The Book Pile

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Rediscover this gem of a Book Pile episode (originally episode #84) that we dug up and polished from May of 2022! The Big Short is a little nostalgic jaunt back into the greatest financial collapse of our lifetimes. Also on this episode, the duo discuss air fryers, hot tubs, and nuclear-bomb insurance (in that order of priority). * If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast at the same time, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! https://amzn.to/4b7hZwQ * Dave’s book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Look, we’re going to level with you. If we describe this episode's book right here, you’ll leave. The description sounds boring. Your feeble attention span has been weakened by the internet age. So just trust us and try this one. Some parts are about love. Is that enough of a dopamine hit for you? You sad sack of TikTok-addled chemicals? * If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! Free on Kindle to Amazon Prime members! https://amzn.to/3Uoi6gi * Dave’s book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Rediscover this gem of a Book Pile episode (episode #99) that we dug up and polished from 2022! The Inner Game of Tennis describes an innovative approach to better, easier mastery of tennis and other activities. Plus, Kellen tries to never praise his kids, and Dave gets better at sports by focusing REALLY hard on relaxing, and yelling at himself when he doesn't do it right. * If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast at the same time, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! https://amzn.to/4aOE5Em * Dave’s book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * We look at the first Harry Potter book again now that Kellen has read it a second time and Dave has continuously been listening to it since he was born. Also, we are trying to violate Harry Potter copyright as much as possible in the hopes Rowling will angrily tweet about us and send her massive audience to our podcast. So check out our 17-hour YouTube video where Kellen recreates all 8 movies by doing that trick where your belly button is a mouth and your nipples are eyes. * If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! Free on Kindle to Amazon Prime members! https://amzn.to/3vIeGwR * Dave’s book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Kellen and comedian Chad Daniels talk about each others favorite poems. Also, Chad recalls an incredible moment during a Foo Fighters concert; and both of them admit to some of the things that they purchase for themselves as adults because they never got them when they were kids. * Dave’s book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to submit the name of your favorite poem for us to discuss on a very-near-future episode with Chad Daniels! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * The Three-Body Problem proves that you can take a mathematical equation and turn it into a thrilling, murder-filled story. Much like another book, And Then There Were None. Join us as we discuss science and whether or not you are smart! Plus, Dave talks more about Lord of the Rings than the actual book and Kellen hunts for the elusive real-life hoverboard.. * If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! https://amzn.to/4cxwXxr * Dave’s book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to submit the name of your favorite poem for us to discuss on a very-near-future episode with Chad Daniels! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Rediscover Lateral Thinking, a book ahead of its time as far as developing the human mind but not ahead of its time in terms of entertainment value... Also rediscover this gem of a Book Pile episode (episode #99) that we dug up and polished from 2022 (now with a new intro!). * If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! https://amzn.to/3VD9gxs * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * The king returns. Alan Dean is back, and he’s more Alan Dean than ever. Break out the thesauruses as we do a live roast of his novelization of The Force Awakens. Plus, Kellen teaches you some vocab words and Dave has a guessing game. * To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE! https://amzn.to/3IJIhsx * Dave’s book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE! https://amzn.to/43ejtlH * This book (for reals) was George Lucas's plan B just in case Star Wars: A New Hope bombed. The idea was to use the story of this novel as a template for a very cheap follow-up movie in case A New Hope didn't make him enough money to produce Empire Strikes Back. So thank you to everyone in 1977 who bought so many movie tickets that this novel--entrusted to Alan Dean Foster--is not what we had to experience as a sequel. For those of you newer to the podcast, Kellen and Dave roasted the strangely verbose Alan Dead Foster's novelization of the movie Transformers, and that episode was their most downloaded episode of 2023 (you should try it, it's episode #124). * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com *

