Indexed episode13 mentions

AcquiredDec 15, 2025

10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for 10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis) on Acquired.

Guest

Michael Lewis

Books mentioned

Emperors of Chocolate The Name of the Wind Seven Powers+1 more

Listen

Loading the embedded player…

Open audio source More from Acquired

Context before you listen

10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis) mentions Emperors of Chocolate by Joel Glenn Brenner, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, Seven Powers by Hamilton Helmer, and The Art of Spending Money by Morgan Housel with timestamps, quotes, and episode context.

Emperors of Chocolate The Name of the Wind Seven Powers The Art of Spending Money

3 books from this episode

Emperors of Chocolate

Joel Glenn Brenner

It's the dual history of Hershey and Mars together.

The Name of the Wind

Patrick Rothfuss

This thing was so compelling. I couldn't believe how good it was.

Seven Powers

Hamilton Helmer

That has been a useful analytical framework for you.

Guest: Michael Lewis

Episode summary

Why has Acquired — seemingly against all odds — “worked”? It's a puzzling question: episodes are four hours long, they come out infrequently, and they usually don’t have guests or video. Hardly the standard-issue playbook for podcasting success! And yet well over a million smart, curious and exceedingly busy humans share their (your!) valuable time with us every month. Why? This is the exact paradox that has been rolling around in the head of Michael Lewis (yes, that Michael Lewis) since he found the show earlier this year. So we asked Michael to be our guest "interlocutor" and share what he thinks is going on here, while we share ten lessons we've stolen (graciously) from companies we've studied and brought into Acquired itself. He takes us through the entire Acquired journey: how we started, why we've never hired anyone or raised money, how we pick episodes, what our business model actually is, why we focus on quality and enjoyment over maximizing enterprise value, and ultimately why we’re all — you, him, us — kindred spirits together. Oh, and just for fun, we recorded this episode where another special journey began — the garage where Google was founded. Thank you for an incredible decade together… here's to the next one!

Mention timeline

Jump between the book moments.

View every mention

Emperors of Chocolate

Joel Glenn Brenner

The host mentions 'Emperors of Chocolate' as a significant book that explores the dual history of Hershey and Mars. T…

Card

The Name of the Wind

Patrick Rothfuss

The host mentioned 'The Name of the Wind' as a compelling read that captivated him, particularly because his son had…

Card

Seven Powers

Hamilton Helmer

The host mentions 'Seven Powers' by Hamilton Helmer as a valuable analytical framework for understanding business str…

Card

The Art of Spending Money

Morgan Housel

The host mentions 'The Art of Spending Money' by Morgan Housel as a fun read that provides valuable insights about mo…

Card

Last Man Standing

The host mentioned 'Last Man Standing' as a valuable resource while preparing for an interview with Jamie Dimon. They…

Card

Saul Price's autobiography

The host mentioned 'Saul Price's autobiography' as a crucial resource for understanding Costco's business model. They…

Card

The Undoing Project

Michael Lewis

The hosts mentioned Michael Lewis and his works, including 'The Undoing Project', as they reflected on their podcast'…

Card

The Blind Side

Michael Lewis

The hosts mentioned Michael Lewis and his works, including 'The Blind Side', to highlight his storytelling ability an…

Card

Book mentions13

Media mentions3

Quick answers

Quick FAQ

Answers to common summary, books, and takeaway questions for this episode.

What is 10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis) about?

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for 10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis) on Acquired.

Listen to the episode

What are the main takeaways from 10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)?

These are the strongest takeaways surfaced by the transcript, summary copy, and linked mentions for 10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis).

The conversation centers on 10 year anniversary celebration.
A second recurring theme is 10-year anniversary celebration.
Referenced books include Emperors of Chocolate by Joel Glenn Brenner and The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
The strongest audience signal points to Readers interested in business history and chocolate industry enthusiasts. and Fantasy readers and aspiring writers.

Listen with timestamps

Which books are mentioned in 10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)?

Emperors of Chocolate by Joel Glenn Brenner, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, and Seven Powers by Hamilton Helmer are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to transcript timestamps and quote cards.

Jump to books mentioned

Why are listeners searching for 10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)?

10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis) keeps attracting summary-style searches because this page combines episode context, transcript quotes, book references, and direct jump links back into the audio.

