What to read if you listen to NPR's Planet Money

Books are undoubtedly my go-to source for information and insight about the world around me, but sometimes I don’t have the time or background knowledge necessary to do a deep dive on a particular topic. For that, I turn to podcasts. I listen to podcasts about news and politics, books (obviously) and music, celebrities and pop culture, mental health and relationships, and pretty much any other topic you can imagine. One of my favorite podcasts to listen to is Planet Money from NPR, a fun and digestible show that explains one of the most important—and to me, mystifying—topics out there, the economy. 

If you’ve ever heard me start a sentence with “Did you know…,” there’s a good chance I’m about to reference a vintage episode of Planet Money. Some of my favorite episodes include the ones on the secret world of ballpark vendors, why the way we do science is fake, and how James Holzhauer’s Jeopardy strategy was informed by probability. 

I’ve also enjoyed the recent episodes that help understand current events, such as the student loan pause (just cancel them, Joe), risks related to the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the supply chain issues that arose when the Planet Money team tried to write and publish a comic book.

Several current and former Planet Money hosts have also written books, including Machiavelli for Women by Stacey Vanek Smith, Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing by Jacob Goldstein, and the recently released The Bond King: How One Man Made a Market, Built an Empire, and Lost it All by Mary Childs. 

Next week at the shop, Mary Childs will be here to discuss the story of Bill Gross and PIMCO, bond markets, and what the story reveals about the financial history of the last 40 years. In conversation with fellow Planet Money host Kenny Malone, Mary will also discuss why the story is more complicated than it may seem (but in a way that makes it simple to understand for anyone) and more! The event will be at 7 pm on May 23rd, and capacity is limited. RSVP now so you don’t miss it!