative books, and more…
To learn more about Jonathan and read the full show notes, go here 👉🏽 3books.co/chapters/137
ABOUT THE SHOW
3 Books is an award-winning podcast discussing life's biggest themes through the 3 most formative books of an inspiring guest.
00:00 Neil Knifes A Novel
07:42 Writing Takes Work
14:11 Fiction Creates Connection
20:05 Novels Are Not Socially Useful
25:05 Don't Read Crap
36:14 'Prince Caspian'
47:05 Kids Are Not Innocent
52:58 Exile and Persecution
1:03:54 What Makes A Hero
1:11:11 Can Adaptations Succeed?
1:16:17 'The Trial'
1:22:13 The Asshole Protagonist
1:35:44 In It For The Money
1:39:49 Readers Need Good Books
1:43:14 Dialogue is a Magic Trick
1:45:47 'Reason in a Dark Time'
1:52:05 A New Writing Mission
1:55:47 The Pressure of Climate Change
2:03:17 Does Individual Action Matter?
2:08:29 Fast Money Questions
2:09:55 Outro
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SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/2HHWPYg
Hey there,
I'm Neil and I spend a ton of time thinking, writing, podcasting, and speaking about living intentionally. I'm the New York Times bestselling author of six books including The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation. I've been lucky to speak at places like TED, SXSW, and Google. And I host a huge passion project called the 3 Books podcast.
Want more 3 Books? Check out my top interviews with:
Brené Brown youtube.com/watch?v=X5l-Auv7h8Y
Quentin Tarantino youtube.com/watch?v=VVFdvfiPB-w
David Sedaris youtube.com/watch?v=wzz8tqnz1mI
Want to read more of my stuff?
https://www.neil.blog/archive/
Want to check out my podcast?
3books.co
Want to learn about my live events?
globalhappiness.org/speaking
Want my monthly book recos?
1000awesomethings.com/reading-club
Want my articles on intentional living?
https://www.neil.blog/newsletter/
I am also on the following drugs:
Facebook: facebook.com/NeilPasricha
Twitter: twitter.com/neilpasricha
Instagram: instagram.com/neilpasricha
Lastly, thanks so much for watching this vid.
👊,
Neil
neil@globalhappiness.org
Jonathan Franzen is one of the most successful, accomplished, and decorated writers in the world. He is a Fulbright Scholar, National Book Award Winner, Pulitzer Prize Finalist, PEN/Faulkner Finalist, and 2x Oprah’s Book Club Pick. There is just nothing like a Jonathan Franzen novel and it was sheer delight going deep with the deep-master to discuss writing advice, the magic of the written word, what heroes look like today, competing with David Foster Wallace, the best thing we can do for the climate, Jon’s 3 most formative books, and more…
To learn more about Jonathan and read the full show notes, go here 👉🏽 3books.co/chapters/137
ABOUT THE SHOW
3 Books is an award-winning podcast discussing life's biggest themes through the 3 most formative books of an inspiring guest.
00:00 Neil Knifes A Novel
07:42 Writing Takes Work
14:11 Fiction Creates Connection
20:05 Novels Are Not Socially Useful
25:05 Don't Read Crap
36:14 'Prince Caspian'
47:05 Kids Are Not Innocent
52:58 Exile and Persecution
1:03:54 What Makes A Hero
1:11:11 Can Adaptations Succeed?
1:16:17 'The Trial'
1:22:13 The Asshole Protagonist
1:35:44 In It For The Money
1:39:49 Readers Need Good Books
1:43:14 Dialogue is a Magic Trick
1:45:47 'Reason in a Dark Time'
1:52:05 A New Writing Mission
1:55:47 The Pressure of Climate Change
2:03:17 Does Individual Action Matter?
2:08:29 Fast Money Questions
2:09:55 Outro
-
SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/2HHWPYg
Hey there,
I'm Neil and I spend a ton of time thinking, writing, podcasting, and speaking about living intentionally. I'm the New York Times bestselling author of six books including The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation. I've been lucky to speak at places like TED, SXSW, and Google. And I host a huge passion project called the 3 Books podcast.
Want more 3 Books? Check out my top interviews with:
Brené Brown youtube.com/watch?v=X5l-Auv7h8Y
Quentin Tarantino youtube.com/watch?v=VVFdvfiPB-w
David Sedaris youtube.com/watch?v=wzz8tqnz1mI
Want to read more of my stuff?
https://www.neil.blog/archive/
Want to check out my podcast?
3books.co
Want to learn about my live events?
globalhappiness.org/speaking
Want my monthly book recos?
1000awesomethings.com/reading-club
Want my articles on intentional living?
https://www.neil.blog/newsletter/
I am also on the following drugs:
Facebook: facebook.com/NeilPasricha
Twitter: twitter.com/neilpasricha
Instagram: instagram.com/neilpasricha
Lastly, thanks so much for watching this vid.
👊,
Neil
neil@globalhappiness.org