See topic signals

Topic and sentiment signals

Aggregated from transcript-derived mention metadata for better topical navigation and citation.

Top triggers

10 year anniversary celebration(3)10-year anniversary celebration(1)10-year anniversary reflection(1)Acquired podcast anniversary(1)business strategy frameworks(1)collaboration and chemistry(1)Costco business model(1)favorite books mentioned(1)

Mention sentiment

Passing Reference(7)Highly Recommended(6)

Audience signals

Readers interested in business history and chocolate industry enthusiasts.Fantasy readers and aspiring writersEntrepreneurs and business strategistsIndividuals interested in personal finance and happinessAnyone interested in finance or Jamie Dimon's careerAnyone interested in business models and retail strategies.

Books Mentioned

The full list below is ranked by how useful each mention is to a listener: stronger recommendation language, clearer quote context, and better timestamp support rise first.

Emperors of Chocolate

Joel Glenn Brenner

Best for Readers interested in business history and chocolate industry enthusiasts.Often cited around history of chocolate companies

“First one is a reachback to December of last year with the Mars episode, Emperors of Chocolate by Joel Glenn Brenner. It's so good.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Highly Recommended

Trigger: history of chocolate companies

For: Readers interested in business history and chocolate industry enthusiasts.

Key quote: “It's the dual history of Hershey and Mars together.”

The host mentions 'Emperors of Chocolate' as a significant book that explores the dual history of Hershey and Mars. They express admiration for the book, calling it a masterpiece and highlighting its compelling narrative.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Check price

The Name of the Wind

Patrick Rothfuss

Best for Fantasy readers and aspiring writersOften cited around favorite books mentioned

“It's called, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It's an 800-page novel that my son was enthusing about.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Highly Recommended

Trigger: favorite books mentioned

For: Fantasy readers and aspiring writers

Key quote: “This thing was so compelling. I couldn't believe how good it was.”

The host mentioned 'The Name of the Wind' as a compelling read that captivated him, particularly because his son had also enjoyed it. He expressed surprise at the author's inability to complete the trilogy, drawing a parallel to other authors who have faced similar challenges.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Check price

Seven Powers

Hamilton Helmer

Best for Entrepreneurs and business strategistsOften cited around business strategy frameworks

“The framework from Hamilton Helmer's book 'Seven Powers' has been a useful analytical tool for studying business strategy.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Highly Recommended

Trigger: business strategy frameworks

For: Entrepreneurs and business strategists

Key quote: “That has been a useful analytical framework for you.”

The host mentions 'Seven Powers' by Hamilton Helmer as a valuable analytical framework for understanding business strategy. They found it particularly useful for identifying the factors that contribute to a company's durability and profitability.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Check price

The Art of Spending Money

Morgan Housel

Best for Individuals interested in personal finance and happinessOften cited around reading recommendations

“I just love reading Morgan Housel and his new book, The Art of Spending Money, is really fun.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Highly Recommended

Trigger: reading recommendations

For: Individuals interested in personal finance and happiness

Key quote: “I just love reading Morgan Housel and his new book, The Art of Spending Money, is really fun.”

The host mentions 'The Art of Spending Money' by Morgan Housel as a fun read that provides valuable insights about money and happiness. They appreciate Housel's ability to explain complex ideas in an accessible way.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Check price

Last Man Standing

Best for Anyone interested in finance or Jamie Dimon's careerOften cited around research for Jamie Dimon interview

“One great book I read for research was Last Man Standing to prep for the Jamie Dimon interview. That was really good.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Highly Recommended

Trigger: research for Jamie Dimon interview

For: Anyone interested in finance or Jamie Dimon's career

Key quote: “One great book I read for research was Last Man Standing to prep for the Jamie Dimon interview.”

The host mentioned 'Last Man Standing' as a valuable resource while preparing for an interview with Jamie Dimon. They found it to be a compelling read that provided insights into Dimon's career and the financial landscape.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Check price

Saul Price's autobiography

Best for Anyone interested in business models and retail strategies.Often cited around Costco business model

“The discussion mentions using Saul Price's autobiography as the main source for preparing the episode on Costco.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Highly Recommended

Trigger: Costco business model

For: Anyone interested in business models and retail strategies.