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE! https://amzn.to/3P5Gy4c * Nothing could summarize this book better than this Amazon review we found: “This book provides many useful hints that will have you agreeing.” Indeed, we were agreeing! Join us as we go through many nuggets of sound advice. Plus, Dave has career advice for young listeners and Kellen wants to tell you about his cutlery. * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE for The Body https://amzn.to/49pRTV1 * Have you ever laughed while reading a book about the human anatomy (and not just with giggles and pointing)? Bill Bryson writes in an almost magical style about the wonders of what we do and do not understand about our insides. * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE for Watchmen https://amzn.to/3uCrELW * “Who watches the watchmen?” That is the central question of this book, asked over and over. And yet they never answer it! So what was the point of asking?! It’s like when Christopher Nolan forgot to show if the top stops spinning. Just basic storytelling mistakes. Plus, Kellen discusses his love of 1990s calendars and Dave explains anti-heroes. (They’re like heroes, on opposite day!) * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * To buy the books and support the podcast, click HERE for The 4-Hour Workweek! https://amzn.to/3uFGSj7 * We would've written an intro to this episode, but we didn't have time now that I guess we're only working 4 hours a week... * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs! https://patreon.com/TheBookPile * To buy the books and support the podcast, click HERE for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! https://amzn.to/3HPkXZX or HERE for Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator! https://amzn.to/3UtoNiN * Wonka is available to stream this week, and in honor of it, today we're praising Roald Dahl’s most famous book, and roasting his most infamous book. That’s right! We’re covering the Charlie books, a series with a bigger sophomore slump than Pirates of the Caribbean. Plus, Dave has a brainteaser for you and Kellen can't wait for you to hear what the "positive" reviews for the Great Glass Elevator have to say... * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES! https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Today's book: Dopamine Detox: A Short Guide to Remove Distractions and Get Your Brain to Do Hard Things Ever done a detox? Did it work? Will we ever know? This book contains about 20% very useful information on how to deal with the dopamine that wants you to keep scrolling. (The other 80% of the book reads like it’s been poorly copy-pasted from better books, so just let Kellen do the job of sifting through the plagiarism for you.) * If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! https://amzn.to/3HBduxq * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com

Last year, Kellen and Dave both broke their personal record for number of books read, and in this episode they list their top ten picks. Plus, Kellen comes into 2024 on a mission to roast some Berenstain Bears, and Dave battles his demons (and angels) on a train. Click below to buy any or all of our favorite books from 2023 AND support the podcast at the same time! Enlightenment Now https://amzn.to/3S55Lwt Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the 80's https://amzn.to/49lzecH A Room of One's Own https://amzn.to/424cM5n Humans https://amzn.to/47KxecF Project Hail Mary https://amzn.to/3S6GLFc Master of the Senate https://amzn.to/42aeHFf The Gifts of Imperfection https://amzn.to/4b3rb5L The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness https://amzn.to/3Hr3new The Power https://amzn.to/490kKyp Excellent Advice for Living https://amzn.to/49lzBUD The Spy With No Pants https://amzn.to/3vEj3Z8 * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to purchase a CAMEO-STYLE video greeting from Dave and Kellen! (Gift to a friend or family member!) https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Want to purchase On Writing and support the podcast? (Or just that first one?) Click here! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! https://amzn.to/48L68D8 * Today Kellen covers the first half of Stephen King's On Writing, which is a memoir. It's slickly written, it's funny, it's got some strong language...so pretty much the only difference between this and his novels is that his life story doesn't contain any ghosts or childrens of the corn. * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com

Buy Gary’s book, Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the '80s: https://www.amazon.com/Misfit-Growing-Up-Awkward-80s/dp/1250777062 Gary’s standup special, Born on Third Base: ​​https://www.max.com/movies/gary-gulman-born-on-3rd-base/3c80efb5-7891-463e-87b9-9e8ca7d8e6c7 Gary’s standup special, The Great Depresh: https://www.max.com/movies/gary-gulman-the-great-depresh/6b6e6992-a485-42f7-b41e-ff11441da6ab Dave’s book / game, The Starlings: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp We interviewed a comedy hero of ours, Gary Gulman, about his memoir Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the ‘80s. It’s funny, sweet, poignant, and redeeming. And if you’re not a fan of any of those, this book happens at the same time as Stranger Things!! Fun! Please buy Gary’s book, so that he will come back on our podcast any time he has a new book. We would like to become a necessity to him. Gary Gulman has appeared on virtually every late night show, with some of the highest viewed stand-up clips in Conan's history, and was runner-up on NBC's Last Comic Standing. He's released specials on Netflix and HBO, and appeared in the 2019 movie Joker alongside Joaquin Phoenix. He also appeared in an episode of the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes, alongside Kellen Erskine, which is probably Gary's most important credit... * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to purchase a CAMEO-STYLE video greeting from Dave and Kellen! (Gift to a friend or family member!) https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Dave’s graphic novel escape room: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * Rediscover A Christmas Carol with the wonderful Tim Curry narrating! Also rediscover this gem of a Book Pile episode (episode #114) that we dug up from 2022 (now with a new intro!). Listen to Dave whisper laugh! Hear Kellen disagree with Dave's habit of walking out of movies! Notice how Kellen tries to defend himself against what appears to be a an unequal luggage-packing relationship with his wife... * If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! https://amzn.to/3NGz6fm * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to purchase a CAMEO-STYLE video greeting from Dave and Kellen! (Gift to a friend or family member!) https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile * Dave’s graphic novel escape room: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp * Would you like to read the Grinch? Would you read it in a cinch? Listen to our podcastinch! Rhyming is so easyinch! Plus, Dave and Kellen come up with new holiday characters that you can use to make new traditions in your household, and Kellen shares when he tried and failed to give Dave a present. * If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! https://amzn.to/3RxnEnp * Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com * David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.