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moneyball

Michael Lewis
Mentions10
Episodes8
Podcasts5

Why listeners keep surfacing moneyball

moneyball by Michael Lewis gets recommended on Founders and Acquired, including episodes with Bill Gurley and Michael Lewis, with transcript quotes, timestamps, and episode context.

moneyball by Michael Lewis appears 10 times across 8 podcast episodes on 5 shows, with transcript quotes and timestamps.

The book "Moneyball" by Michael Lewis continues to be a popular topic across various podcasts, highlighting its impact on both sports and business. In the episode of Founders featuring Bill Gurley, he recounts how the book inspired a friend to pursue a career in baseball management, emphasizing its innovative approach to team assembly on a budget. This reflects the book's broader influence on thinking about strategy and resource allocation.

Additionally, notable mentions in podcasts like the Joe Rogan Experience and SmartLess showcase its relevance beyond baseball. Guests like Chris Williamson and Pam Abdy discuss the book's insights into using data and analytics for decision-making, which resonates with listeners interested in applying these concepts in various fields. The consistent references across episodes indicate that "Moneyball" remains a significant cultural touchstone for discussions on strategy, success, and innovation.

Recommendation signals

The host mentioned 'Moneyball' while listing significant films produced by the guests in the entertainment industry. It serves as a nod to the guests' impressive portfolio without delving into its specific themes or relevance.

The host mentions 'Moneyball' to highlight Michael Lewis's unique ability to uncover and articulate stories that are often overlooked. This book serves as an example of how Lewis presents a fresh perspective on familiar subjects, particularly in sports analytics.

The host mentions 'Moneyball' as a pivotal influence that sparked their interest in understanding the relationship between skill and luck in decision-making. They highlight how the book's approach to analytics in sports inspired them to explore these concepts further in their own writing.

Best for
Fans of film and entertainmentReaders interested in sports, analytics, and storytellingSports enthusiasts and decision-makers interested in analyticsPodcast creators and business enthusiasts
Where it keeps coming up

Recent show rotation: Founders, Acquired, and SmartLess.

Guests tied to these mentions include Bill Gurley, Michael Lewis, Pam Abdy, and Mike De Luca.

Fastest path back to the source: the first indexed mention lands at 58:46 in the episode where we captured it.

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Source material

Mentions across episodes

Every mention card links back to the episode page and exact transcript anchor.

Transcript mentionJump to mention

Sam read Moneyball in two days. He loved everything about it. He could not stop thinking about it. Sam decided he was going to quit his lucrative job at Bain and start working towards his dream of becoming a general manager.

Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Aspiring sports managers and data analysts
Key quote: Sam read Moneyball in two days.
The host mentions 'Moneyball' to highlight its influence on Sam's career aspirations in sports management. The book inspired Sam to pursue a path that integrated data analytics into professional sports, which was a novel concept at the time.

Sam read Moneyball in two days. He loved everything about it. He could not stop thinking about it. The book looks inside the innovative approach of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Bean to assemble a competitive baseball team on a small budget.

Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Aspiring sports managers and data analysts
Key quote: Sam read Moneyball in two days.
The host mentions 'Moneyball' to highlight how it inspired Sam to pursue a career in sports management through data analytics. The book exemplifies the innovative approach to assembling a competitive baseball team on a budget, which resonated deeply with Sam's aspirations.

Michael Lewis is mentioned as the author of several books, including Moneyball, which is known for its analysis of baseball statistics and team management.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Podcast creators and business enthusiasts
Key quote: Someone who distills complexity into simplicity.
The hosts mentioned Michael Lewis and his book 'Moneyball' while discussing their admiration for his storytelling ability and analytical skills. They highlighted his relevance in dissecting the mechanics behind successful companies, which aligns with their own podcast's journey.
Pam Abdy & Mike De Luca artwork
SmartLessMay 5, 2025Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca
Episode

I remember reading Moneyball, that was 2003. The great Michael Lewis. When that book came out. I've read all his books.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Fans of film and entertainment
Key quote: They are two of the most important people in the industry today.
The host mentioned 'Moneyball' while listing significant films produced by the guests in the entertainment industry. It serves as a nod to the guests' impressive portfolio without delving into its specific themes or relevance.

Michael Lewis, author of Moneyball and the blind side and the big short, discusses the importance of humility and grounding in success.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals striving for success and personal fulfillment
Key quote: He said, but the people who stay grounded, they, they have one thing in common.
The host references 'Moneyball' to illustrate the importance of grounding oneself amidst the pressures of achievement and societal expectations. Michael Lewis's insights on successful individuals highlight the value of maintaining long-term friendships that keep one humble and connected to their true self.

Moneyball was an assessment of the MLB done by a guy that was picked up by the Oakland A's, using advanced mathematics to look at undervalued players.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Sports enthusiasts and data analysts
Key quote: I think this assessment... it just makes people nerd out harder.
The host discusses how 'Moneyball' revolutionized the way baseball teams assess player value through data analysis. This approach has since influenced other sports, highlighting the importance of metrics in understanding athletic performance.
Transcript mentionJump to mention

Michael Lewis is the guy's name. He's the writer of like Moneyball and the Big Short, many books.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Readers interested in financial scandals and market analysis.
Key quote: Michael Lewis is the guy's name. He's the writer of like Moneyball and the Big Short, many books.
The host mentions 'Moneyball' in the context of Michael Lewis profiling a controversial figure during the collapse of FTX. This reference highlights the unexpected timing of the profile and the chaotic nature of the situation.

Michael Lewis is the guy's name. He's the writer of like Moneyball and the Big Short, many books.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Readers interested in financial scandals and profiles of influential figures.
Key quote: Michael Lewis is the guy's name. He's the writer of like Moneyball and the Big Short, many books.
The host mentioned 'Moneyball' in the context of discussing a profile on a controversial figure in the cryptocurrency space. Michael Lewis, the author of 'Moneyball', was profiling this individual when the FTX situation began to unravel.

Some of his books have even become some of our favorite movies, such as The Blindside, Moneyball, and The Big Short.

Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Readers interested in sports, analytics, and storytelling
Key quote: The money ball, you told it, you know, you talked about what Billy Bean was doing up in the Oakland Athletics, and then you told it through the lens of a guy who was a kind of a renegade.
The host mentions 'Moneyball' to highlight Michael Lewis's unique ability to uncover and articulate stories that are often overlooked. This book serves as an example of how Lewis presents a fresh perspective on familiar subjects, particularly in sports analytics.

But then I read Moneyball and I was like, this is awesome. This is like so interesting. Right. And I think I was the first person on Wall Street to write about Moneyball.

Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Sports enthusiasts and decision-makers interested in analytics
Key quote: But then I read Moneyball and I was like, this is awesome.
The host mentions 'Moneyball' as a pivotal influence that sparked their interest in understanding the relationship between skill and luck in decision-making. They highlight how the book's approach to analytics in sports inspired them to explore these concepts further in their own writing.