Key quote: “Read that book.”

The host mentioned 'Saul Price's autobiography' as a crucial resource for understanding Costco's business model. They found it to be the primary source that guided their episode preparation, emphasizing its importance in their research.

Amazon search results · affiliate link

Find on Amazon

The Undoing Project

Michael Lewis

Best for Fans of storytelling and podcastingOften cited around 10 year anniversary celebration

“Michael Lewis is mentioned as the author of several books, including The Undoing Project, which focuses on the collaboration between two psychologists and their work on human decision-making.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: 10 year anniversary celebration

For: Fans of storytelling and podcasting

Key quote: “Someone who distills complexity into simplicity.”

The hosts mentioned Michael Lewis and his works, including 'The Undoing Project', as they reflected on their podcast's journey over the past decade. This reference highlights their admiration for Lewis's storytelling ability and his insights into complex topics.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Check price

The Blind Side

Michael Lewis

Best for Fans of storytelling and business analysisOften cited around 10 year anniversary celebration

“Michael Lewis is mentioned as the author of several books, including The Blind Side, which tells the story of a football player and the impact of family and education.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: 10 year anniversary celebration

For: Fans of storytelling and business analysis

Key quote: “Someone who distills complexity into simplicity.”

The hosts mentioned Michael Lewis and his works, including 'The Blind Side', to highlight his storytelling ability and relevance to their podcast's journey. They expressed admiration for Lewis as a significant figure in the narrative of successful companies.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Check price

Going Infinite

Michael Lewis

Best for Podcast creators and storytelling enthusiastsOften cited around 10 year anniversary celebration

“Michael Lewis is mentioned as the author of several books, including Going Infinite, which discusses the life and career of a prominent figure in finance.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: 10 year anniversary celebration

For: Podcast creators and storytelling enthusiasts

Key quote: “Someone who distills complexity into simplicity.”

The hosts mentioned Michael Lewis and his book 'Going Infinite' while discussing their admiration for him and his storytelling abilities. This reference was made in the context of celebrating their podcast's 10-year anniversary and reflecting on their journey.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Check price

Moneyball

Michael Lewis

Best for Podcast creators and business enthusiastsOften cited around 10-year anniversary reflection

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

View mention details

Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: 10-year anniversary reflection

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.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Check price

Liar's Poker

Michael Lewis

Best for Fans of storytelling and business analysisOften cited around 10-year anniversary celebration

“Michael Lewis is mentioned as the author of several books, including Liar's Poker, which explores the author's experiences on Wall Street.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: 10-year anniversary celebration

For: Fans of storytelling and business analysis

Key quote: “Someone who distills complexity into simplicity.”

The hosts mention Michael Lewis and his book 'Liar's Poker' as part of a broader discussion about influential figures in storytelling and analysis. This reference highlights their admiration for Lewis and sets the stage for their conversation with him.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Check price

1929

Andrew Ross Sorkin

Best for Listeners interested in financial storytelling and podcastingOften cited around Acquired podcast anniversary

“Andrew Ross Sorkin is mentioned as the author of 1929, which likely discusses the events surrounding the stock market crash of that year.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: Acquired podcast anniversary

For: Listeners interested in financial storytelling and podcasting

Key quote: “Our last episode was with Andrew Ross Sorkin, founder of the New York Times Dealbook, host of CNBC's Squawk Box, and author of 1929.”

The hosts mentioned Andrew Ross Sorkin's book '1929' while discussing their interview with him on their other show, ACQ2. This reference highlights Sorkin's prominence in the financial narrative space, which aligns with the themes of their podcast.

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Check price

Stratechery

Ben Thompson

Best for Individuals interested in venture capital and technologyOften cited around collaboration and chemistry

“Ben Thompson is the author of 'Stratechery', a platform where he writes about strategy and technology.”

View mention details

Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: collaboration and chemistry

For: Individuals interested in venture capital and technology

Key quote: “We bonded over Ben Thompson originally.”

The host mentions 'Stratechery' to highlight the bond formed over shared interests in technology and business insights. This connection was pivotal in their collaboration and understanding of the venture capital landscape.

Amazon search results · affiliate link

Find on Amazon

Weekly source-backed picks